History
Inter Miami has had a very brief but tumultuous history since joining the league in 2020. But their story begins long before 2019, as the club was a byproduct of a contract clause in ex-professional soccer player and celebrity David Beckham's MLS contract.
While playing for the L.A. Galaxy, he received an option to purchase an expansion club for $25 million. But it was after his playing career ended in April 2013 that the first talks to bring MLS to Miami began.
After a lengthy process, Miami was awarded the MLS bid and became the 25th franchise. Their first season was during the pandemic year when the top 9 teams in each conference qualified for playoffs two more than the usual seven.
They managed to squeeze into that 9th playoff spot but lost to fellow expansion team Nashville SC in the first round. The following 2021 season was plagued with off-the-pitch drama when the club was found guilty of breaking roster compliance rules.
And on the pitch, original head Diego Alonso was fired and replaced by Gary Neville. They ended up finishing 11th in the East that year.
Present
After a rough first two seasons, there have been some glimpses of improvement this season. After starting the season winless for four straight matches, Miami went on to win three straight matches.
Their winning streak ended with a loss against the New England Revolution last week and currently sit in 12th place in the East. The match against Charlotte FC will be their second straight on the road.
Key Players
Leonardo Campana: The 21-year-old Ecuadorian has had a breakout season scoring five goals and two assists so far this season. He has been an epiphany for Miami but is questionable for this weekend’s match.
Deandre Yedlin: U.S. international and previous Premier League player, Yedlin, can affect the match on both sides of the pitch. He likes to use his blistering speed to join in the attack and to recover on defense.
Gregore: Named Miami’s 2021 MVP, Gregore is the engine in the midfield. He does a lot of the dirty but necessary defensive work for his team like making crunching tackles, tracking runners, or blocking passing lanes.
