This Week in Preseason: Week Three Recap

Inter Miami’s third week of training came to a close yesterday with the team’s first-ever activity at the Inter Miami CF Training Complex after returning from their week of training at IMG Academy in Bradenton on Thursday afternoon.

Will Trapp settles in at his new stomping ground

Wil Trapp, who was acquired by Inter Miami on January 31 via a trade with Columbus Crew SC, jumped right into things with his new club. The 27-year old midfielder and U.S. Men’s National Team member has been settling in well with the team and feels at home with his new teammates and the coaching staff. 

“La familia has been amazing man. I’ve been extremely impressed in just the three, four days that I’ve been here by how close everyone is in such a short amount of time,” said Trapp. 

Trapp, who had remained with his hometown team Columbus Crew SC for the entirety of his career also reflected on how Inter Miami’s project seemed like the right opportunity to embark on a new chapter in his career and how excitement is building up previous to the team’s MLS debut on March 1.

“I’ve been in Columbus my whole life, and I think this was a step for me to not only be a part of history in a lot of ways, but also a project that’s very exciting, with a coach that’s very exciting and with the young group that wants to succeed and do extremely well.”

“I can’t wait. We know the emotion and the passion that the fans show and for us as players that’s all we want. We want to play in front of people that care about us and the sport,” he added. 

Owners tour Club facilities as Inter Miami CF Stadium construction nears completion

On Tuesday, February 4, 2020, Inter Miami co-owners Jorge Mas and David Beckham, toured the construction site in Fort Lauderdale. They seemed pleased with the progress of the structure that is undergoing its final preparations prior to the Club’s MLS home debut on March 14.

Inter Miami CF will play all of its home matches over the next two years at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale starting with the first-ever home match against the LA Galaxy on Saturday, March 14, 2020. Located off Commercial Boulevard and I-95, the stadium with capacity for 19,000 fans stands adjacent to the Club’s new 50,000 square foot state of the art training facility, which includes seven professional fields. The facility will be the home to all Inter Miami teams including MLS, until Miami Freedom Park is completed and inaugurated in 2022, USL League One and the Academy. It will also host international clubs, tournaments and local high school sporting events. 

Your way jersey is here: The RosaNegra

On Wednesday February 5, 2020, Inter Miami unveiled what all fans had been waiting for, its first-ever away jersey.  “The RosaNegra”, named after its black base adorned by pink accents, was revealed to the world at the FORWARD25 event in New York City. The event, organized by adidas and Major League Soccer (MLS) as part of the league’s 25th Season Celebration, served as a platform for all 25 MLS teams to present their uniforms for the upcoming 2020 season. Superstars, club legends, celebrities and other prominent figures showcased the new threads. However, Inter Miami chose Academy team players Axel Perez, 13, and Fernando Sanchez, 14, for the historic occasion. 

Both Perez and Sanchez are Miami-Dade born and are standout players of the U-14 Academy team. They were chosen to model Inter Miami’s first-ever away jersey as a way to emphasize the Club’s commitment to developing South Florida’s local talent. 

“It shows that at the Club they believe in the Academy. To wear the first jersey of this Club is such a big honor. It's an experience I’ll never forget,” said Perez about being chosen to unveil the “The RosaNegra '' at the FORWARD25 event in New York City. 

“The RosaNegra” pays tribute to South Florida’s vibrant soul and flair. 

After the event in New York CIty, the two academy players shared their thoughts on the design and how it represents the city of Miami and South Florida as a whole. 

“I’m really excited to wear the first-ever jersey. I think that this crest is beautiful and I really like how the colors represent South Florida,” said Sanchez.

“My favorite part of the jersey is the colors and how they mix,” added Perez. “Pink, black, it shows the culture here in Miami, the fashion. It just shows Miami all over.”

First Training Scrimmage

On Friday, February 7, the Club faced USL side Charleston Battery in a closed-door training scrimmage at the Inter Miami CF Training Complex in Fort Lauderdale. It marked the first time Inter Miami faced opposition as a team. 

Moving forward the first team will continue to train at the Club’s state-of-the-art training complex until February 14, including a closed-door training scrimmage against New York City FC on February 12. Subsequently, the First Team will hit the road for the final phase of the preseason in Saint Petersburg, where it will play two open friendly matches against the Philadelphia Union on February 15 at 4 p.m. and USL’s Tampa Bay Rowdies on February 22 at 7 p.m. Both matches will take place at Al Lang Stadium as part of the 2020 Suncoast Invitational. Fans can attend the 2020 Suncoast Invitational matches for free and without a ticket.