Matchday

Inter Miami to visit Hong Kong for 2024 preseason friendly

Messi celebrate point

Inter Miami CF are heading to Asia after all.

As part of their 2024 preseason, the Herons announced Thursday theyā€™ll face the Hong Kong Team ā€“ a collection of the Hong Kong First Division League's best players ā€“ on Feb. 4 at the 40,000-capacity Hong Kong Stadium.

This match follows Inter Miami beginning their 2024 preseason against the El Salvador national team in San Salvador on Jan. 19. Additional preseason matches and destinations will be announced in the coming weeks.

"We're very excited to be visiting Hong Kong and indeed Asia for the very first time," said Jorge Mas, Inter Miami managing owner. "From the very beginning, we set out to be a global club at Inter Miami. This is a wonderful opportunity to do just that; we hope to enthuse and inspire new Inter Miami fans in Hong Kong and across Asia who share our passion for fĆŗtbol."

Previously, Inter Miami were slated to visit China in early November for two friendlies to cap their 2023 calendar. But the tour was called off ā€œdue to unforeseen circumstances,ā€ opening up the schedule for Noche dā€™Or ā€“ a friendly match vs. New York City FC that recognized Lionel Messiā€™s world-record eighth Ballon dā€™Or trophy.

This all builds towards Inter Miamiā€™s first full season with Messi, the global superstar who joined the club in mid-July en route to winning the 2023 Leagues Cup title and transforming the North American soccer landscape. In Florida, Messi is joined by Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets ā€“ while fellow FC Barcelona alum Luis SuĆ”rez will reportedly join the club after leaving Brazilian side GrĆŖmio.

Led by head coach Tata Martino, IMCF will begin their 2024 campaign in February and later make their Concacaf Champions Cup debut.