By Franklin — SoFlo Sports Buzz
June 12, 2025
Let me just start with this: Lionel Messi is about to play in the freaking Club World Cup… in MIAMI. What timeline are we even in? Who do I thank for this? David Beckham? My abuela’s prayer candles? A glitch in the FIFA Matrix?
I don’t know. Don’t care. All I know is this:
Inter Miami CF is in the global spotlight, the Club World Cup starts this freaking week, and two of our group stage games are right here in Hard Rock Stadium, where the humidity hits different and the cafecito hits harder.
THE WORLD IS LITERALLY COMING TO MIAMI
We’re talking:
- June 14 vs. Al Ahly (Egyptian giants with more trophies than I have pastelito crumbs in my car)
- June 19 vs. FC Porto (Portuguese royalty, super serious, probably have a million types of midfielders named João)
- June 23 vs. Palmeiras (Brazilian bad boys who don’t play games unless it’s winning them)
Two of those matches are at home, and if you think Miami is showing up quiet for Messi in pink, you don’t know Miami.
Except… ticket sales are weirdly soft? Bro, how are seats going for $55?! That’s less than brunch in Wynwood. FIFA slashed prices. There’s a $20 student deal. BRING YOUR COUSINS. BRING YOUR BARBER. BRING THAT RANDOM DUDE FROM YOUR GYM WHO PLAYS IN SLIDES. Let’s fill the Rock.
MESSI, SUREZ, BUSQUETS… OH MY
Inter Miami’s squad is a mix of GOATs, veterans, and kids who look like they were born after Y2K. No cap.
- Messi – Do I even have to explain? The man breathes goals and confuses defenders like I confuse my nephew’s Roblox passwords.
- Luis Suárez – Waddles like a penguin, finishes like a panther.
- Busquets & Alba – Smooth operators. I bet Busquets could untangle headphone cords with his mind.
- Obando, Cremaschi, Falcón – Young blood ready to punch gravity in the face.
Coach Mascherano has the tactics. He’s like if a field general had really good hair and an Argentine vendetta against sloppy defending.
HARD ROCK NEEDS TO GO FULL TILT
This is our house. It’s where the Dolphins collapse every December and the Hurricanes pretend it’s 2001 again.
But now? Now it’s Messi’s turf.
If you’re not sweating through your pink tee and screaming like you just saw Bad Bunny, what are you even doing?
There will be federal agents at the gates (seriously, ICE and CBP are showing up in “suits and boots,” so maybe leave your vuvuzela at home unless you want a cavity search). But that doesn’t mean the vibes gotta dip. That just means get in early, hydrate, and don’t bring fireworks unless you want to meet Homeland Security.
THE GAME PLAN, AS PER FRANKLIN
June 14 – vs. Al Ahly
Set the tone. Score early. Scare Egypt into playing like they’re on the surface of the sun. This is Messi’s Club World Cup kickoff in the 305. You KNOW he’s showing out.
June 19 – vs. FC Porto
Atlanta. Air travel. Peachy distractions. Not great. But if Mascherano rotates smart and Suárez eats space like he eats defenders, we’re fine.
June 23 – vs. Palmeiras
This is it. If we need a result, it’ll come down to guts, grit, and maybe a late golazo from Leo while palm trees sway dramatically in the background.
KEYS TO THE WHOLE FREAKIN’ TOURNAMENT
- Protect Messi like he’s the last cortadito on Earth.
- Let Suárez cook. And by “cook” I mean run five steps then teleport into the penalty box.
- Don’t get caught in midfield with your pants down. We got depth now. Use it.
- Bring energy from the stands. You can’t have a World Cup with library vibes. This is Miami, not Milan.
FRANKLIN’S FINAL TAKE
I’ve lived through some wild Miami sports moments. The Heat’s Big Three. Dan Marino. The time the Marlins had fans for 20 minutes. But this? The WORLD is watching Inter Miami. In our city. At our stadium.
And we’ve got the greatest player ever in a pink jersey with flamingo swagger.
We win the opener? It’s liftoff. We ride the Messi magic and the South Florida sauce straight into the knockouts.
Get loud. Get weird. Get to Hard Rock.
Because this summer, Miami ain’t just hosting the Club World Cup. We ARE the Club World Cup.