📸 Photo via Inter Miami on X
The Nu Stadium home opener delivered drama, history, and heartbreak in equal measure. Inter Miami unveiled their stunning new home on April 4 in front of a sellout crowd of 26,700 fans — and Lionel Messi wasted no time writing his name into the history books. Yet despite coming agonizingly close to a winner in the dying minutes, the Herons dropped two crucial points in a 2-2 draw against Austin FC. The occasion was everything. The result was not.
A Night Miami Will Never Forget — For All Reasons
Long before a ball was kicked, the atmosphere inside Nu Stadium felt unlike anything Inter Miami fans had experienced before. Jorge Mas cut the ribbon at the new ground. MLS Commissioner Don Garber praised the vision and relentless determination of Beckham, Jorge Mas, and Jose Mas in bringing this project to life. Marc Anthony performed the national anthem. David Beckham and Jorge Mas made their way into the supporters’ section as fans erupted around them.
Then came the light show. The visuals were breathtaking — a fitting introduction to a stadium the club has dreamed about since its very foundation.
Messi had spoken about the moment earlier in the week with genuine emotion. “Honestly, it’s truly amazing. Getting to know our new home was absolutely wonderful. We had a strong desire to play there at the opening — to play officially — and finally the moment has arrived. It will be a very special day for the club, for the fans, and for us — the first to play in this new stadium. It will be a very beautiful day.”
This was also the first time in MLS history that a stand has been named after an active player. The Leo Messi Stand now stands permanently inside Nu Stadium — a tribute as rare as the man it honors.
The game kicked off 30 minutes later than scheduled, pushing the start to 8:00 p.m. ET. However, nothing dampened the energy inside the ground.
Austin Strike First — Then Messi Responds
Mascherano reverted to a lineup closer to the MLS Cup-winning setup. He started both Messi and De Paul, benching Berrterame and Suárez. The intent was clear — go for the win, control the game, and give the fans a night to remember.
Austin FC had other ideas. Just six minutes in, Guilherme Biro powered home a header from a corner to silence the sellout crowd and score the first-ever goal at Nu Stadium. The visitors had arrived with a plan, and they executed it immediately.
Four minutes later, the ground erupted. Messi met a cross with a precise header and drove the ball into the net — his equalizer, Inter Miami’s first goal at Nu Stadium, and another unforgettable entry in the greatest career in football history. With that goal, Messi has now scored against 22 MLS clubs. Of course it was him. Of course the greatest of all time wrote his name first into the history of this stadium.
The first half, however, told a complicated story. Miami looked sloppy in possession and failed to build on the equalizer with the clarity the occasion demanded. Mascherano was visibly frustrated on the touchline throughout the opening 45 minutes. The teams went in level at the break — but Miami had given away too much control against a well-organized Austin side.
Nu Stadium Home Opener Turns Tense in the Second Half
Mascherano made an immediate change at halftime. Ian Fray made way for Gonzalo Luján at right back. The adjustment showed intent — Miami needed more attacking threat and defensive stability simultaneously.
Instead, Austin struck again. Canadian substitute Jayden Nelson caught Miami on the counter in the 59th minute and restored Austin’s lead. The home crowd fell silent. Miami’s defensive frailty — a concern throughout the 2026 season — exposed itself once again on the biggest stage possible.
What followed was a relentless Miami onslaught that somehow produced only one goal. Messi came close from a free kick in the 59th minute. A huge chance came and went in the 64th minute. Then Messi danced past multiple defenders in the 67th minute and almost produced a moment of pure magic. In total, Messi registered 11 shots, three key passes, five successful dribbles from six attempts, and 70 ball touches — a performance of extraordinary individual quality that deserved far more than a single goal.
Mascherano threw on Berrterame and Yannick Bright in the 58th minute, replacing David Ayala and Noah Allen. Then Luis Suárez entered for Telasco Segovia in the 73rd minute. The veteran Uruguayan made his impact felt almost immediately.
Suárez Rescues a Point — But Miami Want More
In the 81st minute, Suárez arrived at the back post from another corner and prodded home the equalizer. The Nu Stadium crowd roared back to life. Miami pushed desperately for a winner in the closing stages.
Then came the moment that will haunt Miami fans. Deep into stoppage time, Messi unleashed a trademark free kick that crashed against the post. The follow-up fell to Suárez — but the linesman’s flag cut short the celebration. Offside. The chance was gone. The final whistle followed shortly after.
Inter Miami 2-2 Austin FC.
Suárez earned MLS Man of the Match recognition for his impact off the bench. His goal kept Miami’s unbeaten home record intact — but two dropped points at Nu Stadium on opening night stings.
Mascherano’s Honest Assessment
Mascherano did not hide from the disappointment afterward. “Honestly, I think in the first half we clearly showed superiority. In fact, I think we gave that first half away. And in matches like these, against opponents like this, when you give away the first half, you feel the consequences,” he said.
He continued: “I think the team clearly changed in the second half. Even though they went ahead again, the team kept trying — it was a different intensity, the substitutes came on well. We leave with a feeling of disappointment because we had 18 chances. But football is not about pressing a button and turning it on whenever you want. We end up paying for how we approached that first half.”
That first-half approach is becoming a recurring theme. As we covered in our [Inter Miami NYCFC victory report], Miami have been scoreless in the opening 45 minutes far too often this season. The pattern continued here — and it cost them dearly on a night when three points would have sent a powerful statement.
Injury Updates — Two Key Absences Remain
Heading into the Austin fixture, Inter Miami carried two notable injury concerns. Facundo Mura continues to sit out with an ankle problem. Sergio Reguilón — who showed such early promise before limping off during the Nashville second leg — remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. As we noted in our [Nu Stadium opener preview], losing Reguilón was a serious blow given his immediate chemistry with Messi in the buildup to the 900th career goal.
Both absences leave Miami short of depth in wide defensive areas — a vulnerability opposing coaches will continue to target.
The Bigger Picture — Points Dropped, But Progress Visible
This result moves Inter Miami to 11 points from six MLS games — still fourth tied with NYCFC and Charlotte in the Eastern Conference. The performance contained genuine encouragement alongside the frustration. Miami created 18 chances. Messi was unplayable individually. The substitutes changed the game’s tempo. A first-half version of the second-half Miami would be a genuinely dangerous side.
The goal-scoring concern, as tracked throughout our [Inter Miami transfer news coverage], remains real. Berrterame has still not opened his account in open play. Suárez continues to deliver from the bench when called upon. Messi carries the burden of creation and goals simultaneously.
Nu Stadium, though, is now open. The atmosphere on Saturday night confirmed exactly why this project mattered so much to the club, the fans, and the city. Inter Miami have their home. Now they need to make it a fortress.
Austin FC left with a point they will treasure. The Herons left with a stadium they will cherish — and a result that reminds them there is still significant work to do.
