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Lionel Messi and Son Heung-min are set to face one another for the primary time in North America, because the 2026 Main League Soccer season will function each stars on Matchday 1. With the match scheduled to happen on the West Coast, the extremely anticipated showdown between Los Angeles FC and Inter Miami has undergone a change of venue.
The wave of consideration drawn to MLS since Messi’s arrival in 2023 has fueled the league’s continued development, with Son becoming a member of LAFC final summer season as the most costly signing in league historical past. Now set to fulfill for the primary time for the reason that South Korean star’s transfer to North America, the matchup will probably be staged on a considerably bigger platform.
The conflict between Messi’s Inter Miami and Son’s LAFC on February 21 will probably be performed on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It’s going to mark the primary time the Black & Gold transfer a house match away from BMO Stadium, relocating to the historic dwelling of the USC Trojans for what’s shaping as much as be a generational MLS showdown.
The choice by organizers is aimed toward maximizing attendance for the season opener. Whereas BMO Stadium seats roughly 22,000 followers, the Memorial Coliseum can accommodate as much as 77,000, with hopes the match might grow to be one of the attended video games in MLS historical past.
A normal view of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Past internet hosting the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Video games (and scheduled to take action once more in 2028) the Memorial Coliseum has staged a number of soccer occasions, together with CONCACAF Gold Cup matches and worldwide friendlies that includes Mexico and Argentina. Now, the assembly between LAFC and Inter Miami will mark the primary MLS match ever performed at “The Grand Previous Woman.”
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Head-to-head between Messi and Son
Regardless of spending most of their careers in Europe, Messi primarily with Barcelona and Son with Tottenham Hotspur, the 2 world stars have hardly ever crossed paths on the sector. Now competing in the identical league, the South Korean icon may have a possibility to even his private report towards the Argentine legend.
Messi and Son have confronted one another solely twice earlier than, when Barcelona and Tottenham had been drawn into Group B of the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League. Barcelona gained 4-2 in London, with Messi scoring twice and Son registering an help, earlier than the groups performed to a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou.
The 2 might have met once more in that season’s remaining, however Barcelona had been eradicated within the semifinals following Liverpool’s dramatic 4-0 comeback at Anfield. With one draw and one loss in head-to-head conferences, Son will now look to degree the report towards Messi, this time on MLS soil, with the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum because the stage.
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