Inter Miami have confirmed one of the biggest transfers of all-time as Lionel Messi prepares for his official presentation on Sunday, July 16 at a sold-out DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The star-studded event will see Messi and David Beckham address a sold-out crowd that will be entertained by musical performances from the likes of Camilo, Ozuna, and Argentine artists Paulo Londra and Tiago PZK.
The 36-year-old announced back on June 7 that he would be leaving PSG at the end of his contract in the French capital to pursue a move to the United States. It is the first time Messi will play for a club outside of Europe in his professional career.
When Messi's PSG contract expired on June 30, the World Cup winner was free to choose his next club, opting for Inter Miami and Major League Soccer despite interest from Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal and Barcelona. Inter publicly confirmed the transfer on July 15.
The Sporting News looks at how fans around the world can watch Messi's official Inter Miami presentation.
LIVE BLOG: Follow Lionel Messi's presentation as it happens
What time is Lionel Messi's presentation at Inter Miami?
'The Unveil' or 'La PresentaSIon', as Inter Miami are calling the event, will take place on Sunday, July 16.
The even kicks off at 6 p.m. ET for fans in the stadium. The portion involving Lionel Messi is expected to kick off at 8:30 p.m. ET when coverage kicks off on Apple TV (see details below).
Here is how that translates to major regions around the world:
| Region | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Sat, July 16 | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| Canada | Sat, July 16 | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| UK | Sun, July 17 | 1:30 a.m. BST |
| Australia | Sun, July 17 | 10:30 a.m. AEST |
| India | Sun, July 17 | 6 a.m. IST |
| Singapore | Sun, July 17 | 8:30 a.m. SGT |
| Hong Kong | Sun, July 17 | 8:30 a.m. HKT |
| Malaysia | Sun, July 17 | 8:30 a.m. MYT |
| New Zealand | Sun, July 17 | 12:30 p.m. NZST |
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Sí, Muchachos📍 pic.twitter.com/8E3f9hb9VU
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 15, 2023
Where to watch Lionel Messi's presentation at Inter Miami
Messi's presentation will be available for fans around the world to watch for FREE on the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET.
According to the club, a portion of the event will also be live streamed for free on Inter Miami CF Twitter, YouTube and Twitch channels. This could presumably be the part taking place between 6 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. ET, before the Apple TV exclusive window starts.
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The Athletic have also reported that MLS are in talks with CONCACAF, and broadcasters Fox and Univision, to have Messi's presentation broadcast during halftime of the Gold Cup final which kicks off at the same time (8 p.m. ET).
Expect to see plenty of Messi on Apple TV with the player reportedly set to earn a percentage of new MLS Season Pass subscriptions as part of his Miami contract.
DECOURCY: How Messi's arrival will change MLS
Tickets to Lionel Messi presentation
Inter Miami invited their season ticket holders to sign up for free tickets to attend the Messi presentation by Wednesday, July 12. The rest of the ticket allotment was put on sale at $30 each and was sold out in one hour, according to reports.
The official club site lists DRV PNK Stadium's capacity at 19,100 though the club has installed a grandstand at one of the stadium ends.
The new Southeast bleachers are up in the corner of DRV PNK Stadium, making more room for Messi fans. Those seats at $200 for his debut game July 21 and $145 for July 25 game through team Ticketmaster site.@MiamiHerald @HeraldSports @InterMiamiCF #InterMiamiCF #MLS #Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/xgLgFyOePe
— Michelle Kaufman (@kaufsports) July 12, 2023
DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale is a temporary home for Inter Miami as they build a new 25,000-seat, privately funded downtown home called Miami Freedom Park.
The expected inauguration of the new stadium, which lies in the vicinity of Miami International Airport, is at some point during the 2025 season. That is projected to be Messi's last with the club unless he exercises a one-year option to extend his deal through the end of 2026.
When Inter Miami officially move into Miami Freedom Park, DRV PNK Stadium will continue to be the home of their reserve team Inter Miami II, as well as to select first-team matches, including potential exhibitions or U.S. Open Cup matches.
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