Lionel Messi is set to make his debut for Inter Miami in their Leagues Cup fixture against Cruz Azul on July 22.
The 36-year-old announced that he would move to the United States from France in June as he did not want to extend his contract with Paris Saint-Germain following two years at the club.
The World Cup winner is yet to be officially presented as an Inter Miami player, but he looks set to see out the rest of the 2023 season along with former Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, and ex-coach Gerardo Martino.
The Sporting News looks at how you can buy tickets for Messi's Inter Miami debut against Cruz Azul.
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When is Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul?
Inter Miami face Cruz Azul at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, USA on July 21, 2023. The Leagues Cup fixture will kick off at 8 p.m. ET.
Here is how that translates to selected regions around the world:
| Region | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Fri, July 21 | 8 p.m. ET |
| Canada | Fri, July 21 | 8 p.m. ET |
| UK | Sat, July 22 | 1 a.m. BST |
| Australia | Sat, July 22 | 1 a.m. AEST |
| India | Sat, July 22 | 5:30 a.m. IST |
| Singapore | Sat, July 22 | 8 a.m. SGT |
| Hong Kong | Sat, July 22 | 8 a.m. SGT |
| Malaysia | Sat, July 22 | 8 a.m. MYT |
| New Zealand | Sat, July 22 | 12 p.m. NZST |
Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul ticket prices
Tickets are still available for the Leagues Cup fixtures despite the fact that it will be Messi's debut. It is the first time in his professional club career that he will be playing for a team outside Europe.
Prices for seats from the main primary source, Ticketmaster, are currently starting from $200. Tickets in the VIP section start from $380 and go beyond the $1000 mark for the best seats in the house.
The DRV PNK Stadium can hold up to 18,00 people. Inter Miami are adding bleachers in three corners to increase the capacity by 3,000 ahead of Messi's first game.
How to buy Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul tickets
Tickets can still be bought via the Inter Miami website. The link on their page takes you to the official Ticketmaster site, where seats can be purchased.
Resale sites have also begun selling tickets for the match. They can be found at StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats and TicketSmarter for those looking for the best prices.
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Cheapest, most expensive tickets to Inter Miami-Cruz Azul
The cheapest site to buy tickets for the Leagues Cup game between Inter Miami and Cruz Azul is SeatGeek, with the lowest price coming in at $197 in the standing section.
The most expensive ticket price comes on the SeatGeek website, as two tickets are currently going for $22,068 each. The second most-expensive ticket is over $4,000 cheaper on the SeatGeek site.
| Site | Cheapest | Most Expensive |
|---|---|---|
| Ticketmaster | $200 | $2,000 |
| StubHub | $215 | $12,781 |
| SeatGeek | $197 | $17,599 |
| Vivid Seats | $200 | $22,068 |
| TicketSmarter | $233 | $7,828 |
What is Leagues Cup?
The Leagues Cup is an annual competition between clubs from MLS in USA and Liga MX in Mexico. The first edition came in 2019 when four teams featured from each league, with Cruz Azul lifting the trophy in Nevada. The 2020 competition was cancelled due to the pandemic.
In 2021, the tournament was expanded to 16 teams, eight from each league, and Leon managed to beat Seattle Sounders 3-2 in the final in front of 24,00 people at Allegiant Stadium. In 2023, all teams from both leagues will participate in the competition.
There will be a month-long pause in the MLS and Liga MX seasons for the Leagues Cup to take place. Inter Miami will also face MLS side Atlanta United along with inaugural winners Cruz Azul.