Overview
- Inter Miami hosts Austin FC on Saturday in the first match at Nu Stadium after opening the season with five road games.
- The stadium has not yet received a temporary certificate of occupancy, the city sign-off that allows limited use before all inspections are done.
- Miami officials prepared a one-day limited event permit with set hours, restrictions, and extra precautions if the certificate does not arrive in time.
- Lionel Messi is expected to play after light work in Friday’s open practice, with coach Javier Mascherano saying he plans to use him barring any setback.
- Austin manager Nico Estevez warned against sitting deep, and the visitors travel light with Owen Wolff unlikely to feature and Brandon Vazquez still rehabbing a torn ACL.