Inter Miami Set to Make Historic White House Visit

Inter Miami is scheduled to visit the White House on March 5, 2026, to celebrate their victory in the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup. This visit marks a significant moment as Inter Miami will become the first MLS team to visit the White House during President Donald Trump's administration. The team won the MLS Cup by defeating Vancouver in November 2025, marking their first championship since joining the league in 2020. The visit is set to occur just two days before Inter Miami's match against D.C. United in Baltimore on March 7.

New York TimesSports Illustrated

While it is customary for championship-winning teams across various sports to visit the White House, MLS teams have been less frequent attendees in recent years. The last MLS team to visit was the Columbus Crew in 2024 during President Joe Biden's term. Historically, several MLS teams visited the White House during President Barack Obama's administration, including the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake. The first MLS team to receive this honor was D.C. United in 1998, hosted by President Bill Clinton.

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Lionel Messi, who joined Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, has not confirmed his attendance for the White House visit. Should he attend, it would be his first visit to the White House. Messi was previously invited to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Biden in January 2025 but was unable to attend. His presence at the White House would align him with other prominent athletes, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, who attended a black-tie dinner at the White House in November 2025.

New York Times

The visit comes amid ongoing discussions regarding the political implications of sports team visits to the White House. Recently, the U.S. men's hockey team faced scrutiny following their visit after winning a gold medal at the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics. The U.S. women's hockey team declined an invitation from Trump, citing scheduling conflicts and concerns over his comments regarding their male counterparts. Inter Miami's visit may similarly evoke discussions about the intersection of sports and politics, particularly as the team prepares for the upcoming World Cup, which the United States will co-host with Canada and Mexico.

Sports Illustrated

A White House official confirmed the visit but spoke on condition of anonymity and did not provide further details. Inter Miami did not respond to requests for comment regarding the visit or Messi's potential attendance.

Sports Illustrated

• “Inter Miami will visit the White House on Thursday, March 5 to mark the team’s MLS Cup win, according to a White House official.” — White House Official

New York Times

• “Messi’s Potential First White House Visit Lionel Messi has never visited the White House.” — Sports Analyst

Sports Illustrated

Inter Miami's upcoming visit to the White House represents a notable event in the intersection of sports and politics, reflecting both the team's achievements and the broader cultural conversations surrounding such visits.

New York Times