Inter Miami vs. Club América in Las Vegas: How to watch Messi preseason match Saturday

Lionel Messi begins a busy 2025 soccer season with Inter Miami on Saturday in Las Vegas for the club’s first preseason match of the year.

Inter Miami will face reigning LIGA MX champion Club América at Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, at 10 p.m. ET.

It’s the first of five preseason matches for Messi and Inter Miami during “The Americas Preseason Tour.” The club will also play matches in Peru, Panama and Honduras before ending the preseason in Tampa, Fla.

Saturday’s game won’t be an easy match by any means for Messi or his new coach Javier Mascherano. Inter Miami is still in the process of constructing its roster before playing the Mexican powerhouse.

Here’s everything you need to know about Inter Miami’s match vs. Club América:

How to watch Inter Miami vs. Club América live stream on TV

The match is available to live stream for free on Apple TV.

Will Messi play?

Yes, Messi is expected to play. But the question is how much? With Inter Miami getting its 2025 season underway, Messi could be limited to ease him into action. It's a long year with a lot of competition inside and outside of MLS.

WHEN IS MESSI PLAYING? His full schedule with Inter Miami, Argentina

What you need to know about Inter Miami

Messi and Inter Miami delivered the best regular season in Major League Soccer history last season, accounting for a record-high 74 points to win the Supporters’ Shield title. But they were bounced in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs by Atlanta United, ending the season in disappointment.

Inter Miami hired Mascherano to replace Tata Martino, who resigned from his post due to personal reasons after the season. And the message is clear for the new coach: The time is now to win with Messi.

Mascherano reunites with his former Barcelona teammates in Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets at Inter Miami. He and Messi also played together with Argentina before Messi’s World Cup title run.

Inter Miami will play in the Concacaf Champions Cup, the Club World Cup, and the Leagues Cup tournaments in 2025, while contending for MLS Cup later this year.

INTER MIAMI JERSEYS: How to get new Messi jersey for 2025 season

What you need to know about Club América

Club América will make the trip to Las Vegas after already playing two games of the Clausura season.

Club América has won three consecutive LIGA MX titles, and 16 overall, to lead all Mexican teams. They have also won seven Concacaf Champions Cups, the best of any team in North America.

Simply put, Inter Miami will leave this match with a definitive barometer of how far off they are from last year’s club and what they need to improve ahead of the 2025 MLS season.

Messi, Inter Miami upcoming schedule

• Jan. 18: Inter Miami vs. Club América, Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, 10 p.m. ET (preseason)

• Jan. 29: Club Universitario de Deportes vs. Inter Miami, Estadio Monumental in Lima Peru, 8 p.m. ET

• Feb. 2: Sporting San Miguelito vs. Inter Miami, Estadio Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez in Panama City, 5 p.m. ET

• Feb. 8: Club Deportivo Olimpia vs. Inter Miami, Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, 8 p.m. ET (preseason)

• Feb. 14: Inter Miami vs. Orlando City, Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, 7:30 p.m. (preseason)

• Feb. 18: Sporting Kansas City vs. Inter Miami, Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, 8 p.m. ET (Concacaf Champions Cup)

• Feb. 22: Inter Miami vs. New York City FC, Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 2:30 p.m. (MLS regular season opener)

• Feb. 25: Inter Miami vs. Sporting Kansas City, Chase Stadium, 8 p.m. ET (Concacaf Champions Cup)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Inter Miami vs. Club America: How to watch Messi match Saturday