April 05, (THEWILL) — Saturday marked the official opening of Nu Stadium in Miami, with Inter Miami playing out a 2-2 draw against Austin FC before a sell-out crowd of 26,700. Singer Marc Anthony performed the national anthem while club co-owner David Beckham cut a ribbon before kickoff. Manager Javier Mascherano had hoped for a composed performance, but his side were unsettled early by the weight of the occasion.
Austin FC drew first blood in the sixth minute when Guilherme Biro headed an unmarked corner kick past goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. Lionel Messi restored parity less than four minutes later, finishing with a header at the end of a 15-pass buildup that involved nearly every outfield player, scoring the first Inter Miami goal at the new ground.
The visitors regained the lead eight minutes into the second half through Jayden Nelson, who broke away before beating his Canada international teammate St. Clair. Luis Suárez, coming off the bench in a reduced role this season, drew Inter Miami level once more with a precise finish at the back post, converting a flick-on from Germán Berterame following an inswinging corner.
Suárez’s second goal of the 2026 MLS season brought him to two strikes in just 128 minutes across four appearances. That record contrasts sharply with Berterame, signed for more than 15 million dollars from CF Monterrey, who has yet to score in eight outings, presenting Mascherano with a difficult selection dilemma.
Inter Miami will look to build on the occasion when they face Red Bull New York in their next home fixture next Saturday. The club had operated out of a temporary venue in Fort Lauderdale since 2020, making their arrival at Nu Stadium a significant moment in the franchise’s growth.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
