David Beckham Welcomes Inter Miami's New Stadium: A Dream Come True

JAKARTA - For months, Inter Miami advertised Nu Stadium with one simple message, 'We're home'.

On Sunday, April 5, 2026 WIB, in a 2-2 draw against Austin FC which was the first official match at the stadium, the club finally kept its promise.

The arena was decorated with pink lights before the match, while banners in the stands read 'Aqui empieza una nueva eraqui', which means 'Today begins a new era'.

In the middle of the field, Lionel Messi started the match and within 10 minutes, he scored the club's first goal there, in front of the stands that bear his name.

"Seeing this stadium come to life after years of trying to build and operate this stadium in Miami is something very special."

"I came to the United States and Major League Soccer (MLS) 20 years ago. I made a lot of promises. Twelve years ago, I made a lot of promises again, announcing that I would come to Miami."

"Today, this is just a dream come true for us. Today I stand in our new home, we are the MLS champions and have the best player in the history of the game playing in Miami," said one of the club's owners and founders, David Beckham.

This has been a long time coming for everyone involved with Inter Miami, but especially for Beckham. His dream to build a stadium in Miami Dade began in 2014, shortly after MLS commissioner Don Garber officially awarded Beckham the expansion franchise.

He imagined a waterfront destination in the heart of the city to build a stadium with a capacity of 20,000-30,000 seats.

Beckham's first bid targeted land next to the Kaseya Center, home to the Miami Heat, with views of Biscayne Bay and downtown.

However, his initial efforts were quickly halted by city authorities, forcing him to pursue opportunities in Little Havana and Overtown without success.

In 2018, Jorge and Jose Mas, founders of Miami-based construction and engineering firm MasTec, joined Inter Miami's ownership and search for a venue.

Because there was no visible lease agreement and the team's debut in MLS was approaching, the new group of owners decided to renovate Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale as a temporary solution.

After an almost $100 million renovation that included training facilities, several practice fields, and a renovated 20,000-seat stadium, Inter Miami is preparing for its debut at the then-unnamed DRV PNK stadium.

However, efforts to secure a permanent venue never stopped. Beckham and the Mas brothers began talks for the Melreese golf course location in 2018 after 60 percent of voters approved a referendum authorizing the city to negotiate and execute a 99-year lease agreement.

It then took another four years to be officially approved, but Beckham and the Mas brothers finally got the location they wanted.

"This is a dream come true. This stadium was born from a dream, namely to create a first-class stadium in my hometown to celebrate football."

"Miami is currently the capital of the world and will be the capital of football, especially with our club, with our captain, Leo Messi," said one of the club's owners, Jorge Mas.

The draw was not the ideal start Inter Miami had hoped for, but like the entire Miami Freedom Park sports complex that surrounds Nu Stadium, this team is still in the development process.

"I believe in Miami and Miami believes in us," Beckham said.

For now, Inter Miami will continue to strive for their first victory in the city and stadium that they can finally call home.

Meanwhile, Inter Miami, which made its debut in MLS in 2020, has been home to some of LaLiga's biggest stars in the last 15 years - Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez, and Messi have all played for Beckham's team, where Javier Mascherano has been head coach since November 2024.

After Messi's arrival in 2023, Inter Miami won the Supporters' Shield in 2024 and won their first MLS title in 2025, with the Argentine megastar winning the league's MVP award in both seasons.

Messi and Beckham are not the only celebrities involved in the match against Austin FC. Actor Matthew McConaughey, who is part of the Austin FC ownership group, even wrote an open letter to Beckham to congratulate him.

He expressed his gratitude for his nearly two-decade relationship with the league.

"As Austin visits Miami today to have a little fun on your new court, first I want to say a sincere thank you."

"You don't create football in the United States, but you really give it a big boost. When you come to the Galaxy, you give MLS new legitimacy."

"You're turning the game into a big event. Basically turning MLS from a proving ground into a major destination. Thank you," the actor wrote.