Inter Miami’s 2026 MLS campaign: Messi and co target more glory, with matches on Apple TV

Inter Miami will begin the 2026 MLS season aiming to build on the first league title in the club’s history, won last season after victory over Vancouver in the final.

The David Beckham-owned side, led by Argentina legend Lionel Messi, will enter the new campaign with expectations heightened by its success last year. Inter Miami’s title triumph marked a significant milestone for a club founded in 2018 and followed the arrival of a group of internationally renowned players.

Messi remains the headline figure in a squad that has also included former Barcelona team-mates Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez. The club is preparing for another season with new additions to its squad as it attempts to defend its MLS crown.

Inter Miami had already enjoyed success in the season before last, when it won the Supporters’ Shield. That award is presented to the team with the best regular-season points record across the Eastern and Western conferences.

However, the previous campaign brought an even greater achievement, with Inter Miami claiming the first championship in its history by defeating Vancouver in the final.

The club will compete in the Eastern Conference during the 2026 regular season. MLS will feature 29 teams, divided between 15 clubs in the Eastern Conference and 14 in the Western Conference.

Each team plays 34 regular-season matches. At the end of that phase, the seven highest-ranked teams in each conference will qualify directly for the play-offs, while the sides finishing eighth and ninth will enter the preliminary play-off round.

The opening stage of the play-offs will be decided over a best-of-three series. The later semi-finals and final will each be played as a single match, with home advantage going to the team that finished higher in the regular-season standings.

Inter Miami’s position in the Eastern Conference will therefore determine its route through the play-offs, as well as whether it earns home advantage in the one-off stages. The club’s results across its 34 regular-season fixtures will be central to its hopes of retaining the title.

Fans wanting to follow Inter Miami’s 2026 MLS matches, and watch Messi in action, can do so through the Apple TV app. Live coverage of the team’s league fixtures will be available on Apple TV.

The 2026 season will consequently offer Inter Miami the chance to add to the trophy won last year, while the club’s established stars and new players prepare for another campaign under the spotlight.