Inter Miami and Lionel Messi will visit the White House on Thursday (March 5th) to celebrate their 2025 MLS Cup victory. The Herons secured their first league title by defeating Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3-1 on Dec. 6 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. During the visit, Messi and his teammates will meet Donald Trump, continuing the tradition of championship sports teams being honored at the White House.
Lionel Messi To Visit White House After Inter Miami’s MLS Cup Triumph
Building on their historic victory, The Daily Mail reports that the Argentine forward will travel to Washington, D.C., with his teammates to meet Donald Trump, who will host the ceremony recognizing Miami’s accomplishment. This event highlights the club’s first MLS Cup title since its formation six years ago.
Inter Miami’s championship marks a milestone for the young franchise, founded by an ownership group including former England captain David Beckham. The club’s rise has been driven by a star squad and Messi’s arrival, transforming them into one of MLS’s most popular teams.
Eager to defend their title, the reigning champions have launched their campaign. They started with a disappointing 3-0 defeat against Los Angeles FC, but they bounced back with a 4-2 victory over Orlando City SC.
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Messi had previously been invited to the White House in Jan. 2025 after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former U.S. president Joe Biden. However, he was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts.
As his management team explained at the time, “Messi said he is deeply honored and it is a profound privilege to receive the recognition, but would be unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts and prior commitments. Messi appreciated the gesture and noted he hopes to have the opportunity to meet Biden in the near future.”
Messi’s upcoming White House visit also follows his longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent trip to meet Trump in Washington. These consecutive meetings highlight the global profile of both football icons and their influence beyond the sport.
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The ceremony occurs as the United States prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, a tournament featuring 104 matches across 11 American cities.
Against this backdrop of global attention on North America ahead of the tournament, Messi’s White House visit further sheds light on the region’s growing prominence in football. As Inter Miami celebrate their MLS success and look forward to defending their title, the ceremony marks another milestone for a club that has rapidly risen on the international stage.
