LAFC defeats Inter Miami 3-0 in front of 75,673 fans at the Coliseum

(MLS 2026 – Los Angeles, United States; Photo: LAFC)

One of the greatest moments in football and in life itself is a new beginning. What took place Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was exactly that: the start of a new MLS season with an LAFC side positioning itself as one of the league’s headline teams, powered by the new attacking duo of Heung Min Son and Denis Bouanga. Standing across from them was arguably the most star-studded squad in the league, Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi alongside Luis Suárez, Rodrigo De Paul, and head coach Javier Mascherano.

The match was not played at BMO Stadium, as a game of this magnitude deserved the largest possible stage. The anticipation was evident, with 75,673 fans filling the historic Coliseum to witness one of the most anticipated matchups of the opening weekend.

From kickoff, LAFC applied relentless pressure. Son operated as the focal point up front, constantly testing Miami’s defensive line and pressing high. The breakthrough came in the 38th minute when D. Martínez capitalized on a costly mistake in Inter’s buildup to score the opening goal. Messi nearly equalized with a shot that grazed the left corner of the crossbar, but Miami lacked the finishing touch. In the second half, LAFC extended the lead through Denis Bouanga in the 73rd minute, and N. Ordaz sealed the 3-0 victory deep into stoppage time at 90’+4.

After the match, Javier Mascherano stated in his press conference that his team does not consider itself the best when it wins nor the worst when it loses, maintaining a balanced perspective. On the LAFC side, the focus quickly shifted to what lies ahead, as they are set to host a Concacaf Champions Cup match on Tuesday, February 24, looking to build on a dominant MLS season opener.