TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Orlando City Soccer Club and Inter Miami CF will play in the preseason edition of the Florida Derby at Raymond James Stadium, the Tampa Bay Sports Commission announced.
The game will be played on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
According to the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, the match will be the first MLS hosted at Raymond James Stadium since 2001.
Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Drake Callender from Inter Miami CF, and Facundo Torres, Pedro Gallese, and Duncan McGuire from Orlando City Soccer Club will be in attendance.
Inter Miami forwards Lionel Messi, right, and Luis Suarez, share a laugh as the work out at the MLS soccer team’s training facility, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) 
Inter Miami forwards Lionel Messi, center, and Luis Suarez, left, work out with defender Noah Allen, right, at the MLS soccer team’s training facility, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) 
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, foreground, and midfielder Sergio Busquets chat as they work out at the MLS soccer team’s training facility, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) 
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi dribbles past Nashville SC forward Jacob Shaffelburg during the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup soccer match, Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin) 
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – 6 DE ABRIL: Lionel Messi #10 de Inter Miami y Daddy Yankee se reúnen antes de un partido entre Colorado Rapids e Inter Miami en el estadio DRV PNK el 6 de abril de 2024 en Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Foto de Megan Briggs/Getty Images) 
Orlando City forward Duncan McGuire (13) controls the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Inter Miami, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) 
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) dribbles the ball under pressure from Orlando City midfielder Martín Ojeda (11) and Orlando City defender Rafael Santos (3) during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) 
In this May 31, 2017, file photo, storm clouds gather before an MLS soccer game between D.C. United and Orlando City SC at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando, Fla. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel via AP, File)
“We could not be more excited to welcome Inter Miami CF and Orlando City SC to our community,” said Rob Higgins, Executive Director, Tampa Bay Sports Commissioner. “To have the potential opportunity to see a generational icon such as Lionel Messi take the field in our hometown is truly special. This is something that people will tell their grandkids about.”
A presale ticket interest form is now available on their website.
Presale tickets will begin at 10 a.m. on Nov. 14 for fans who have registered online. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Nov. 14.
Season ticket members need to follow their club’s email for details, related to the presale access, according to the Tampa Bay Sports Commission.
“While our most important objective is always our ongoing pursuit of bringing titles to South Florida, we’re excited to have set one of our preseason matches for 2025. Planning ahead will help us prepare for a highly anticipated follow-up to everything we’ve accomplished, and everything we’re still fighting for in 2024. We’re looking forward to a thrilling atmosphere in our first visit to Tampa since our inaugural year in 2020,” said President of Football Operation Ral Sanlleh.
The Tampa Bay Sports Commission stated the preseason match is the first time two MLS franchises have competed in Tampa and the first time Lionel Messi is expected to take the field, outside of South Florida.
