Thu Feb 20 02:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Inter Miami’s Season Opener Delayed, Messi Celebration Stirs Debate

**Fort Lauderdale, FL** – Inter Miami CF’s highly anticipated Major League Soccer season opener against New York City FC has been pushed back five hours, now scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The delay stems from the postponement of their Concacaf Champions Cup match against Sporting Kansas City due to severe winter weather.

The Kansas City game, originally slated for Tuesday, was rescheduled to Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET due to a blizzard warning predicting 5-7 inches of snow and temperatures as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano explained the decision, stating that playing under such conditions would pose significant risks to players and fans, potentially leading to city-wide transportation issues. “It’s not just a matter of the game,” Mascherano said, “if the snow falls…the city is going to completely collapse.”

Concacaf cited player and fan safety as the primary reason for the postponement, made in consultation with both clubs and local authorities. Sporting Kansas City’s MLS opener against Austin FC remains unaffected by the weather and is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET.

Meanwhile, analysts Shaka Hislop and Herculez Gomez are discussing Lionel Messi’s controversial celebration during a recent friendly match, a reaction that sparked debate amongst fans and pundits. (Details of the celebration and commentary will be reported separately.) The focus now shifts to Inter Miami’s season opener, with fans eagerly awaiting the team’s debut under the new schedule.

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