Marquee matchup? Austin seems odd choice for Inter Miami's Nu Stadium debut | OneFootball

It’s not a sexy matchup; Saturday’s meeting between Austin FC and Inter Miami is just the third ever and first in almost three years.

But it will be historic.

Finally, the Herons will play the first true home match in the team’s six-plus years when they kick off against Los Verdes at 7:30 p.m. EDT Saturday in brand new Nu Stadium, the $350 million, 26,700-seat showpiece of Miami Freedom Park. After more than six years playing its "home" matches in Fort Lauderdale, Inter Miami will play in its namesake city.

“It’s a dream come true,” Miami managing owner Jorge Mas told reporters Thursday. “This stadium was born from a dream: to create a top-class stadium in my hometown where we could celebrate futbol.”

But, with all due respect, why Austin? The club began play in 2021, a year after the Herons, but its greatest achievement to date is reaching last year's U.S. Open Cup final, where it lost to frequent Miami foe Nashville. The Greens, based in Texas' capitol city, are in the Western Conference; their previous meetings ended in a 1-1 draw at Miami --er, Fort Lauderdale -- in 2023 and a 5-1 Austin victory the year before. Where's the story?

Maybe there is none, and maybe it was designed that way. Inter Miami has been waiting for this moment for a very long time, and ownership is determined to establish the Herons as a global brand as well as MLS' flagship side; how would it look if LAFC, Nashville or -- in a worst-case scenario -- Orlando City beat the Pink to ruin their housewarming party?

OK, I'm sure Austin is our first Nu Stadium guest purely by coincidence, but I would have liked to see a higher profile matchup for Nu Stadium's unveiling. Saturday's match will be memorable regardless of the opponent or the outcome. But wouldn't a dramatic win against our archrivals or a top contender make the day that much sweeter?

Club de Futbol Internacional Miami began play in 2020 at a “temporary” facility built on the site of historic Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Los Garzas posted an impressive 47-27-21 MLS record (162 points) at Inter Miami/DRV PNK/Chase Stadium over that time and won its first league title there in December. Homegrown midfielder David Ruíz, who grew up in the Little Havana neighborhood near Nu Stadium, said Thursday that he expects Nu Stadium to help the Herons continue that success.

“Having the stadium in the heart of Miami is important...Now fans have the stadium close to home, which will help create a great atmosphere at games," Ruiz said. "It’s something we’re happy about and we can’t wait to experience that moment.”