Inter Miami’s China tour cancelled due to “unforeseen circumstances”
Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer team, has announced that their scheduled China tour this month has been cancelled due to “unforeseen circumstances.” The club had previously revealed their plans to play friendly matches against Qingdao Hainiu on November 5 and another Chinese Super League team, Chengdu Rongcheng, on November 8.
The announcement of the tour had included Lionel Messi, who recently won his eighth Ballon d’Or, as a prominent figure on the club’s social media platforms. However, Inter Miami released a statement on Wednesday stating that the tour promoter, NSN, had informed them of the cancellation due to unforeseen events in China.
Despite the setback, Inter Miami remains determined to expand its global presence and engage with fans worldwide. The club expressed their intention to continue exploring future opportunities with NSN to achieve this goal.
NSN also expressed their regret for the cancellation and cited the recent passing of former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as the reason behind the decision.
The China tour was supposed to mark Inter Miami’s maiden international tour, with Xavier Asensi, the club’s chief business officer, emphasizing their desire to share their passion and reach new audiences.
During the 2023 Leagues Cup, Messi played a crucial role in securing the championship for Inter Miami. However, he later missed several games due to fatigue, which was later confirmed as a muscle injury. After a brief hiatus, Messi returned to action with Argentina during last month’s international break and recently received the prestigious Ballon d’Or award in Paris.
In light of these developments, soccer enthusiasts are now pondering the impact that Messi’s presence could have on the future of American soccer.
(Photo: Getty Images)