HOUSTON (Feb. 28, 2025) – Houston Dynamo FC continue their two-game season-opening homestand this Sunday, March 2 versus Inter Miami CF at Shell Energy Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT. Tickets for the match and all Dynamo games are available HERE.
The match will also feature as Apple TV’s game of the week on Sunday Night Soccer in a standalone broadcast on MLS Season Pass.
Sunday will feature a rematch of the 2023 U.S. Open Cup final, where the Dynamo defeated Inter Miami 2-1 in South Florida behind goals from forward Amine Bassi and defender Griffin Dorsey, securing Houston’s fourth domestic title in Club history after winning back-to-back MLS Cup titles in 2006 and 2007, as well as the 2018 U.S. Open Cup.
The Dynamo opened regular season play and their 20th MLS campaign last weekend, falling 2-1 to in-state rivals FC Dallas at Shell Energy Stadium. Bassi scored Houston’s first goal of the 2025 season in the 18th minute after an impressive cross from Dorsey was redirected by forward Ezequiel Ponce, who found the Moroccan forward near the back post. Notably, the match featured several Dynamo debuts, including midfielder Jack McGlynn, midfielder Nico Lodeiro, midfielder Erik Dueñas and defender Femi Awodesu.
Houston made some significant signings over the course of the offseason. The Dynamo acquired McGlynn in a historic cash trade with the Philadelphia Union, sending $2.1 million in exchange for the 21-year-old U.S. Men’s National Team player and marking the first cash-for-player trade for a Homegrown player in MLS history and one of the largest trades in league history. Just last week, Houston signed MLS legend midfielder Lodeiro, who brings extensive MLS and championship-winning experience after being a key contributor in Orlando reaching the Eastern Conference Final last season and in Seattle’s success over the past decade, winning three trophies, including the MLS Cup in 2016 and 2019, as well as the Concacaf Champions League title in 2022. Additional offseason signings for Houston included Duenas, midfielder Junior Urso, defender Michael Halliday, Awodesu, and goalkeepers Jimmy Maurer and Blake Gillingham.
The Dynamo also return a strong core of players from the past two seasons, including midfielder Artur, Bassi, Dorsey, defender Franco Escobar, forward Aliyu Ibrahim, midfielder Sebastian Kowalczyk, Ponce, defender Daniel Steres and defender Erik Sviatchenko. Notably, Artur was recently named the team captain for this season.
Inter Miami are coming off a 3-1 home victory over Sporting Kansas City in the second leg of Round One of the Concacaf Champions Cup, advancing to the Round of 16. Miami took the lead early with Messi finding the back of the net in the 19th minute, before Tadeo Allende and Suárez followed with goals of their own. In regular season action, Inter Miami played NYCFC to a 2-2 draw in their season and home opener. Tomas Aviles and Telasco Segovia were the two goal scorers, while Messi registered two assists on the night.
Sunday’s match will mark the fifth meeting in all competitions between the two sides and Miami’s first and only trip to Shell Energy Stadium this season. The last time Miami visited Houston was in April 2023 when the Dynamo earned a 1-0 regular season victory behind a goal from Steres. Currently, the Dynamo lead the all-time against Inter Miami with a 3-1-0 (WLD) record, winning one at home and two on the road.
Inter Miami’s roster features four superstar players in Messi, Suárez, Busquets and Alba. The trio of Messi, Busquets and Alba signed with the club mid-season in 2023 and went on to lead Miami to the 2023 Leagues Cup title, winning the first-ever trophy in club history. Suárez later joined ahead of the 2024 season and helped the team win the Supporters’ Shield.
Dynamo players Ponce and Escobar have similar roots to Messi. Like Messi, both were born in Rosario, Argentina and launched their careers at Newell’s Old Boys, the club where Messi famously got his start as an academy player. Interestingly, Escobar even has a large tattoo of Messi kissing the FIFA World Cup trophy on his right thigh (photos in link above).
Additionally, the match will see a reunion between Lodeiro and Suárez, who both share a remarkable history of competing together for Uruguay on the international stage. Lodeiro has earned 60 caps for Uruguay, featuring in two FIFA World Cups (2010 and 2014) and in Uruguay’s title run in the 2011 CONMBEL Copa America, where Lodeiro and Suárez helped lift the trophy for La Celeste. The two players also spent time together at Dutch club Ajax.
Miami’s roster also features former Dynamo player forward Fafa Picault, who scored 18 goals for Houston and tallied eight assists in 61 regular season games.
Houston next travels to face Columbus Crew on Saturday, March 8 for their first road trip of the year, with kickoff scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT.
