Sports fans rejoice! The all-time soccer superstar Lionel Messi is back in DFW for a friendly match between Inter Miami and FC Dallas on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. The game will be the first time FC Dallas returns to the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Fair Park since 2009, according to an official statement by the team. And what a comeback!
“We’re looking forward to playing in the Cotton Bowl and welcoming Inter Miami CF to the iconic stadium that served as our franchise’s original home,” said FC Dallas President Dan Hunt. “This is a great way to kick off 2024 and get the DFW market excited about our players and the upcoming Major League Soccer (MLS) season.”
The last time the teams met in North Texas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, tickets sold out in a record time: 22 minutes. Additionally, the wave of fans that flocked to Frisco for a chance to catch a glimpse of “La Pulga” (the flea, a friendly nickname Messi earned early in his career for his fast and stealthy play style and short stature at the time) packed the stadium with over 19,000 attendees. That single match left an economic impact of $3 million for the city.
“At the beginning of the tournament, I was not expecting us to take on Inter Miami CF,” said FC Dallas forward Alan Velasco before the 2023 match. “We are going to welcome Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF until the game starts. It will be a dream to play against Messi.”
In addition to fans of the Argentinian soccer idol, last year’s match brought other soccer celebrities with it. Victoria and David Beckham, co-owner of Inter Miami, surprised Blu's BBQ’s manager when they made an impromptu stop for a quick meal on their way to Frisco on Preston Road. We’ll our eyes peeled for who’s coming this time around.
“We are thrilled to welcome FC Dallas back to the Cotton Bowl, their original home, for a match against Inter Miami,” said Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson. “Dallas is a dynamic city with deep soccer roots, and this highly anticipated match will certainly generate even more soccer buzz as we get ready to host the FIFA World Cup 2026.”