Inter Miami’s trip to China has reportedly been cut short.
The Herons intended to play Chinese Super League sides Qingdao Hainiu FC and Chengdu Rongcheng on a two-game post-season exhibition tour in early November.
However, according to a report from the South China Morning Post, the team’s November 8th match against Chengdu has been canceled: “We are sorry that the second leg of Inter Miami Football Club’s trip to China will not be held in Chengdu due to various reasons. We ask for your understanding.”
The tour’s organizers haven’t specified the exact reason for the cancellation, leaving many Chinese fans furious.
Additionally, ticketing for the event has been tedious. The Morning Post states that supporters in China have struggled to buy tickets, with many expressing frustration on the social media platform Weibo.
Inter Miami has yet to comment on the debacle. It also remains to be seen if the match will be rescheduled or moved to another stadium.
Inter Miami’s long off-season
With Inter Miami traveling to China in a few days, this news comes at a poor time.
The Herons failed to make the playoffs after winning its first trophy in club history with a League Cup title. Although the men in pink fought to the end, the team didn’t win the required number of matches to slip into the post-season.
Miami ended 2023 early with a 1-0 loss away at Charlotte FC. Their trip to China was a way for the team to stay fit over a nearly three-and-a-half month-long off-season. The South Florida club now has to find another way to stay in shape for 2024.
While it’s not ideal to have a match canceled, the trip to East Asia will be a phenomenal experience for the squad to bond.
The young players on the team will not only have the opportunity to grow closer to the veteran trio of Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets, but they’ll also get the chance to experience a different culture.