David Beckham has never been shy about setting ambitious goals. The former England captain and global football icon has now set his sights on building a lasting legacy in the United States, where his long-awaited Inter Miami project is finally ready to kick off in Major League Soccer.
Speaking on Wednesday, just four days before the Florida-based franchise plays its first-ever MLS match away to Los Angeles FC on Sunday, Beckham opened up about the doubts, obstacles and eventual triumphs that have defined the road to this moment.
“I want to leave a trace, and I want my children to be able to say in 20 years, 'My father helped build this club,'” Beckham said. That desire, he explained, has kept him going through the difficult years it took to turn Inter Miami from a dream into reality.
A long and winding road
Beckham's name has been synonymous with ambition since he first emerged as a teenager at Manchester United. From his memorable winning goal against Wimbledon in 1996 to his storied spells at Real Madrid, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and LA Galaxy, Beckham has always sought to leave an imprint. Now, as co-owner of Inter Miami, he is chasing a different kind of success: building a club from the ground up in one of North America's most vibrant sports markets.
On Wednesday, Beckham spoke publicly about the journey that has brought him to the brink of Miami's MLS debut. With the first match of the regular season overshadowed by uncertainty and anticipation, Beckham revealed that even he questioned whether the project would ever get off the ground. “There was this time when I was at home, on the phone with commissioner Don Garber,” Beckham recalled. “He told us how difficult it would be. There are moments when we asked ourselves, 'Are we honestly going to make it?'”
The British star's original intention to become a team owner dates back to 2014, but the path was anything but smooth. He discovered quickly that being a global footballing superstar would not be enough to push a major stadium project through the complexities of local politics and real estate. “I come from the east of London, not Miami,” Beckham said. “So for me, going over there, trying to buy land, talking to politicians, got us nowhere.” The lessons were humbling, but they were also necessary.
The turning point came in December 2017, when Beckham teamed up with Jorge and Jose Mas, two Miami businessmen with deep roots in the community and a shared vision for the franchise. “I didn't want to go into partnership with people who would do this out of vanity. They're not vain, and neither am I. It was the dream partnership for us. It changed everything,” Beckham stated. The Mas brothers brought credibility, business acumen and a network of relationships that helped unlock the final pieces of the puzzle.
Inter Miami's arrival in MLS has been anticipated for years. The club was originally announced as Miami Beckham United, and Beckham exercised an option inserted into his LA Galaxy contract that allowed him to purchase an expansion team for $25 million after his playing career ended. The option, negotiated when he signed with the Galaxy in 2007, proved to be one of the most significant clauses in American soccer history. At the time, Beckham's move to the United States was already groundbreaking; the ownership clause added an entrepreneurial layer that would keep him connected to the league long after he hung up his boots.
The club's name and crest were unveiled in 2018, with a distinctive pink and black design inspired by the vibrancy of Miami. But the stadium issue remained a stubborn obstacle. Initial plans to build a venue on the site of a former golf course in the city's Overtown neighborhood faced legal challenges and community opposition. At times, it seemed the project might collapse entirely. Beckham acknowledged those dark moments, but emphasized the support he received along the way.
Now, after years of legal battles, planning discussions and construction, Inter Miami is ready to compete. The team will play its first home match on March 14 at a brand-new 20,000-seat stadium in Fort Lauderdale, a facility that was built in less than a year to meet the club's urgent deadline. That match will be a truly symbolic occasion: the opponent will be the LA Galaxy, the team Beckham played for from 2007 to 2012, and where he won two MLS Cups and became one of the most influential figures in the league's history.
Before that home opener, however, Inter Miami must travel to Los Angeles to face LAFC on Sunday. The contrast between the two expansion franchises is fascinating. LAFC joined MLS in 2018 and quickly became a powerhouse, winning the Supporters' Shield in 2019. Inter Miami is starting from a very different place, with a roster assembled over the winter and a coach, Diego Alonso, who previously led Monterrey to CONCACAF Champions League glory. Alonso will be tasked with instilling a competitive identity while managing the enormous expectations that come with Beckham's brand.
The roster itself reflects the club's ambitions. Beckham has leaned on his global network to attract players, though the squad is far from a collection of aging stars. Young South American talents, experienced MLS players and a few international names have been blended together in the hope of creating something sustainable. The club's designated players are expected to carry much of the creative burden, and Alonso's tactical flexibility will be tested as he troubleshoots his lineup in the early months of the season.
Beckham has also been clear about his long-term vision for Inter Miami. In his words, the goal is not merely to exist but to become a cornerstone of South Florida's sporting culture. He wants the club to be a family destination, a source of pride for the community, and a platform that helps grow soccer across the United States. That is a tall order, especially in a market crowded with established professional teams in football, basketball, baseball and hockey.
Miami is not a traditional soccer market in the way that, say, Portland or Seattle have become. But the region does have a rich soccer heritage, from the old Fort Lauderdale Strikers to the memorable Miami Fusion of the original MLS era. Beckham's presence, combined with the city's demographics and the growing popularity of the sport, gives Inter Miami a fighting chance. The club has already drawn significant interest on social media and in the local community, with merchandise flying off the shelves and fans eagerly anticipating the first home game.
All of this is part of the “trace” Beckham wants to leave. He has been thoughtful about the responsibility that comes with owning a club, particularly one tied so closely to a city known for its glamour and its hard edges. “I want to leave a trace and for my children to be able to say in 20 years, 'My dad helped build this club,'” he repeated, blending humility with the confidence that has defined his public life.
Inter Miami's journey is just beginning. The road from Beckham's initial idea to Sunday's opener has taken more than six years, and the club has already faced setbacks that would have derailed lesser projects. Yet Beckham's perseverance, along with the Mas brothers' local expertise, has brought Inter Miami to the starting line. The story of the franchise will now be written on the pitch, where the players must prove that the dream is worth all the struggles.
As Beckham knows better than most, a club is more than its founding narrative. It needs wins, identities and memories. It needs fans who feel a sense of ownership, players who embody the ethos, and leaders who remain committed even when the spotlight fades. Beckham's own career has prepared him for this moment, from his early days at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson to his transformative years in Los Angeles, where he embraced the challenge of making soccer relevant in a crowded American sports landscape. Now he faces his greatest test yet, not as a player but as a builder.
The opening match against LAFC will be a barometer for Inter Miami's ambitions. LAFC's rise has been meteoric, but it has also set expectations that few expansion teams can replicate. The pressure on Beckham's club will be immense, especially given the media attention and the footballing pedigree of its owner. However, Beckham has repeatedly shown that he thrives when the odds are against him, and he remains optimistic about what lies ahead.
For now, the focus is on Sunday's contest and the symbolic significance of stepping onto an MLS pitch for the first time. Inter Miami will not be judged on a single game, of course, but the match will begin the tangible process of building a legacy that Beckham hopes will endure long after his name no longer appears in the headlines. It is, in a very real sense, the first page of a new chapter.
Source: L'Équipe News