On the Scene Miami: Locals Talk About the Latest Trends in Their City

My family is from Venezuela, we are all soccer-obsessed! Because so many Latin Americans live in Miami, the city and its suburbs are naturally particularly susceptible to the soccer fever. Parts of Miami Beach are in Argentinian hands, a lot of Colombians live in Kendall and there is a large community from Venezuela in Doral. These are all football-mad nations - and even in exile, people are still ardent supporters of their national teams.

Since 2020, however, Inter Miami has also been a local club that most soccer fans here can relate to - and since Lionel Messi joined Inter in the summer of 2023, the passion for the beautiful game has spilled over into the entire city. I've also noticed this in my friends. I used to have to watch Premier League games alone on TV and get up at 8 a.m. to do so. Now my friends are also keen to watch matches early in the morning. 

This also plays a role in the swelling soccer enthusiasm: During the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in Mexico, Canada, and the USA, seven matches will be played in Miami. If you can't get a ticket for the stadium, the best place to watch the World Cup matches is the Fritz and Franz Bierhaus, a German-style pub that shows international tournaments, including the Champions League. For games of our home team Inter Miami, I recommend the pub (with its own brewery) Cerveceria La Tropical - unless you take the Brightline Train to Fort Lauderdale, where the stadium is currently located; a new venue is currently being built near Miami International Airport.

If you want to ride the soccer wave, at least in terms of fashion, buy cool vintage jerseys at Saturdays Football in the Wynwood Arts District. Tiffozi Vintage Futbol also offers a large selection. This is actually an online store, but it opens pop-up stores in Miami from time to time. When and where? You can find out on their Instagram page.

Kicking a ball yourself is of course the most fun. You can regularly find me at the Stadio Soccer pitches in the Little River district or Pegaso Soccer in Midtown. The Plei app is a great way to organize pick-up games, spontaneous soccer matches with friends or strangers that are more about the fun of the game than perfect technique or sophisticated tactics.

Alfonso Duran grew up in Miami and works there as a photographer. What he loves about his home city is its proximity to South America and the Caribbean, which allows him to work in different countries and feel a connection to his Venezuelan roots.