Many will speak – with good reason – of Inter Miami CF ’s long climb from the Eastern Conference basement to MLS Cup presented by Audi glory in the two and a half years since Lionel Messi arrived, with his FC Barcelona friends Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets in tow, to transform the club in every sense.

Yet the Herons’ journey to Saturday's joyful trophy hoist runs a great deal longer than that.

“Look around you; this is beautiful,” homegrown defender Ian Fray , who grew up just a few miles north of Chase Stadium, told FOX’s Maurice Edu in the exuberant aftermath of the Herons’ 3-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC .

“We've gone through some really tough times at this club, and now to see it all, it all happened for a reason.”

Long road

IMCF first took the pitch in 2020 and

See Full Page