Inter Miami’s preseason matches canceled

Inter Miami’s final preseason games on Sunday against Toronto FC and Miami FC have been canceled due to scheduling conflicts.

The two games, scheduled at the newly named DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, will be replaced by a 2 p.m. instrasquad match open only to the media and select season-ticket holders.

The club had already canceled three matches in the past few weeks, which means Inter Miami will enter its season opener April 18 against the Los Angeles Galaxy without a single preseason test against an MLS opponent.

Its only preparation matches were against the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Miami FC, both USL clubs. Scheduled games in Bradenton against the Charleston Battery (USL), and MLS opponents New York Red Bulls and Nashville SC were called off due to COVID-19 concerns with a few cases in the Miami camp and other clubs training in the area.

Inter Miami sporting director Chris Henderson said it was a mutual decision between the clubs to cancel the Sunday games, as Toronto had a complicated schedule with two CONCACAF Champions League matches over seven days and players getting vaccinated.

Toronto FC, which is based in Orlando during the preseason, announced earlier this week that its players and staff were getting COVID-19 vaccines on Friday after returning from their CONCACAF Champions League 1-1 tie Wednesday against Club Leon in Mexico.

Also, the team is looking to get healthy before its second-leg Champions League game on Wednesday as six players were missing from Toronto’s s lineup on Wednesday, including playmaker Alejandro Pozuelo and goalkeeper Quentin Westberg.

Inter Miami’s second season will kick off with a (limited capacity) sellout crowd of 8,000 fans for the game against the Galaxy. The 3 p.m. match will be televised on ABC and ESPN Deportes.

Michelle Kaufman: 305-376-3438, @kaufsports