When Inter Miami CF take on Orlando City SC in the first match of the MLS is Back Tournament next month, there will be more on the line for both clubs than points on the table.
While many games need to be played and much history needs to be made before this can be considered a true rivalry, the seeds were planted from the jump upon Miami's arrival to MLS, with each match representing a chance for one of the clubs to lay claim to in-state bragging rights. And that will all start on July 8, when the sides will face off in the first match of the upcoming tournament in Orlando.
Speaking to host Taylor Twellman on an episode of the ESPN podcast Banter this week, Inter Miami midfielder Wil Trapp said his team is well aware that all eyes will be on that first matchup, and that they have an opportunity to etch their names in the history books should they claim what would also be their first MLS victory.
"Look, it's almost too perfect that this game was the first game of the tournament, that we were drawn in the same group as Orlando," Trapp told Twellman. "And look, it's still early, we have a rivalry because we're in-state, but I would say nothing's been foraged yet, nothing's really been put together yet.
"It's something, we obviously as players are very passionate about winning this first game -- not only for the tournament, but also for the legacy moving forward of what that rivalry will become. 20, 30, 40 years down the line, we hope that we'll be on the right side of history, for sure."
