FROM THE STANDS: THE MATCH THAT NEVER WAS

Félix Fernández

By Inter Miami CF

April 21^st, 2021

In the “From the Stands” series we will bring to you the stories of Inter Miami fans who recount their experiences seeing the team in action, whether visiting DRV PNK Stadium as guests or as fans living the thrill from their TV screens. In the first installment of this series, we present the story of Félix Fernández and his son Martín, who witnessed the first live game of the team in it’s 2021 MLS Regular Season.

Fernández is a retired Mexican goalkeeper who enjoyed his career for more than 15 years and is now a soccer writer, TV presenter, and analyst for TUDN. He was a member of the Mexican National Team from 1993 to 1996, and was called up for the 1994 FIFA World Cup; he also played for Atlante Fútbol Club and Celaya FC.

The Match that Never Was

There are events in life that one savors with anticipation, even before the occasion arises. One of the desires, in the city that has housed us since 2005, was to support the team that didn’t yet exist with my son who was not yet born.

Many years later with the tickets in my hand, my dream became reality and with that came to life the excitement of cheering for the new team in its stadium (yes, in the stadium!) and being accompanied by my son (in one of those events that you know will last in your memory for a long time). But theInter Miami vs. LA Galaxy game scheduled for March 14, 2020 was suspended less than 48 hours before the team’s season began for an indefinite period of time and then after a year it soon became: “The match that never was.”

Thirteen long (or short, or uncertain or distressing?) months passed, my son received his phone, changed schools and school systems, habits, everyday life, soccer academies, video game preferences, height, voice, hobbies, and physical appearance…but fortunately our favorite pastime - spending time together - didn’t change.

“The match that never was” in 2020 was lost at the time, but also in the paralysis of time...the uncertainty, the expectations...but overall in the tragedy and learning experience of a pandemic we have never experienced and without mercy shook us all.

FROM THE STANDS: THE MATCH THAT NEVER WAS

We were reminded of “the match that never was” on April 18, 2021 with the same team emblems but different protagonists, because none of us are the same after March 14, 2020. We have been privileged to return to a stadium after much time, we are fortunate to feel the sun on our face, we are blessed to transmit the euphoria felt together along with other admirers of the game and blessed to finally be able to argue with our seat neighbors at the stadium again. We are a part of a group that today had the chance of wearing the white, pink or black jersey that we had folded away all year. We are alive and honor the memory of those who never witnessed the game that never was, but the game who wanted to be and was then transformed.

There are specific occasions where the score does not really matter in a soccer match; the day where you go for the first time with your son to the stadium qualifies as these occasions.

“The match that never was” gave me the opportunity to appreciate the first journey of the second season, thirteen months later, with a much more mature version of my son to be able to compare, observe, listen, and analyze everything that happens with the team in our city, and since it’s recent establishment, our team in MLS.

There are events that one must savor since they were just a simple dream. To have a team in this city, go to the stadium with my son and leave behind “the match that never was” are great examples to build memories and references that help you create an identity for yourself. Today, I can actually go with my son to support a team that does exist.

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