If there’s one thing South Florida is never short on, it’s sports. Whether it’s the Dolphins, Heat, Panthers and Inter Miami or college football, rivalries, tournaments and local competitions, there’s always something happening somewhere. You just have to get there, survive the traffic, tolerate the heat and hope the afternoon thunderstorm decides to ruin somebody else’s plans for once.
That’s why SFL.media keeps its eyes on the South Florida sports scene. Instead of making you dig through a dozen different websites, social media accounts and team pages just to figure out what’s happening, we bring the games, events, teams and athletes together in one place. We do the hunting so you can focus on deciding where you want to be.
And let’s be honest, sports are meant to be experienced, not just watched through a tiny screen. There’s nothing quite like being in the arena when a game-winning goal finds the net, watching a fighter put someone on the canvas or seeing a shot drop with the clock winding down. Highlights are great. Being there when it happens is better.
From major professional matchups and college showdowns to community competitions, tournaments and local sporting events, SFL.media covers the action taking place throughout the region. Whether you’re a die-hard fan who plans weekends around the schedule or someone simply looking for something entertaining to do, there’s plenty to discover.
South Florida sports have their own personality. They’re energetic, unpredictable, occasionally chaotic and never boring for very long. SFL.media helps you keep track of it all and, more importantly, gives you a reason to get out there and experience it for yourself.
Wednesday, September 16th @ 8pm
2026 Campeones Cup
Inter Miami CF vs. Cruz Azul @ Nu Stadium in Miami
The 2026 Michelob ULTRA Campeones Cup puts two of North America’s biggest soccer clubs against each other when Inter Miami CF hosts Cruz Azul at Nu Stadium in Miami. The match is a winner-take-all showdown between the reigning MLS Cup champion and Mexico’s reigning Campeón de Campeones, essentially giving MLS and Liga MX a chance to settle bragging rights on the field.
Inter Miami earned its place by winning the 2025 MLS Cup, defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps and establishing itself as the reigning champion of Major League Soccer. The match also gives Lionel Messi another opportunity to add hardware to an already ridiculous trophy collection. Messi enters the game having recently scored his 19th MLS goal of the 2026 season in Miami’s 2-2 draw with Nashville.
Cruz Azul arrives with plenty of firepower of its own. The Mexican powerhouse has been one of Liga MX’s strongest clubs and comes into Miami after a dramatic 4-3 victory over Club América, a result that demonstrated just how dangerous the Cementeros can be going forward. Players including Nicolás Ibáñez, Erik Lira, José Paradela, Alan Mozo and Kevin Mier will be among the names Miami has to deal with.
The Campeones Cup itself was created in 2018 as an annual meeting between the MLS Cup champion and the Liga MX Campeón de Campeones winner. It is a single-match competition, meaning there is no home-and-away series and no second chance. Previous winners include Tigres, Atlanta United, Columbus Crew and New York City FC. Cruz Azul previously won the competition in 2021, beating Columbus Crew 2-0.
For Inter Miami, this is particularly significant because it will be the club’s first opportunity to play for a trophy at Nu Stadium. The match also comes at an interesting time for Miami. The club has struggled for consistency recently, with only one MLS victory in its previous eight matches according to recent reports, while Cruz Azul is coming off a major rivalry victory. In other words, Miami gets the home crowd, Messi and plenty of star power, while Cruz Azul arrives with momentum and absolutely no intention of being impressed by the pink jerseys.
This isn’t the same tournament as the CONCACAF Champions Cup or Leagues Cup. The Campeones Cup is essentially a MLS champion vs. Liga MX champion one-night championship fight, and with Messi leading Inter Miami against a Cruz Azul side arriving in strong form, it has all the ingredients for a very loud night in Miami.
Saturday, September 19th @ 6pm
The Shula Bowl: FIU Panthers vs. FAU Owls Football @ Flagler Credit Union Stadium in Boca Raton
The Shula Bowl returns to Boca Raton as the Florida Atlantic Owls host the Florida International Panthers. This annual South Florida rivalry dates back to 2002 and is named in honor of legendary Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, whose connection to both programs runs deep. FAU’s first head coach, Howard Schnellenberger, worked under Shula with the Dolphins, while FIU’s first head coach, Don Strock, was one of Shula’s quarterbacks.
The Owls enter the rivalry looking to reclaim the Don Shula Trophy after FIU shocked FAU 38-28 in 2025, snapping FAU’s seven-game winning streak in the series and giving the Panthers their first Shula Bowl victory since 2016. FAU still owns a commanding 17-5 advantage in the all-time series, making FIU’s 2025 victory an especially significant one.
FAU has some momentum heading into the matchup after an impressive 38-30 victory over Navy, in which quarterback Caden Veltkamp threw for 386 yards and five touchdowns. The Owls’ explosive passing attack could be a major factor against FIU, particularly after Veltkamp and the offense demonstrated their ability to put points on the board in bunches.
For FIU, the game represents an opportunity to prove last year’s victory wasn’t simply a one-night interruption of FAU’s dominance. Head coach Willie Simmons is entering his second season with the Panthers after leading FIU to the 2025 Shula Bowl win, his first victory over an FBS opponent. The Panthers will arrive in Boca Raton as the defending Shula Bowl champions, while FAU will be looking to make sure the trophy doesn’t spend another year south of I-595.
The bottom line is that this is exactly what a rivalry game should be: two South Florida programs, a trophy carrying the name of a legendary coach, bragging rights and a recent history that gives both sides plenty of ammunition. FAU has dominated the rivalry historically, but FIU finally broke through last year. Now the Owls get their shot at revenge on their own field.
Sunday, September 20th @ 7pm
PRESEASON HOCKEY: Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes @ Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise
The Florida Panthers open their 2026 preseason against the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise. The matchup gives Florida an immediate test against the team that ended the 2025-26 season on top of the hockey world.
For the Panthers, this game is less about the final score and more about figuring out what the roster looks like heading into the 2026-27 campaign. Florida missed the playoffs last season after making the Stanley Cup Final in consecutive years, so training camp and the preseason represent the beginning of an attempted reset. Matthew Tkachuk has said the team is highly motivated after watching last year’s playoffs from home.
Carolina enters with an entirely different level of confidence. The Hurricanes are the reigning Stanley Cup champions, and the Panthers will get an early look at one of the NHL’s top teams before the regular season begins. The fact that Florida opens its exhibition schedule against the defending champions also makes the matchup a useful measuring stick, even if preseason hockey comes with the usual parade of prospects, roster experimentation and players fighting for jobs.
The Panthers and Hurricanes will actually meet again during the preseason on September 22 in Raleigh, before Florida’s regular-season opener takes place in Carolina on September 29.
For South Florida hockey fans, it is essentially the first meaningful glimpse at whether the Panthers can put last season behind them and get back into the Stanley Cup conversation. And because apparently four months without hockey wasn’t enough suffering, the NHL is getting everyone started early.
Sunday, September 20th @ 7pm
Inter Miami CF vs. San Diego FC @ Nu Stadium in Miami
Inter Miami CF returns to MLS action Sunday night when the Herons host San Diego FC at Nu Stadium. It is an intriguing matchup between one of MLS’s biggest clubs and one of its newer franchises, with Miami entering the game sitting second in the Eastern Conference at 45 points, while San Diego is ninth in the Western Conference with 30 points.
For Miami, the spotlight naturally falls on Lionel Messi, who has been producing at an absurd level once again. Messi leads Miami with 19 MLS goals, while Luis Suárez has added 12. Rodrigo De Paul has also become an important creative presence in Miami’s midfield. The Herons have scored 61 goals in 25 league matches, giving them one of the league’s most dangerous attacks.
San Diego, meanwhile, has hit a rough patch at exactly the wrong time. SDFC has lost three straight, including a brutal 5-0 home defeat to the Philadelphia Union on September 13. Before that came losses to San Jose and Orlando. The club’s biggest offensive threat is Anders Dreyer, who has nine goals and has been San Diego’s primary creator throughout the season.
The matchup also comes at an important point in the season for Miami. Despite sitting near the top of the Eastern Conference, the Herons have experienced an inconsistent stretch and are trying to build momentum heading toward the MLS playoffs. San Diego, meanwhile, desperately needs points to keep its postseason hopes alive. In other words, this isn’t exactly a September beach stroll for either club, although Miami does get the luxury of playing at home while San Diego gets to contemplate what went wrong after shipping five goals in its previous match.
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