The Inter Miami team, led by Argentine star Lionel Messi, visited the White House after winning the Major League Soccer title, in a protocol visit that is a tradition for winning teams. The visit came amid widespread criticism due to the interaction with U.S. President Donald Trump, who is known for stirring political controversy.

The team's coach, Javier Mascherano, spoke about the visit, saying: "We came and carried out something ceremonial, which is a long-standing tradition and was planned in advance," emphasizing that the visit was related to traditions and not any political stance.

Mascherano explained the reason for choosing the timing of the visit, pointing out that the event coincided with the team's match against DC United in Washington as part of the league: "The visit was originally planned to coincide with the match here in Washington," adding that it was related to the team's sports schedule.

The coach pointed out the details of the visit, explaining: "We stayed there for about two hours, getting to know the White House from the inside as much as possible. As for the interaction with Trump, it was as seen on television screens, and there was nothing more than that," in an attempt to clarify that the players' participation was only within an official and protocol framework.