The vibrant landscape of Miami sports is currently a focal point, with the Dolphins achieving a rare preseason milestone, Inter Miami making a deep run in the Leagues Cup, and global sporting events capturing attention. This week’s news also brought to light a significant local scandal involving a former police officer and stolen sports memorabilia. [13]
Miami Dolphins Achieve Historic Preseason Feat Amidst High Hopes
The Miami Dolphins have kicked off their 2025 campaign with a significant, albeit exhibition, achievement: an unbeaten 2-0-1 preseason record, their first since 1998. [13, 30] The impressive run culminated in a 14-6 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in their preseason finale on Saturday evening at Hard Rock Stadium. [13, 43, 44] While the final score in preseason games often takes a backseat to player evaluations and injury concerns, the Dolphins’ decision to field all healthy starters in the first half against a Jaguars team that largely rested its key players set a competitive tone. [43, 46]
The Dolphins’ path to this unbeaten preseason included a 24-24 tie against the Chicago Bears and a 24-17 win over the Detroit Lions. [30] The last time Miami achieved an undefeated preseason was in 1998, under then-coach Jimmy Johnson, where they finished with a 4-0 record, defeating teams like the Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, and Green Bay Packers. [14, 29, 42, 38] That 1998 team went on to a 10-6 regular season record and a playoff appearance. [38, 40]
Despite the positive preseason record, some concerns linger, particularly regarding the offensive line, which allowed two sacks on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa against the Jaguars’ backups. [43] However, strong performances from players like wide receiver Malik Washington, who had a 25-yard touchdown reception and impressive punt returns, and running back Ollie Gordon II, who showed physicality and versatility, offer optimism for the regular season. [43, 44]
Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup Ascent and Messi’s Strategic Absence
Inter Miami’s pursuit of silverware continues in the 2025 Leagues Cup, as they secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Mexican powerhouse Tigres UANL in the quarterfinals. [2, 11, 17, 25] The win, propelled by two penalty kicks from star striker Luis Suárez, propelled the Herons into the semifinals where they are set to face in-state rivals Orlando City SC on Wednesday, August 27, at Chase Stadium in South Florida. [2, 10, 12, 15, 17, 24, 27]
Notably, Lionel Messi, the team’s talisman, was absent from the quarterfinal match against Tigres due to a minor muscle injury, the same hamstring issue he had just returned from the previous weekend. [11, 25, 37] His strategic resting continued during Inter Miami’s recent MLS fixture against D.C. United, which resulted in a 1-1 draw. [13, 16, 19, 21, 22, 36] In that match, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano opted to rest eight starters, including Messi, goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, and Jordi Alba, keeping an eye on the crucial Leagues Cup semifinal. [36]
The draw against D.C. United saw Inter Miami fall behind early, with Jackson Hopkins scoring for the hosts in the 13th minute. [19, 20, 21] However, substitute Baltasar Rodríguez netted his first MLS goal for Inter Miami in the 64th minute, securing a point on the road. [16, 19, 21, 22] The upcoming semifinal against Orlando City is highly anticipated, especially as Orlando has dominated Inter Miami in MLS play this season, winning two previous encounters by a combined score of 7-1. [10, 27, 36]
Beyond the Leagues Cup, Inter Miami is also competing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and is slated to play in the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time in 2025. [39]
U.S. Open Tennis Kicks Off in New York
The final Grand Slam of the year, the U.S. Open tennis tournament, commenced on Sunday, August 24, in New York. [4, 5, 9, 13, 23, 26] The iconic event at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center draws the world’s elite players for two weeks of intense competition, concluding on September 7. [4, 5, 9]
This year’s tournament features an expanded main draw to 15 competition days and a first-weekend start to the main draw in the Open Era. [9] There’s also a new mixed doubles format, which was moved to the first week and offered a $1 million winner’s prize. [9] Top contenders for the men’s singles title include Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, while Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka (the defending champion), and Coco Gauff are among the favorites on the women’s side. [13, 23, 26]
2026 FIFA World Cup Draw Date and Venue Announced
Looking ahead, the draw for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will feature 48 national teams for the first time, is set to take place on December 5, 2025, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. [1, 3, 6, 7, 8] The announcement was made by President Donald Trump alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino in an Oval Office event. [1, 3, 7]
This revelation came as a surprise to many, as Las Vegas had been widely speculated as the likely host city for the draw. [3, 7] The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by 16 cities across three North American countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. [1, 6] While Washington, D.C., is not among the host cities for matches, hosting the draw ensures its involvement in the major international event. [1, 3] Mexico, as a host, has been automatically placed in Group A, Canada in Group B, and the United States in Group D. [6, 7] The tournament itself is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. [1, 6]
PGA Tour Championship Heats Up; FedEx Cup in Play
In the world of golf, the Tour Championship in Atlanta is reaching its climax, with the FedEx Cup title on the line. As of reports, Tommy Fleetwood and Patrick Cantlay were tied for the lead, with Scottie Scheffler also in contention for the prestigious championship. [13] The Tour Championship is the culmination of the PGA Tour season, where players vie for the FedEx Cup and its significant prize money.
Former Miami Police Officer Pleads Guilty in Multi-Million Dollar Memorabilia Heist
A local scandal has rocked the sports memorabilia world, as former Miami police officer and Miami Heat security staffer, Marcos Thomas Perez, 62, pleaded guilty to charges related to stealing and selling millions of dollars’ worth of game-worn jerseys and other valuable memorabilia. [18, 28, 34, 35, 47]
Perez, a 25-year retired veteran of the Miami Police Department, worked for the Heat from 2016 to 2021 and as an NBA security employee from 2022 to 2025. [18, 28, 34, 35] He exploited his access to a secured equipment room at the Kaseya Center, where hundreds of items intended for a future Miami Heat museum were stored. [28, 34, 35] Authorities allege Perez stole over 400 items, selling more than 100 of them to online brokers over a three-year period for approximately $2 million. [18, 28, 34, 35]
One notable item Perez sold was a LeBron James Miami Heat NBA Finals jersey for about $100,000, which later fetched $3.7 million at a Sotheby’s auction, highlighting the immense value of the stolen goods. [18, 28, 34, 35] In April, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Perez’s residence, seizing nearly 300 additional stolen game-worn jerseys and memorabilia, which the Miami Heat confirmed had been taken from their facility. [18, 28, 34]
From on-field triumphs to high-stakes competitions and off-field controversies, the past week has offered a broad spectrum of compelling sports narratives both locally and globally. [13]
