Miami's global population blends World Cup loyalties
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Illustration: Maura Kearns/Axios
Hang around Miami for the next month and it may not be clear which World Cup squad is the home team.
Why it matters: The World Cup, which kicks off Thursday, underscores Miami's global reach and the diasporas that live here.
- Plus, a few international superstars call Miami home, and the fanbases that follow them and their home countries' teams will inevitably infiltrate every corner of the city.
State of play: The first match in Miami is Monday, between Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
- 9,700 Uruguayan immigrants live in Miami-Dade and Broward counties combined, per the Migration Policy Institute.
The big picture: South Florida is home to some of the largest immigrant communities in the nation, including from countries playing at Hard Rock Stadium.
- More than 181,000 Colombian immigrants live in South Florida, as do more than 163,000 Haitian immigrants — making the region home to the largest diasporas of those two countries.
- And 51,700 Brazilian immigrants live in South Florida, as well as 42,600 Argentinians, per the Institute's 2024 data.
What they're saying: Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins told Axios that the city's diversity makes it the perfect place to host the World Cup.
- "This week is going to be so exciting because I have met so many people that are rooting for four, five, six, seven, eight teams," she said, adding, "maybe their grandmother is from Argentina and their grandfather is from Colombia, but they live in the U.S."
- "There's all these conflicting emotions, but everybody is thrilled and happy."
The intrigue: Argentina's Lionel Messi is playing in his (supposed) last World Cup, as is Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Miami-Dade and Broward counties are home to about 9,700 Uruguayan immigrants (not 97,000).