Levi stars in goal for Inter Miami
T&T’s Levi Williams Stars as Inter Miami Academy Wins MICFootball Punta Cana Title
Trinidad and Tobago Under-17 goalkeeper Levi Williams delivered another outstanding display on the international stage, playing a pivotal role as Inter Miami CF Academy’s Under-16 team captured the MICFootball Punta Cana title in the Dominican Republic on Sunday.
Inter Miami secured the championship after a thrilling 1-1 draw with Atlético de Madrid before prevailing 4-3 in a penalty shootout, with Williams once again emerging as the hero.
The 15-year-old goalkeeper produced the decisive save in the final shootout to secure the title, remarkably repeating the feat from the previous year when he also denied the final penalty to hand Inter Miami the 2025 championship.
His journey to the title was equally remarkable. In the semifinal, Williams saved three penalties in the shootout against Gremio before confidently converting the winning spot kick himself to send Inter Miami into the final.
Tournament organizers hailed the Trinidad and Tobago youth international as one of the standout performers of the competition after his clutch performances under pressure helped Inter Miami successfully defend its crown.
The tournament also featured Inter Miami’s Under-14 team, which included Thiago Messi, the son of Argentine legend Lionel Messi, highlighting the high-profile nature of the international youth competition held in Punta Cana.
Williams’ latest success comes on the heels of another significant milestone after he was recently named to the 2026 MLS NEXT All-Star Game, becoming just the eighth Inter Miami CF Academy player to receive the honour in the club’s five-year academy history.
“It means a lot to me. It was a really good season. I think I played very well and it’s a great honor to be selected,” Williams said.
“I’ve really worked very hard throughout the Academy. It’s been a great experience and I hope to do my best in this MLS NEXT All-Star game.”
Williams will represent the Inter Miami Academy in the East versus West MLS NEXT All-Star Game on July 27 in Matthews, North Carolina, where North America’s top youth players will showcase their talents.
The young goalkeeper has enjoyed an impressive year for both club and country. He featured for T&T during the 2026 Concacaf Under-17 World Cup Qualifiers, recording two clean sheets in four matches, before making his professional debut for Inter Miami CF II. In that appearance against Carolina Core FC, Williams made six saves and stopped two penalties in the shootout to help his side secure two points.
His continued development reflects both his dedication and the quality of Inter Miami’s academy system, while providing further encouragement for Trinidad and Tobago football as one of the nation’s brightest young prospects continues to excel on the international stage.
