Inter Miami hosts NYCFC tonight with playoffs on the line
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Inter Miami hosts New York City FC at 7:30 PM ET on Wednesday.
- A win sends Miami into the MLS Cup Playoffs.
- Lionel Messi is fit and starts after his four-goal week.
Inter Miami hosts New York City FC on Wednesday night. Kickoff is at 7:30 PM ET at Nu Stadium in Miami. A win sends Miami into the playoffs.
The stakes are clear for both teams. Miami can seal a playoff spot tonight. New York City FC needs points to stay in the race.
What happened
Miami comes into this game in second place in the Eastern Conference. The club has 13 wins, 5 losses, and 10 draws. That adds up to 49 points from 28 games.
New York City FC sits in 10th place in the East. The club has 8 wins, 11 losses, and 9 draws. That adds up to 33 points from 28 games.
Miami won its last game in style. The club beat DC United 4-0 at home on Saturday night.
Lionel Messi scored two goals in that game. Luis Suarez scored the other two goals.
German Berterame set up two goals in the win. Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair kept a clean sheet.
It was a strong night for the whole team.
New York City FC lost its last game. The club fell 2-1 on the road at Chicago Fire FC. New York led at halftime in that game.
The club also had an extra player on the field.
Chicago came back after the break. A late defensive error handed Chicago the win. Coach Pascal Jansen said the result hurt more than usual.
New York has not won a league game since September. The last league win was a 2-0 win at Real Salt Lake. Since then, the club has one point from three games.
That run includes a 2-2 draw with Atlanta United. It also includes the loss at Chicago. Now New York faces the league champions on the road.
The two clubs have met 15 times before. This game is the 16th meeting in club history. Miami has 4 wins, 4 draws, and 7 losses against New York.
But Miami is unbeaten in the last seven meetings. That run includes 3 wins and 4 draws. The last meeting came in March.
Miami won 3-2 on the road at Yankee Stadium.
Why it matters
This game is about the playoffs. Miami can lock up a spot tonight. A win does the job on its own.
A draw can also do the job if other results help.
New York has six games left in the regular season. The club sits outside the playoff places. Every point matters now.
A win in Miami would restart the playoff push.
Messi is the biggest story of the night. He leads Miami with 23 goals this season. He also leads the whole league in goals.
He has 13 assists too.
Rodrigo De Paul also has 13 assists. He shares the team lead with Messi. Messi won the league MVP award last season.
He also won the Golden Boot as top scorer.
Messi is fit and ready to start tonight. That is what the lineup report says. He played the full game against DC
United. He still starts again on Wednesday.
Messi just had a huge week. He played his final game for Argentina last week. He scored a goal in that game.
He also set up two goals.
Then he came back to Miami and scored two more. He has now scored in big games all week. New York must find a way to stop him.
Miami scores more goals than any team in MLS. The club has 68 goals in 28 games. That attack makes Miami a threat to any team.
But Miami has won only two of its last 11 league games. That is the weak spot in the record. The win over DC
United was one of those two wins. The club needs more wins like it.
New York has its own scoring threat. Midfielder Nicolas Fernandez leads the team in attack. He has 15 goals and 8 assists in 27 games.
He is the player Miami must watch.
Alonso Martinez is back in the starting lineup for New York. He is the club's top scorer from last season. He started against Chicago for the first time since the 2025 playoffs.
Martinez did not score in Chicago. But his return gives New York more firepower. The club needs goals in this final stretch.
What happens next
A Miami win seals a playoff spot. The club would reach the postseason for a third straight season. That would cap a strong home stretch.
A draw can also seal the spot. It depends on other games on the night. If DC
United draws with the Red Bulls, a Miami draw is enough. Other result mixes can also send Miami through.
A New York win would change the race. It would pull New York closer to the playoff line. It would also delay Miami's party by at least one game.
New York plays again on Saturday night. The club hosts LAFC at Citi Field. That game is also huge for the playoff race.
New York must bounce back fast.
Fans can watch tonight's game on Apple TV. The stream covers fans around the world. The club says a small number of tickets are still left.
Fans who drive should plan ahead. Parking passes must be bought in advance. On-site parking sales will not be open on game day.
Some lots are already sold out.
Fans can also take public transit to the game. A $10 round-trip Tri-Rail ticket is on sale. It comes with a $10 food and drink credit.
The offer covers all home games left this season.
Bags must follow the stadium rules. Fans can bring one clear bag. The bag must not be bigger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches.
A small clutch bag is also allowed.
Miami is the favorite at home. The club has the best attack in the league. Messi is in top form.
But New York has nothing to lose.
New York is fighting for its season. The club needs points in all six final games. A result in Miami would send a strong message.
Tonight will show which team wants it more.
For tonight's other big game, read about the Hutson brothers meeting for the first time. For a recent comeback story in soccer, see how the USWNT drew with Spain 2-2. For another playoff race decided on penalties, see how Poland beat Belgium.
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