Inter Miami will take on the Seattle Sounders following their 3-0 defeat in the Leagues Cup final. With the rivalry at an all-time high after the post-match events, Lionel Messi will need to deliver one of his best performances of the year to give Miami a fighting chance at home.
The responsibility to secure a win in this second matchup of the season against Seattle now rests squarely on Messi’s shoulders, especially with Luis Suárez suspended. Inter Miami risks missing the playoffs if they drop more points, making Tuesday, September 16, a must-win for the team.
Manager Javier Mascherano faces the tough task of boosting the offense without leaving gaps in defense. Miami’s squad simply doesn’t have enough depth to make the game even, particularly against a Sounders defense that conceded almost nothing in the Leagues Cup final.
The crowd went NUTS for the @SoundersFC opening goal.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 1, 2025
#MLSSeasonPass or Apple TV+: https://t.co/OHacU6xrPV pic.twitter.com/3d7Fv3AwYq
Before their most recent game against Charlotte FC, Miami’s manager confirmed that Messi had no issues in training and felt great following one of his last games for Argentina before the 2026 World Cup. He could still skip the tournament, but tonight, Messi is expected to play.
This match is one of the most important of the season. If Miami doesn’t come away with at least a draw, they’ll need to win big in the coming weeks and rely on setbacks from Columbus Crew and New York City to keep playoff hopes alive.
Inter Miami Training Update:
— Inter Miami News Hub (@Intermiamicfhub) September 15, 2025
•Messi, De Paul & Suárez trained as normal ✅ (Suárez suspended tomorrow)
•Baltasar Rodríguez, Fafa Picault, David Ruiz, Allen Obando & Telasco Segovia all absent ❌
Squad depth will be tested again.pic.twitter.com/57dT5wj6UZ
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