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Is Luis Suarez Playing Tonight For Inter Miami vs Charlotte FC?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Binoy | Last updated Sep 13, 2025 4:25 PM ET

MLS is back in full swing after the international break, and all eyes are on Fort Lauderdale where Inter Miami take on red-hot Charlotte FC at Chase Stadium. It’s a matchup loaded with storylines, Messi leading the charge, Charlotte chasing history, and Miami desperate to steady their playoff push.

But there’s one question hovering above it all that fans can’t stop asking: will Luis Suárez be on the pitch tonight? The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think, so let’s break it down.

Luis Suárez won’t be in the lineup as he begins serving a three-game MLS suspension, handed down after the controversial spitting incident in last month’s Leagues Cup final against the Seattle Sounders.

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The drama unfolded after Miami’s 3-0 defeat in Seattle, where Suárez appeared to spit toward Sounders security director Gene Ramirez. He was already hit with a six-match ban by the Leagues Cup, and now MLS has tacked on an extra punishment. That means the Uruguayan striker will also sit out Miami’s Sept. 16 rematch with Seattle and the Sept. 20 clash against D.C. United. He’ll only be eligible to return after that stretch.

Inter Miami Coach Javier Mascherano Shares His Thoughts on Suarez’s Punishment

Javier Mascherano knows losing Luis Suarez is a huge blow for Inter Miami, but he’s already shifting the focus to how the team responds. Speaking ahead of the Charlotte clash, the head coach admitted it’s never easy to be without such an influential player, but stressed the squad has to adapt. “When we miss someone important, it’s not about finding another Luis, it's about the whole team stepping up,” he explained.

Mascherano added that preparations all week have been made with the mindset that Suarez won’t be around for three games. “We’ve worked on different solutions, not just for Charlotte but also the matches that follow. The goal stays the same: get three points.”

And while the absences don’t stop with Suarez—several players are sidelined through injury Mascherano shrugged it off as part of the game. “This season has taught me to adapt. These things happen, and we keep moving.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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