Inter Miami’s key objectives as the MLS regular season comes to an end

Inter Miami secured one of their first objectives of the campaign this week - beating Columbus Crew to collect the Supporters Shield, the prize given to the team with the best regular season record between both conferences. Wednesday’s 2-3 win in Columbus was enough to make sure that, whatever happens between now and the end of the regular season, no other team can overtake Miami’s points tally.

It was the Fort Lauderdale franchise’s first Supporters Shield, and they become the 24th team to win it. However, bigger challenges lie ahead and the objectives are clear.

Inter Miami with a chance of setting a new MLS points record

As things stand, Martino’s men top the Eastern Conference on 68 points with two regular season games left to play. And while Miami have already booked their place in the playoffs (they enter Round One facing the winners of a Wild Card match between No.8 and No.9 seeds), the idea is to finish this stage by winning the two remaining matches - against Toronto and New England Revolution.

Two more victories would leave Miami on 74 points, surpassing the current MLS points record of 73 set by the New England Revolution in the 2021 regular season.

Messi and Co with their eyes on the big prize

The main objective is to lift the MLS Cup and the Herons are serious candidates. It would deliver their first league title in franchise history and as a bonus, would also ensure direct qualification to the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16. The team has already booked its place at the tournament as Supporters’ Shield winners but as such, will enter the first round.

Messi’s arrival, along with that of his former Barça team mates Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba has helped to boost the Fort Lauderdale franchise’s profile and put them in the spotlight internationally. The key objective is to become MLS champions - 15 teams have lifted the MLS Cup and Miami want to become the 16th.

Inter Miami chances of playing at the 2025 Club World Cup

Much has been said about the remaining invitee to the Club World Cup and if Las Garzas are crowned MLS champions in December, their participation in the event scheduled for 2025, which will also be played on United States territory, could be confirmed.

FIFA has not yet determined who will be awarded United States’ slot at next summer’s Club World Cup, whether it is the MLS Cup champions or the Supporters’ Shield winners.

Miami's presence in this tournament would mean an important projection for the team in which the challenge would be to face the best clubs in the world and with the Messi factor the attraction would be even greater.