LEAGUES CUP 2024
When is Inter Miami’s next game? Leagues Cup fixtures and schedule
The Herons have been on an incredible run during Lionel Messi’s absence but they now face a daunting task against two Liga MX giants.
Despite their promising start to 2024, many onlookers expected Inter Miami’s form to tail off once Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez left for Copa América this summer. In reality, the Herons have gone an incredible run without their talismanic forwards, wining five out of six MLS games in their absence.
That form leaves them top of the Supporters’ Shield rankings and makes them genuine contenders for this summer’s Leagues Cup, the trophy that Messi delivered during his glorious first month with the team in 2023. The MLS-Liga MX competition returns on Friday evening with the first of the group stage games but Inter Miami supporters will have to wait a little longer to see the start of their team’s Leagues Cup defence.
Inter Miami’s first Leagues Cup game is a home fixture against Puebla on Saturday, July 27. They will follow that up against Tigres UANL on Saturday, August 3, the game set to be played at NRG Stadium.
You can follow Inter Miami's Leagues Cup journey with the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Will Lionel Messi play for Inter Miami against Puebla?
The Inter Miami captain has not made an appearance, or even taken part in a training session, since suffering an ankle ligament injury in Argentina’s Copa América triumph on July 14. So far the only injury update offered by the Herons is a short press release stating that Messi’s “availability will be determined by periodic assessments and the progress of his recovery.”
Since then Messi has been seen wearing a large protective boot, suggesting that he is not close to a return. However the MLS team have not offered an update on his status since that initial statement, frustrating supporters who want to know whether he is likely to feature in upcoming games.
Although no official word has been given, its safe to assume that Messi will not be playing against Puebla this weekend and is unlikely to feature in Miami’s second group stage game against Tigres the following Saturday.
Does that matter? Maybe not, in two senses. The team has built real momentum over recent weeks and Messi’s continued absence will allow head coach Tata Martino to minimise the number of changes made to his starting XI. Secondly, after lifting the 2023 Leagues Cup this competition is not really a priority for Miami this season. Their focus is trained on the MLS Cup and Martino may actually be glad to give Messi a mid-season rest.