MLS
When is Inter Miami’s next MLS game after Chicago Fire defeat? Will Lionel Messi be fit to play?
Argentina captain Messi missed a fourth game in a row through injury at Soldier Field, with The Herons again struggling without him.
Inter Miami’s 2023 MLS campaign has almost completely fizzled out after they suffered a painful 4-1 defeat at the hands of fellow Playoffs hopefuls Chicago Fire at Soldier Field. Lionel Messi sat out a fourth game in a row, with Xherdan Shaqiri and Maren Haile-Selassie in inspired form for the home side, each scoring twice.
Although The Herons created chances to score and briefly equalised through Josef Martínez’s penalty, they have failed to win any of the four matches their Argentine superstar has missed and now need a minor miracle to finish in the Eastern Conference’s top nine.
Supporters’ Shield winners FC Cincinnati up next
The Florida side don’t have long to wait until their next MLS fixture comes around, which will see them host FC Cincinnati, Eastern Conference leaders and recently-crowned Supporters’ Shield winners as the best team in the United States. Anything other than a victory is likely to end their MLS Cup Playoffs hopes.
Since Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba arrived in Miami in the summer, Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s side have been on a mission to ensure they continue playing beyond the regular season, which now looks doomed to failure, unless something dramatic transpires.
When is Inter Miami vs FC Cincinnati?
The two teams will lock horns at DRV PNK Stadium on Saturday 7 October, with kick-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT).
You can watch a live stream of Inter Miami vs FC Cincinnati on AppleTV, which offers a free trial
Will Lionel Messi be fit to play against FC Cincinnati?
Earlier this week, journalist Gastón Edul of Argentine media outlet TyC Sports posted on social media that Inter Miami were “aiming for Messi to have some game time” against FC Cincinnati ahead of the international break, when the 36-year-old is expected to be called up for La Albiceleste’s two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, despite his recent injury issues.
MLS - Liga USA 2023
| Classification | PTS | WM | TM | LM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13New York Red Bulls | 29 | 7 | 8 | 12 |
| 14Inter Miami CF | 28 | 8 | 4 | 14 |
| 15Toronto FC | 22 | 4 | 10 | 13 |
| Upcoming matches | |
|---|---|
| Inter Miami CF - FC Cincinnati | S-07/10 19:30 |
| Inter Miami CF - Charlotte FC | W-18/10 20:00 |
| Charlotte FC - Inter Miami CF | S-21/10 18:00 |
*Data updated to date Oct 5th, 2023