LEAGUES CUP 2023
Why do Nashville SC have home advantage in the 2023 Leagues Cup final against Inter Miami?
If Lionel Messi and The Herons are to lift a new trophy, they’ll have to win at Geodis Park in Tennessee.
Lionel Messi is potentially just 90 minutes away from adding a new trophy to his extensive list of honours, with Inter Miami set to face Nashville SC in the final of the “new” Leagues Cup at Geodis Park in Tennessee on Saturday. It’s been quite a turnaround for David Beckham’s Herons, who remain bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference and overall standings, and one which has coincided with the former Barcelona star moving to DRV PNK Stadium.
Watch the 2023 Leagues Cup final between Nashville SC and Inter Miami on AppleTV (free trial available)
Prior to the Argentine’s debut, which also marked Sergio Busquets’ first appearance for the club, Inter Miami hadn’t won in 11 MLS games. They have now won six games in a row (one in a penalty shootout) with Messi on the field, scoring 21 goals in the process, nine of which their star player has been directly responsible for.
Why is Geodis Park hosting a one-off final?
Founded as recently as 2018, the Florida side have yet to get their name on a trophy and if they’re going to lift the Leagues Cup, they’ll have to do things the hard way. The clash against Nashville will take place at Geodis Park, meaning the Boys In Gold will have home advantage, which is rarely the case in one-off finals in soccer.
Rather than assigning a neutral venue for the showpiece game, as often happens elsewhere, the Leagues Cup organising committee decided that all matches in the tourmanent between MLS clubs would be hosted by the one that finished higher in the final standings of the 2022 Supporters’ Shield (the only exception was the Round of 32, when group winners played at home). As Nashville finished ninth and Inter Miami 12th, the final will be played in Tennessee.
Herons unfazed by Nashville’s strong home form
Gary Smith’s team have won 10 of their last 12 matches on home soil, although the two games they didn’t win - both defeats - have come in the space of the last six weeks. In any case, Inter Miami are unlikely to be fazed given their current form and especially after a resounding semi-final win away to Philadelphia Union, who had only lost one of their 39 previous home games in all competitions.