FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The Leagues Cup scenario is simple for Inter Miami: Win and they’ll advance to the knockout stage.
Inter Miami will host Pumas UNAM on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at Chase Stadium in their final match in phase one of the 2025 Leagues Cup tournament.
The competition brings positive memories for the club and will fuel their desire to win, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said, as the team won the inaugural Leagues Cup in 2023.
If Inter Miami is going to advance, they must do so without their best player.
Watch Leagues Cup matches on Apple TV
Here’s the latest on Lionel Messi, and everything you need to know about the Inter Miami-Pumas Leagues Cup match:
When is the Inter Miami vs. Pumas Leagues Cup match?
The match begins at 7:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. in Argentina).
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Pumas Leagues Cup match?
The match is available on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Is Messi playing tonight?
No, Messi is not playing against Pumas. He was ruled out a day before the match, according to Mascherano.
Why is Messi not playing tonight?
Inter Miami announced Messi has a minor muscle injury in his upper right leg. He sustained the injury in Inter Miami’s last Leagues Cup match against Necaxa on Aug. 2.
How long will Messi be out?
It’s unclear how long Messi’s recovery will take. Mascherano did not divulge a timetable for Messi’s potential return, but said the club’s diagnosis of Messi’s injury is “good news.”
“He’s a special player, and he normally recovers from the injuries quickly,” Mascherano said. “Once he’s ready, he’ll come back.”
Leagues Cup: Who’s in and who’s out?
Only one team has advanced to the quarterfinal: LIGA MX side Toluca. Here’s the status of the MLS and Liga MX clubs in the Leagues Cup before the final two matchdays of phase one:
MLS clubs eliminated: Atlanta United, Charlotte FC, Houston Dynamo, CF Montréal, New York City FC and San Diego FC.
Liga MX clubs eliminated: Club América, Atlas FC, Atlético de San Luis, Chivas de Guadalajara, Club Léon, Cruz Azul, Mazatlán FC, CF Monterrey, Querétaro FC and Santos Laguna
What does Inter Miami need to advance in Leagues Cup?
The scenario is simple for Inter Miami without Messi: Win vs. Pumas, and they’ll advance to the quarterfinals (Aug. 19-20).
Inter Miami would have eight points in the MLS side of the Leagues Cup table, clearing them from a pack of six other MLS clubs in the standings.
Inter Miami would be among the top four clubs in the MLS table to reach the knockout stage.
Any other result, and Inter Miami would need some help from the Liga MX sides to beat their MLS counterparts to ensure a Top 4 finish in the MLS side of the Leagues Cup table.
How did Inter Miami get to this point in the Leagues Cup?
Inter Miami has five points in the MLS Leagues Cup standings, after a 2-1 win vs. Atlas on July 30, and a penalty shootout win vs. Necaxa on Aug. 2.
Inter Miami upcoming schedule
Aug. 6: Inter Miami vs. Pumas, 7:30 p.m. ET (Leagues Cup)
Aug. 10: Orlando City vs. Inter Miami, 8 p.m. (MLS regular season)
Aug. 16: Inter Miami vs. LA Galaxy, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
Aug. 19 or 20: Leagues Cup quarterfinals (if applicable)
Aug. 23: D.C. United vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)
Aug. 26 or 27: Leagues Cup semifinals (if applicable)
Aug. 30: Inter Miami vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)
Aug. 31: Leagues Cup final and third-place match (if applicable)