As the 2025 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs kick off on October 24, Inter Miami CF, the Eastern Conference’s top seed with 65 points from a dominant 19-8-7 regular season, hosts Nashville SC in Game 1 of Round One at Chase Stadium. In this game, Renewed Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami vs Nashville.
The Herons enter unbeaten in five (four wins, one draw), fresh off a 5-2 demolition of Nashville in the regular-season finale, where Lionel Messi dazzled with a goal and assist.
However, injuries linger: David Ruiz (hamstring, out until early November), Allen Obando (hamstring, out), and question marks over Santiago Morales (knee) and Telasco Segovia (ankle).
Nashville, scraping into the playoffs as a Wild Card with 54 points (16-6-12), seeks revenge after a dismal six-game skid (one draw), but boasts a near-full squad barring Wyatt Meyer (foot, out) and Jonathan Pérez (thigh, late October).
Hany Mukhtar’s creativity (12 goals, 10 assists) will test Miami’s backline, but with Messi and Luis Suárez leading the charge (combined 32 goals), Tata Martino’s side eyes a deep run—expect playoff fireworks under the Fort Lauderdale lights.
Inter Miami vs Nashville SC – Date, Time, Predictions, and More
Round One’s Best-of-3 series opener pits Miami’s star power against Nashville’s grit in a do-or-die thriller. The match fires up on Friday, October 24, 2025, at 8:00 PM ET (5:00 PM PT) at Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale. USA, Canada, and Australian fans, it’s prime-time evening action—ideal for playoff fever.
- Teams – Inter Miami vs Nashville
- Match – Major League Soccer
- Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Stadium: Chase Stadium
- Date: Friday, Oct. 24
- Kick-Off Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Team News and Analysis
Inter Miami capped a Supporters’ Shield-winning campaign with flair, topping the East by 11 points, but the playoff grind tests depth. Martino confirms David Ruiz (hamstring) and Allen Obando (hamstring) are sidelined, with Telasco Segovia (ankle) and Fafa Picault (hip) doubtful until mid-October—ruling them out here.
Positively, Lionel Messi (15 goals, 14 assists) and Luis Suárez (17 goals) are fit post-internationals, while Jordi Alba returns at left-back. Sergio Busquets anchors midfield, but the attack’s fluidity (league-high 68 goals) faces Nashville’s press.
Nashville’s Wild Card berth masked a late collapse—winless in six (five losses)—but Smithy General’s side showed bite in a 1-1 regular-season draw at Miami. Injuries are light: Wyatt Meyer (foot, out), Jonathan Pérez (thigh, late October), and Ahmed Qasem (ankle, questionable).
Walker Zimmerman marshals a stout defense (conceded 1.1 per game), with Hany Mukhtar pulling strings (22 G/A). Jacob Shaffelburg’s pace adds threat, but away form (5-4-6) tempers hopes.
Analysis: Miami’s possession dominance (58% average) and home fortress (11-3-3) overwhelm Nashville’s counters, but Mukhtar’s set-piece magic (25% goals) could sting. Expect Messi’s magic to tilt a high-octane opener, with subs like Diego Gómez swinging momentum.
Inter Miami vs Nashville Head-to-Head Record
Inter Miami edge this playoff-bound rivalry with seven wins from 16 MLS meetings to Nashville’s four, plus five draws. The Herons have triumphed in four of the last six, including that 5-2 rout on October 18. Goals average 2.88 per game, primed for overs in playoff intensity.
All-time H2H
| Date | Competition | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 2025 | MLS Regular Season | Nashville 2-5 Inter Miami | 2-5 |
| Jul 12, 2025 | MLS Regular Season | Inter Miami 1-1 Nashville | 1-1 |
| Mar 15, 2025 | MLS Regular Season | Nashville 1-2 Inter Miami | 1-2 |
| Oct 4, 2024 | MLS Regular Season | Inter Miami 2-1 Nashville | 2-1 |
| Jul 13, 2024 | MLS Regular Season | Nashville 1-1 Inter Miami | 1-1 |
Miami’s Chase Stadium stronghold (4-1-2 vs. Nashville) amps the stakes for this 2025 playoff clash.
Inter Miami vs Nashville Predicted XI Lineups
Inter Miami (4-2-3-1):
Callender; Fray, Avilés, Falcón, Alba; Busquets, De Paul; Allende, Messi, Rodríguez; Suárez.
Nashville (4-4-2):
Willis; Najar, Zimmerman, Maher, Lovitz; Shaffelburg, Brugman, Tagseth, Muyl; Mukhtar, Surridge.
Lineups per Martino and Smith’s Friday briefings: Miami maintains its attacking verve with Messi at the center, while Nashville deploys Mukhtar in a double pivot for balance – impact subs: Leonardo Campana (Inter Miami) and Teal Bunbury (Nashville) for late drama.
Key Players
- Inter Miami: Lionel Messi – The GOAT’s vision and finishing (29 G/A) dismantled Nashville last time; his 2.5 key passes per game unlock defenses—brace incoming.
- Nashville: Hany Mukhtar – The DP’s creativity (22 G/A) fuels counters; his free-kick threat (five goals) tests Miami’s wall in a must-win road tilt.
Inter Miami vs Nashville Match Prediction
Inter Miami’s firepower and home edge overpower Nashville’s resolve in a goal-soaked playoff starter, but the visitors’ desperation nets a consolation. The Herons take a series lead with flair.
- Predicted score: Inter Miami 3-1 Nashville SC
Where to Watch Inter Miami vs Nashville in the USA, Canada, Australia, and Europe
Stream Inter Miami vs Nashville SC live with these MLS playoffs options, geared for North American, Aussie, and Euro audiences:
- USA: Exclusive on Apple TV via MLS Season Pass; also, FuboTV starts at 8:00 PM ET.
- Canada: Apple TV, MLS Season Pass, or DAZN Canada. 8:00 PM ET kickoff.
- Australia: Apple TV MLS Season Pass. Begins 11:00 AM AEDT (Saturday, October 25).
- Europe: Apple TV MLS Season Pass; Sky Sports for select coverage. Check local: beIN Sports (France/Spain), Viaplay (Nordics).