Buoyed by reaching the Leagues Cup 2025 quarter-finals, Inter Miami return to MLS action for the first time in more than two weeks when the Herons visit the team directly below them in the Eastern Conference on Sunday.
Sixth-placed Orlando City are a point behind Javier Mascherano’s team and are also in fine form, thrashing Necaxa 5-1 at home to advance in the Leagues Cup – Miami needed penalties to beat the same opponents – as part of a run of four wins in five games including consecutive home victories.
“A win before a big game like this is always good for confidence,” captain Robin Jansson said. “We have to bring that into the game and even more energy.
“Our fans will help us bring that energy to the pitch. The whole squad is going to bring that energy to the pitch and we’re looking forward to it.”
Orlando won 3-0 at Miami on May 18 and earned their second straight league victory 3-1 at fourth-placed Columbus last time out.
“We have the base that we went to Miami, had a good result there and had a great performance,” said manager Oscar Pareja, a former Colombia midfielder.
“That context is in our memories and we are aiming to create a new one in front of our fans.”
Top spot in the table remains in Miami’s hands because they have at least three matches more to play than the four teams above them.
“It’s good in terms of the advantage you might have in the play-offs,” Mascherano replied when he was asked how important winning the Supporters’ Shield might be.
“But we already saw last year [losing to sixth-seeded Atlanta as the top seed] that it doesn’t mean anything.
“Our idea is to try to win all 12 of the remaining games we have in the regular season, win all three Leagues Cup games and so on.
“The demands and responsibilities of this club are to try to go out and compete and win every game in front of us.”
Orlando vs Inter Miami team news
Orlando midfielder Wilder Cartagena (left Achilles tendon surgery) and forward Yutaro Tsukada (left knee surgery) are out for the season.
Midfielder Joran Gerbet (thigh) and Duncan McGuire (shoulder) are injured, while Cesar Araujo is a booking away from a ban.
Forward Tyrese Spicer is on the bench after the Trinidad and Tobago forward signed from Toronto for up to $550,000 in General Allocation Money across two seasons, and Adrian Marin has joined from Portuguese club Braga, with Pareja saying City had been scouting the left-sided defender for several years.
With a Leagues Cup quarter-final against Tigres under two weeks away, Mascherano said it would be “crazy” to travel with top scorer and captain Lionel Messi, who missed the 3-1 win over Pumas on Thursday with a minor right leg injury.
Mascherano did not report any other new injury concerns, although Ecuador prospect Allen Obando has not played since suffering a hamstring issue, while goalkeeper Oscar Ustari returns from the same issue.
Drake Callendar suffered a setback in training before the game against Pumas as the goalkeeper recovers from a hernia issue and Federico Redondo will incur a suspension if the midfielder is booked.
On-loan Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul makes his MLS debut, having set up two goals against Necaxa and scored one against Pumas.
“We had an idea to play him in a kind of 4-3-1-2, with him being the free player and Tadeo [Allende] and Luis [Suarez] playing a little more forward,” explained Mascherano.
“In the second half, we changed it and decided he would drop a little and play not so much with his back to the [midfield]. He gives us different options – he’s very versatile.”
Orlando v Inter Miami line-ups
Orlando starting XI: Gallese; Freeman, Schlegel, Jansson, Brekalo; Pasalic, Atuesta, Araujo, Angulo; Muriel, Ojeda
Inter Miami starting XI: Ustari; Fray, Falcon, Allen, Alba; Busquets, Bright; Allende, De Paul, Segovia; Suarez
How to watch Orlando v Inter Miami: Live stream, TV channel
Kick-off on Sunday is at 20:00 ET (17:00 PT on Sunday / 01:00 BST on Monday), with live coverage available through the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.
In the US, a subscription costs $14.99 a month or $69 a season. Existing Apple TV+ subscribers pay $12.99 per month or $59 a season.
Orlando v Inter Miami stats
- Orlando have not lost any of their seven home games against Miami, although five of those matches have been draws
- Their win in the fixture this season ended a four-match winless run against Miami (D2 L2)
- City have failed to win seven of their 12 home games in the 2025 MLS, while Miami have won six and lost two of their 11 away matches
- Argentinian midfielder Martin Ojeda has a direct goal contribution in 14 consecutive matches for Orlando and is seeking his 30th career goal in all competitions for the club
- Ojeda’s 16 goals and 16 assists in 30 matches in all competitions in 2025 is more than any other MLS player except Messi (36 in 31 matches)
- Former Colombia forward Luis Muriel scored the fastest ever Orlando hat-trick in their win over Necaxa, netting three times in 11 minutes and 30 seconds
- Ivan Angulo contributed two assists in that game, taking the ex-Colombia youth winger’s tally to one goal and five assists in his last six matches and 32 career assists for Orlando, with only two players ahead of him in City history
- Messi has 18 goals and nine assists in the 2025 MLS, including 13 goals and six assists in eight league games since Miami’s defeat to Orlando
- Seven of Miami’s last 14 away goals have been by Messi
- Both teams have scored and there have been at least three goals in six of Miami’s last seven away games, with five of those matches containing at least five goals.
- Uruguay record scorer Luis Suarez ended a three-game wait for a direct goal contribution against Pumas, scoring once and setting up another two
Orlando v Inter Miami prediction
Orlando’s solid home record against Miami and Messi’s absence have contributed to City being slight favorites for this game.
With potential match-winners including Ojeda, Muriel, Suarez and De Paul involved, expect a third 3-3 away draw of the season for Miami.
