Lionel Messi heads into MLS playoffs: When and who will Inter Miami face in the first round?

Inter Miami have wrapped up their 2025 Main League Soccer common season. On Determination Day, Lionel Messi and his teammates secured a 5–2 win over Nashville SC and are actually absolutely targeted on the Japanese Convention playoffs.

The Herons completed third within the standings with 65 factors, the results of 19 wins, 8 attracts, and seven losses. That places them among the many high contenders within the East, and within the first spherical of the playoffs they’ll face a workforce that’s had an inconsistent yr—coincidentally, the identical workforce they simply defeated: Nashville SC, who completed sixth with 54 factors.

Through the common season, Inter Miami and Nashville met twice, with the Herons profitable each matches—2–1 at Chase Stadium and 5–2 at Geodis Park. Nonetheless, these outcomes aren’t any assure of what’s to return within the postseason.

In truth, Messi‘s workforce is aware of this all too properly from their 2024 expertise, once they have been the highest workforce within the common season and winners of the Supporters’ Defend, solely to be eradicated within the first spherical of the playoffs by Atlanta United, who had completed ninth.

When will the primary spherical of the MLS playoffs be performed?

Inter Miami will host Nashville SC at Chase Stadium in Sport 1 of the Japanese Convention first-round playoff sequence. That spherical, which might last as long as three video games, will start on Friday, October 24, and proceed—if crucial—till Sunday, November 9.

see additionally

Messi’s departure nonetheless an issue for Barcelona: The one facet Lamine Yamal and Lewandowski haven’t crammed

What’s the format of the MLS playoffs?

MLS makes use of a knockout system that’s completely different from most soccer tournaments around the globe. The primary spherical is performed as a best-of-three sequence. The upper-seeded workforce hosts Sport 1, then the decrease seed hosts Sport 2.

Attracts are usually not allowed in these matches. If a sport is tied on the finish of regulation, it goes straight to a penalty shootout to find out a winner. If one workforce wins each of the primary two matches, they advance robotically. If every workforce wins one, a decisive third match is performed on the stadium of the upper seed.

Beginning within the Convention Semifinals, the format turns into single-elimination, with the upper seed internet hosting a one-off match. These 4 video games might be performed between November 22 and 23. The winners will transfer on to the Convention Finals, scheduled for November 29 and 30, additionally in a single-match format. The MLS Cup Closing will then happen on Saturday, December 6.