Messi & Inter Miami vs NYCFC: How to Watch, Schedule & Scoring Concerns (March 2026)
- New York City FC welcomes Inter Miami and Lionel Messi to Yankee Stadium on Sunday, March 22, as the Herons attempt to rebound from a disappointing exit in...
- Inter Miami’s recent momentum was halted by Nashville SC in the Champions Cup, where they were eliminated on away goals after a 1-1 draw.
- The Champions Cup was a key objective for Inter Miami this season, offering a pathway to the FIFA Club World Cup.
New York City FC welcomes Inter Miami and Lionel Messi to Yankee Stadium on , as the Herons attempt to rebound from a disappointing exit in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The match, set to begin at 1 p.m. ET, will be broadcast on Apple TV.
Inter Miami’s recent momentum was halted by Nashville SC in the Champions Cup, where they were eliminated on away goals after a 1-1 draw. Despite Lionel Messi scoring his 900th career goal during the series, the loss represents a setback for a team with high aspirations. Manager Javier Mascherano acknowledged the team’s disappointment but emphasized the need to quickly refocus on Major League Soccer play. “We can’t change what happened, and there’s no point in dwelling on it,” Mascherano said. “That’s soccer — it happens sometimes — but I think it’s up to us to prove that what happened the other day was just a fluke. And well, the best way to prove it is to focus on the league now.”
The Champions Cup was a key objective for Inter Miami this season, offering a pathway to the FIFA Club World Cup. With that opportunity now gone, the club faces the challenge of translating its ambition into consistent MLS success. The departure of experienced players like Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets at the end of last season has created a void, despite a roster that, on paper, remains highly competitive. However, injuries are mounting, with Sergio Reguilón recently sidelined and Rodrigo De Paul and Maxi Falcón missing training sessions. These absences, coupled with inconsistent form, will significantly impact the team’s performance.
A significant concern for Inter Miami is the lack of consistent scoring beyond Messi. He has accounted for four of the team’s seven goals across all competitions. Mateo Silvetti, Telasco Segovia, and Rodrigo De Paul are the only other players to have found the net this season. Big-money signing Germán Berterame is yet to score, increasing the pressure on the forward, while Tadeo Allende, last year’s MLS goal-scoring leader, has also struggled to find the back of the net. Luis Suárez has seen limited action and remains scoreless.
Mascherano recognizes the need for broader offensive contributions. “Beyond having Leo — who always delivers an incredible number of goals, whether by scoring them himself or providing assists — we need the rest of the team to start scoring and contributing to those numbers as well,” he stated. “This is a time when we have to work much harder on that aspect, and we’re doing just that.”
NYCFC, currently pushing to maintain its position at the top of the Eastern Conference, presents a challenging opponent. Inter Miami defeated NYCFC 5-1 in the 2025 Eastern Conference final on , but the landscape of both teams has shifted considerably since then. The match offers Inter Miami a chance to demonstrate resilience and reaffirm its status as a top contender in MLS.
Looking ahead, Messi is expected to feature in the match before joining the Argentine national team for upcoming friendlies. Inter Miami will then face Austin FC on . The club’s performance in the coming weeks will be crucial as they prepare for the opening of their new stadium in April, adding further significance to their MLS campaign.