Leagues Cup Wednesday Preview: MLS Champion Inter Miami Face Elimination | OneFootball

Inter Miami vs León

Kickoff: 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm ET @ Nu Stadium, Miami FLStreaming on Apple TV+

Inter Miami enters the final round of the Leagues Cup Phase One with considerably more than three points on the line. The reigning MLS Cup champions are under pressure against Club León if they want to keep their hopes of reaching the quarterfinals alive.

The situation became even more complicated after Monterrey came from behind to beat Inter Miami 2-1, leaving the Herons with just three points. Now, they don’t completely control their own destiny. Inter Miami must win and then hope the numbers, the standings and perhaps the football gods decide to cooperate.

Bad News & Good News

And then there is the small matter of Lionel Messi.

The Argentine superstar will not be available after being granted an indefinite leave of absence following the death of his father, Jorge Messi. His absence completely changes the equation for an Inter Miami side that could certainly use its biggest problem-solver right now.

But there is some good news on the injury front.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Leagues Cup clash against Club León, Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos addressed the situation surrounding Luis Suárez and Mexican striker Germán Berterame.

“Berterame is recovered, we’re waiting on the timelines the federation determines, but we have a few more days,” Hoyos explained.

Berterame’s injury occurred on July 25 during Inter Miami’s MLS victory over CF Montréal, when he collided with defender Efraín Morales while contesting a cross. The Mexican international was knocked unconscious and had to be stretchered off before being taken to a hospital.

He missed roughly two weeks of action before returning to training with the club on August 7, giving Inter Miami at least one reason to smile in a week that has provided very few.

León, meanwhile, arrives with a genuine opportunity to become one of the protagonists in the fight for the quarterfinal spots.

For Inter Miami, however, there is no room for another slip. First, they need to win. Then, they need to start checking the other results and doing the kind of tournament math that makes everyone suddenly pretend they understand tiebreakers.

The team coached by Guillermo Hoyos knows the Leagues Cup is not particularly interested in reputations. After finishing runner-up in 2025 and winning the competition in 2023, Inter Miami could be eliminated in Phase One for the first time.

And this time, there will be no Messi rescue mission.

Monterrey vs. Nashville: Rayados want another American victim

Kickoff: 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm ET @ GEODIS Park, Nashville TNBroadcast live on FS1; Streaming on Apple TV+

Monterrey enters its final Phase One match with plenty of momentum after pulling off one of the tournament’s biggest results: a 2-1 comeback win over Inter Miami at Nu Stadium.

Rayados fell behind after Rodrigo De Paul put the Florida side ahead, but Hugo Cuypers and Diego Rossi turned the game around in the second half and gave Monterrey three valuable points.

Now comes Nashville SC.

The MLS side needs points to keep its own hopes alive, while Monterrey has the chance to close out Phase One in style and further arguing that the win over Inter Miami was not a one-night surprise. Rayados already know what it takes to go deep in this competition. They reached the semifinals in 2023 before finishing third, so there is no shortage of experience when it comes to ruining an MLS team’s evening. underline that Mexican clubs are not simply here to provide entertaining international content for MLS.

Nashville will have to make home-field advantage count against one of Liga MX’s most dangerous representatives in this edition. Every point matters in a tournament where the qualification race can quickly turn into a spreadsheet nightmare.

Monterrey Have Something to Prove

For Monterrey, this is another opportunity to prove that the win over Inter Miami was not a one-night surprise. Rayados already know what it takes to go deep in this competition. They reached the semifinals in 2023 before finishing third, so there is no shortage of experience when it comes to ruining an MLS team’s evening.

After taking down Inter Miami, Monterrey will be looking for another American victim and underline that Mexican clubs are not simply here to provide entertaining international content for MLS.

Nashville’s job is simply to make sure it isn’t next.

Toluca vs. FC Dallas: The Mexican champions look to get back on track

Kickoff: 10:00pm ET / 7:00pm ET @ Estadio Nemesio Díez Riega, Toluca, MexicoStreaming on Apple TV+

Toluca will have one final opportunity to close Phase One of the Leagues Cup with a victory when the Mexican champions host FC Dallas at Estadio Nemesio Diez.

The Diablos Rojos opened their campaign in spectacular fashion, crushing the reigning Leagues Cup champions Seattle Sounders 3-0. It was the first Leagues Cup game hosted in Mexico in years, part of the four the competition organizers “gifted” to the Liga MX sides.

Then they traveled to LAFC.

Their 1-0 defeat by a stoppage time shocker changed the mood considerably and left Toluca needing a strong response in its final match.

Fortunately for the Mexican champions, they will have the Nemesio Diez on their side. Toluca is one of the three highest-ranked Liga MX clubs in the tournament and, as a result, received the benefit of playing two Phase One matches at home.

A First for Dallas

FC Dallas, meanwhile, arrives in Toluca after facing Querétaro and Chivas. The Texas club will finish its Phase One campaign with a trip to the home of the reigning Liga MX champions — because someone in the scheduling department apparently has a bone to pick with them.

There is also a bit of history attached to the matchup.

Toluca and FC Dallas will meet in an official competition for the first time, giving both clubs the chance to make history while simultaneously trying to avoid becoming a footnote in someone else’s qualification scenario.

For FC Dallas, it would be their first win in Mexico since 2011’s shock defeat of Pumas UNAM, and the first win by a MLS tide south of the border in this competition. It would also go a long way to securing a possible ticket to the quarterfinals, as they are one of six MLS sides with two wins.

For Toluca, this is about more than simply advancing. The Diablos need to show that the loss to LAFC was just a bump in the road and not the beginning of a crisis for the Mexican champions.

At the Nemesio Diez, Toluca will have the final word.

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