NYCFC vs Inter Miami CF preview: Trying to stop the current favorites | OneFootball

When all is said and done, there is no question that New York City FC is not the chosen team to win in the Eastern Conference Finals of the MLS Cup Playoffs.  The Pigeons had a decent regular season under Pascal Jansen, but on paper, they should not be here.  Winning against Charlotte FC was one thing, but beating the Philadelphia Union last week was unexpected.  Yet, with a few starters missing and a mostly unimpressed attack, they still won 1-0.

Hence, when they face Inter Miami CF this weekend, NYCFC will aim to shock Major League Soccer again.  Clearly, the Herons are the current favorites to win, both on paper and likely preferred by the league and media.  The team has Lionel Messi and other stars, and the side will increase the number of viewers in the MLS Cup Finals if the Florida side moves on.  They have also been one of the hottest teams in the league over the last few months.

NYCFC has another tough challenge ahead, and whether the Bronx side can win, especially without Alonso Martínez, is a question worth asking.  Regardless, the Boys in Blue will try to stop the current favorites, for that is what they can do.  After all, anything can happen in the beautiful game.

So, for possibly the last time this year, here is a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals between NYCFC and Miami.

NYCFC vs Inter Miami preview

Date

NYCFC and Inter Miami will play on Saturday, November 29.

Time

The fixture will start at 6:00 PM ET.

Location

The match will occur at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

How to watch

Supporters can watch the game on the MLS Season Pass via Apple TV, which will be available for free for Apple TV subscribers.

Weather

Thankfully, it will not be the hottest game NYCFC has played in Florida.  The temperature will be around 74 degrees, with the humidity around 70%.  It will be mostly cloudy, and there is a small chance of rain, ranging from 13-31%.

Injury report

Malachi Jones (leg), Alonso Martínez (leg), Keaton Parks (leg), and Andrés Perea (leg) are all out for the Pigeons.

Players to watch

NYCFC supporters should pay attention to Nicolás Fernández Mercau.  He scored twice in the Charlotte series and almost had a goal of the season against the Union.  The Pigeons need him to be at his very best and hopefully score again.  The attacking midfielder has been a vital signing and has been a major part of their postseason run thus far.

Of course, Messi is the player to watch on Miami.  He is arguably still the best player on the Florida side and has scored six goals in the four playoff matches.  The only way the Boys in Blue will have a chance of winning is if they stop Messi.  However, the Herons still have plenty of scoring talent, so it will be a challenge no matter what.

The predictions have been negative, but the Bronx side has won despite those predictions.  So, to remain consistent, NYCFC will fall 4-1 to Miami.  Similar to the last meeting in Queens, the Pigeons will defend well in the first half, but will fall apart in the final 30 minutes of play.  It will be an awful way to exit the playoffs, but at least they can use it as fuel in 2026.