Inter Miami vs Nashville SC today

Lionel Messi said it would be “beautiful for everyone” if Inter Miami can collect its first trophy.

Standing in the way of Saturday’s Leagues Cup final is another team, Nashville SC, playing for the first trophy of any kind. To reach this point, Nashville SC defeated Liga MX powerhouse CF Monterrey, 2-0, in the semifinals.

After winning just five of 22 regular-season games in MLS, Inter Miami won all six games in the Leagues Cup. Its 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union in the semifinals represented Miami’s most impressive victory in the team’s short history.

Reaching the finals of the Leagues Cup is a remarkable achievement for a Miami squad that currently sits in last place in Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer. But it enjoyed an unprecedented summer rebuild, highlighted by the addition of 2022 World Cup champion and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi. Inter Miami also signed two of Messi’s former teammates at FC Barcelona – Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets – and three highly regarded South American prodigies in 20-year-old Paraguayan midfielder Diego Gómez, 20-year-old Argentine midfielder Facundo Farías and 19-year-old Argentine defender Tomás Avilés. Farías and Avilés have yet to make their Inter Miami debuts.

Messi scored nine goals in six Leagues Cup games, while Inter Miami scored 21 goals during the tournament – a far cry from their 22 goals scored in 22 MLS games left Messi is still coming.

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While Inter Miami quickly changed its fortunes by signing the biggest soccer player ever, Nashville SC brought a more blue-collar approach to the pitch. Anchored by a solid defense and starring one of the best designated player signings in league history in Hany Mukhtar, Nashville SC has been a consistent MLS contender since its inception in 2020.

‘Enjoy the moment’: Lionel Messi welcomes a new career stage with Inter Miami

Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a goal in Inter Miami's Leagues Cup semifinal win over Philadelphia Union.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Leagues Cup final:

When did Lionel Messi play?

Messi and Inter Miami play against Nashville SC in the Leagues Cup championship game on Saturday, August 19 at 9 pm ET.

How to watch Lionel Messi in the Leagues Cup final

The Leagues Cup final between Inter Miami and Nashville SC can be streamed live via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

What’s in store for the Leagues Cup final?

While the finalists of the Leagues Cup – as well as the winner of the third-place game between Philadelphia Union and CF Monterrey – get automatic places for 2024 to the rebranded the Concacaf Champions Cup (then named the Concacaf Champions League), the Leagues Cup winner earns automatic qualification to the Round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup.

Neither Inter Miami nor Nashville SC have previously qualified for the Concacaf Champions Cup.

There is prize money also awarded to the winning teams in the Leagues Cup, along with the champion IS reported earn $2 million.

Where will the finals of the Leagues Cup be played?

The finals of the Leagues Cup will be held at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee. The stadium opens in 2022. Its 30,000 seat capacity makes GEODIS Park the largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States.

What to know about Nashville SC

Nashville SC and Inter Miami each joined MLS as expansion teams in 2020. Nashville SC has enjoyed more success, so far, than Inter Miami. Nashville has made the playoffs in each of its three seasons, advancing to the conference semifinals in 2020 and 2021. Last season, Hany Mukhtar – the first designated player to sign for Nashville in August 2019 – earned league MVP honors. Mukhtar has had a terrific follow-up to his MVP campaign, currently leading MLS with 13 goals.

defenders Walker Zimmerman is a two-time MLS defender of the year and a four-time MLS Best XI selection. Zimmerman and co-defendant Shaq Moore part of the United States’ 2022 World Cup team. Newly signed on the front Sam Surridge scored the first goal in Nashville’s 2-0 win over Monterrey in the Leagues Cup semifinals. Midfielder Dax McCarty is in his 18th MLS season after being a first-round pick in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas. Nashville SC is the fifth different team McCarty has played for.

What is the remaining schedule of Inter Miami in 2023?

Except for US Open Cup semifinal game on August 23 (available to stream on CBS Sports Golazo Network), all other Inter Miami games are available to watch via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

When does the MLS regular season start?

Major League Soccer returns to regular-season play on Sunday. What will be Messi’s first MLS game with Inter Miami – originally scheduled for August 20 against Charlotte FC – has been posted. Now it appears that Messi may play his first MLS regular season game for Inter Miami against New York Red Bulls on August 26 at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.

Here are Sunday’s MLS regular-season games:

All matches will be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.