Inter Miami vs. Sporting KC without Messi: Live updates, stream online
2x FIFA Champ Mia Hamm reflects on Messi Mania in the US
Mia Hamm is not surprised at all by how Lionel Messi has taken America by storm.
Sports Seriously, USA TODAY
Can Inter Miami win without Lionel Messi? That question will be answered when Sporting Kansas City visits for a 7:30 p.m. ET MLS match today.
Messi is making magic with Argentina for a pair of World Cup qualifiers, but Inter Miami needs points to keep its slim playoff chances — boosted by Messi’s 11 goals and five assists since joining the bottom-of-the-table team — alive.
Inter Miami also has eight other players away on international duty, including striker Josef Martinez (Venezuela), midfielder Robert Taylor (Finland) and 18-year-old standout Benjamin Cremaschi (USA). Sporting KC has two players away for the match and is within two points of securing a playoff spot.
Despite the absences, Miami coach Tata Martino and striker Leonardo Compana, who trails only Martinez in regular-season goals with five, said the squad has changed since Messi’s arrival and they have confidence in its chances without him.
“Leo has raised everybody’s level, our level of confidence,” Campana told reporters ahead of the match. “But we’re a totally different team now and I’m sure tomorrow we’ll end up with all three points.”
A good question given the numbers above. We broke down all the playoff scenarios and the team’s chances, and the path isn’t easy. Miami does have two games in hand compared to a lot of the team above it in the rankings. Still, to be safe, Miami would need to win seven of its final nine matches. Here’s an in-depth look at Inter Miam’s playoff picture.
Inter Miami is currently in 14th place out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference with a record of 7-14-4 and 25 points. In order to qualify for the playoffs, they will need to rise to ninth place or higher, which is a challenging feat.
So far, only Cincinnati, with a record of 17-4-6 and 57 points, has secured a spot in the playoffs. In the Western Conference, Sporting Kansas City is in 11th place with a record of 8-11-8 and 32 points, trailing ninth-place Dallas by two points. St. Louis leads the West with a record of 15-10-2 and 47 points.
See the full rankings here.
What time does Inter Miami play today vs. Sporting Kansas City?
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at DVR PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Sporting KC: Stream online
Like all MLS games, Inter Miami’s match vs. Kansas City, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, will be streamed on MLS Season Pass, which is available on AppleTV.
Is Messi playing tonight?
Unfortunately, Messi will not be joining Inter Miami for their game against Sporting KC tonight as he is currently on international duty with Argentina for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Messi played a crucial role in securing a 1-0 victory for his country against Ecuador by scoring the only goal of the game last Thursday. His next game with Argentina is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday against Bolivia.
