Inter Miami v DC United: Line-ups, stats and preview

Inter Miami v DC United match preview

An unbeaten 11-match home run may not be the only cause for confidence among Inter Miami fans at the Chase Stadium on Saturday, when their side will target a second MLS win in front of them in four days following their 3-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders on Tuesday.

The Herons will seal a play-off place with six matches to spare if they avoid defeat and better the New York Red Bulls’ result at bottom club Montreal – but the best news of the week appears to concern Lionel Messi’s long-mooted new contract, which the captain will announce imminently, according to the Miami Herald.

While Messi’s contract is expected to be the last of the footballing icon’s career, homegrown 21-year-old Noah Allen announced on Thursday that he has extended his terms until 2028 with an optional extra year, and manager Javier Mascherano laughed when it was suggested that Yannick Bright could be next to sign a new deal.

“I don’t think we should wait until [beating Seattle] to decide whether he deserves a raise,” Mascherano said of the 24-year-old midfielder.

“I don’t get involved in that. He has been proving that he is clearly an important player. He’s a player who grows day by day, goes above and beyond himself and believes in how important he is to the team, so I’m very happy with him.”

Miami’s visitors are second-bottom Eastern Conference team DC United, who are a point above Montreal and one behind Atlanta United and Toronto following a third 1-1 draw in four matches when they were held at home by Orlando City on Sunday.

Rene Weiler’s players also drew at Montreal and won at New York City as part of that run, as well as sharing the points with Inter Miami at Audi Field on August 24, when Messi was absent and home midfielder Jackson Hopkins’ early goal opened the scoring before Baltasar Rodriguez equalised during the second half.

“We had big problems in our home game against Miami,” said Weiler. “Now they’re going to be at home with Messi, it’s going to be even more complicated than it already was.

“It’s difficult to stop them but we have to be very compact and everybody has to have the best possible game, otherwise it will be… impossible to get a good result out there.

“It will be a big challenge and maybe a benchmark to see how far the players [have come] now, to compare them with the players of Miami.

“At the same time, we have to enjoy it because it’s a pleasure to play Miami in their big stadium.”

Hard at work 💪

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— D.C. United (@dcunited) September 16, 2025

Inter Miami v DC United team news

Midfielders Allen Obando and Baltasar Rodriguez and forward David Ruiz (all hamstring) are among Miami’s absentees.

Winger Fafa Picault (quad) is out and striker Luis Suarez is serving the final game of a three-match ban for spitting at a Seattle staff member during Miami’s 3-0 Leagues Cup final defeat.

Venezuela midfielder Telasco Segovia is a doubt with an ankle issue and will be banned if he is booked, while on-loan Boca Juniors right-back must also avoid a yellow card.

DC United’s Kristian Fletcher has a long-term knee injury and fellow forward Dominique Badji has missed their last three games because of a hamstring problem.

Luckless winger Randall Leal has not been on the winning side in any of his 15 MLS appearances for DC this season and has sat out their four most recent matches with a leg injury.

Lukas MacNaughton is suspended because of a red card the defender received against Orlando, as is Finland defender or midfielder Matti Peltola for accumulated bookings.

Brandon Servania’s booking against City means the midfielder is on the brink of a ban.

Miami v DC United predicted line-ups

Inter Miami starting XI: Oscar Ustari, Ian Fray, Maxi Falcon, Noah Allen, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Yannick Bright, Tadeo Allende, Rodrigo De Paul, Telasco Segovia, Lionel Messi

DC United starting XI: Luis Barraza, Conner Antley, Lukas MacNaughton, Lucas Bartlett, David Schnegg, Gabriel Pirani, Brandon Servania, Jackson Hopkins, Matti Peltola, Peglow, Christian Benteke

How to watch Inter Miami v DC United: Live stream, TV channel

Kick-off on Saturday is at 19:30 ET (16:30 PT / 00:30 on Sunday BST), with live coverage available through the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.

In the US, a subscription costs $14.99 a month or $69 a season. Existing Apple TV+ subscribers pay $12.99 per month or $59 a season.

Inter Miami v DC United stats

• DC have four wins to Miami’s three in the 10-match history of the fixture and lead the aggregate scoreline 16-14
• Fifteen of those 30 total goals have arrived after the 60th minute in games between the teams
• All three of the goals scored between the 30th minute and half-time have gone the way of Miami
• Allen has three goals in three appearances for his club against DC, while Ruiz has four goals in five games and Benjamin Cremaschi – on loan to Parma from Miami – has four in four
• Striker Christian Benteke has five goals in five DC games against Miami. The captain contributed five goals and an assist in his side’s first seven MLS matches this season but has scored three times in 14 league appearances since and is currenty four games without a goal
• Miami have the highest long-ball percentage in the MLS (57.7%), with DC seventh-lowest (41%)
• The Herons have the third-highest shooting accuracy (41.7%), behind Nashville (42%) and Minnesota (42.1%)
• Messi has 28 goals and 12 assists in 36 appearances this season
• With 20 league goals, Messi has one more than LAFC’s Denis Bouanga but is second to Nashville’s Sam Surridge, on 21
• Miami are unbeaten in ther last 12 home matches (W10), although they have one win in six away from Chase Stadium

Inter Miami v DC United prediction

With nine defeats and three wins in 15 MLS away games this season, only four teams have won fewer times and three sides lost more often than DC on the road.

Miami have won their last two home matches 3-1 and can be backed to prevail with both teams scoring again, having kept one clean sheet in their last 19 league games.