Inter Miami v Chicago: Line-ups, stats and preview

Inter Miami v Chicago match preview

In their fourth-last fixture of the regular season, Inter Miami’s run of seven matches in 21 days continues with a home MLS match against a Chicago side who are three points above the bottom of the table on Tuesday.

Victory could send The Herons level on points with second-placed Cincinnati and a place in the top four would ensure Javier Mascherano’s side have home advantage first in the initial best-of-three series in the playoffs, as well as two home games should their tie required a third match.

The three teams above Miami each have two fewer games to play and, although the Supporters’ Shield is not in their hands, they are guaranteed to take the title if they win their remaining games and the sides they are chasing drop points.

“If we can fight for the Supporters’ Shield, great,” said Mascherano. “We will try. Hopefully, they will lose some points in their remaining games and we can push them.

“In 10 or 11 days, we have played four games and we knew it was going to be tough.”

Miami made the mammoth trip to Toronto on Saturday, having 62% of possession and six of the eight attempts at goal between the teams in a 1-1 draw.

“The team made a great effort and we dominated most of the game,” assessed Mascherano.

“We knew we were not going to shine because there was fatigue. We have to focus on dealing with the current situation.”

Chicago have three remaining regular-season matches and are in a strong position to at least qualify for the Wild Card match for the playoffs between the teams finishing eighth and ninth.

A 2-0 home win on Saturday over the team immediately above them, Columbus, was the Fire’s second straight victory and third in four matches in their first season under former Crew and USMNT national team manager Gregg Berhalter.

“No pressure,” Berhalter said of visiting opponents on a 12-match unbeaten home run. “It’s a great atmosphere against great players.

“We want to show what we can do as a team. That’s the most important thing. The lack of chances we’re conceding is really, really good.

“We now have to do the same against a better attacking team in Inter Miami. They’re a top team. For us, it’s ‘how do you replicate that against some of the world’s best?’

“It’s a mind over matter thing. When we get this close to the end of the season and there’s a lot on the line, guys want to perform.

“They want to play. You can see they took the message of being hard to play against to heart [against Columbus]. We want to go to Miami and do the same thing.”

Inter Miami v Chicago Fire team news

Chicago left-back Viktor Radojevic will miss out with a lower body injury, while winger Chris Mueller is absent for the rest of the season with pericarditis and center-back Sam Rogers is suspended after being booked in the 94th minute against Columbus.

Berhalter suggested Leo Barroso is a doubt with a possible foot injury the Portugal Under-21 defender suffered in that game.

Mueller, defender Jonathan Dean and goalkeeper Jeff Gal signed new contracts at the club last week.

Midfielder Allen Obando and forward David Ruiz (both hamstring) are out for Miami. New forward Mateo Silvetti is with Argentina at the Under-20 World Cup in Chile.

Miami v Chicago Fire 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

Chicago starting XI: Chris Brady, Mauricio Pineda, Joel Waterman, Jack Elliott, Brian Gutierrez, Andre Franco, Dje Tah D’Avilla, Andrew Gutman, Philip Zinckernagel, Hugo Cuypers, Jonathan Bamba

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

Kick-off on Tuesday is at 19:30 ET (16:30 PT / 00:30 on Wednesday 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 Chicago Fire stats

• Chicago have four wins to Miami’s three in the nine-match history of the fixture and lead the aggregate scoreline 15-13
• Sixteen of those 28 total goals have arrived after the 60th minute in games between the teams
• Miami had won the previous two meetings before a 0-0 draw in Chicago on April 13
• With two goals, Luis Suarez is the only Miami player ever to have scored more than once for the club against Chicago
• The Fire have never scored during the first 15 minutes against Miami
• Chicago have conceded the joint-most penalties in the 2025 MLS (9), while Miami have scored the fewest (1)
• Miami have the highest shooting accuracy in this season’s division (43%)
• Lionel Messi has 32 goals and 14 assists in 39 appearances this season
• With 24 league goals, MLS top scorer Messi has one more than LAFC’s Denis Bouanga
• Chicago forward Hugo Cuypers has 17 goals and two assists in this season’s MLS, as well as the third-highest expected goals (20.63)

Inter Miami v Chicago prediction

Judging whether either side could be below-par is tricky, with both facing quick turnarounds, Miami assured of a playoff place and Chicago arguably having more to play for but making a colossal trip to Chase Stadium.

Only four MLS teams average more points per game away this season than the Fire, with only Miami outscoring them overall in the Eastern Conference.

Miami are warm favourites and have conceded in 11 of their last 12 home league matches, so a 2-2 draw looks good value here.