New York Red Bulls v Inter Miami: Preview, expected line-ups, stats and where to watch as Messi makes trans-Atlantic dash to Big Apple

Lionel Messi will dash back across the Atlantic to play for Inter Miami against the New York Red Bulls this weekend. Read our preview here...

New York Red Bulls v Inter Miami: Preview, expected line-ups, stats and where to watch as Messi makes trans-Atlantic dash to Big Apple
Major League Soccer, Round 31
New York Red Bulls YOR
24/10/2026 22:30
Inter Miami
venue
Sports Illustrated Stadium
referee
Filip Dujic

Where to Watch New York Red Bulls v Inter Miami: TV and online streams

New York Red Bulls versus Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami kicks off at 5:30pm ET on Saturday, October 24, which is 10:30pm BST for viewers in the UK, at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.

The match is live worldwide on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, including in the UK and the US.

Preview for New York Red Bulls v Inter Miami

Inter Miami are hitting top form at exactly the right time. Kily González’s side head to Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday chasing a fourth successive MLS win, and with just four games of the regular season left, every point matters in the race for the seeding positions in the East.

Miami have already secured a play-off spot but will hope to clinch second place in the regular season standings over New England and Chicago.

Messi was the star once again last weekend, scoring twice in Atlanta as Miami followed up their wins over DC United and New York City FC. That made it three wins in a row, and the Herons are second in the Eastern Conference with 55 points (W15 D10 L5). They have scored 71 goals this season, one of the best tallies in the league.

Messi will race back across the Atlantic before the game having been in Spain this week collecting the Princess of Asturias award for sport on Friday, a ceremony that will be presided over by the King and Queen of Spain.

The Red Bulls are in a far less comfortable position. They sit 10th in the East with 36 points (W10 D6 L14), and they need a strong finish to the season to have any chance of making the playoffs.

Julian Hall has been their standout performer, leading the attack with 11 goals this season. New York have also been capable of troubling good teams at home.

The head-to-head record is remarkably even. This is the 14th regular-season meeting between the clubs, and each side has won six, with one draw. Their recent meetings have been entertaining, too, with over 2.5 goals scored in each of the last three.

Major League Soccer Table

Major League Soccer 2026

USA

Eastern Conference

# Team Played Won Drawn Lost GF GA GD Pts Last 5
1 Nashville SC 30 20 7 3 64 23 41 67
D W W W W
2 Inter Miami 30 15 10 5 73 51 22 55
W W W L D
3 New England Revolution 30 16 4 10 49 41 8 52
W W L L W
4 Chicago Fire 30 14 6 10 52 44 8 48
L L W W W
5 Charlotte 30 13 8 9 53 45 8 47
D L W L W
6 Philadelphia Union 30 13 7 10 61 48 13 46
D W W W W
7 Orlando City SC 30 12 5 13 58 70 -12 41
W D W L L
8 FC Cincinnati 30 10 9 11 62 71 -9 39
W L L W L
9 New York Red Bulls 30 10 6 14 39 56 -17 36
L L W L W
10 Toronto FC 30 8 12 10 46 55 -9 36
W D W L L
11 Columbus Crew 30 10 5 15 46 47 -1 35
W W L W W
12 New York City FC 30 8 10 12 43 41 2 34
D L L D L
13 DC United 30 7 12 11 38 53 -15 33
L L W L D
14 Atlanta United FC 30 8 6 16 37 51 -14 30
L W L D W
15 CF Montreal 30 6 7 17 36 60 -24 25
D L L W L
  • Position 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 : Promotion – MLS (Play Offs: 1/8-finals)
  • Position 8, 9 : Promotion – MLS (Play Offs: 1/16-finals)

Team News for New York Red Bulls v Inter Miami

The Red Bulls are reported to have a fully fit squad. Ethan Horvath will start in goal, while Hall leads the line.

For Miami, Messi, Luis Suárez and Germán Berterame are expected to start up front again. Dayne St Clair will continue in goal.

González will have to manage his squad carefully, with Miami hosting FC Cincinnati on Wednesday.

Expected line-ups for New York Red Bulls v Inter Miami

New York Red Bulls: Horvath; Nealis, Che, Bazan, Pedelford; Donkor, Mehmeti, Sofo; Harper, Hall, Cowell

Inter Miami: St Clair; Luján, Casemiro, Micael, Reguilón; De Paul, Ayala, Galarza; Messi, Suárez, Berterame

Recent Form & Stats for New York Red Bulls v Inter Miami

  • Messi is on course to win his third consecutive Landon Donovan MLS MVP award. He’s up to a league-best 40 goal contributions (25g/15a) on the year.
  • New York have lost three of their last four league fixtures, failing to score in two of them.
  • New York’s 39 goals scored tie the Seattle Sounders for the fewest among MLS sides currently in a playoff position.
  • Miami lead the league in average goals per game (2.4), scoring three or more in six MLS away fixtures this year.

Recent Results : New York Red Bulls

  • Major League Soccer
    New York Red Bulls YOR
    L 0 – 2 2026-10-18
    Toronto FC TOR
  • Major League Soccer
    DC United UNI
    L 2 – 1 2026-10-15
    New York Red Bulls YOR
  • Major League Soccer
    New York Red Bulls YOR
    W 4 – 1 2026-10-11
    San Diego
  • Major League Soccer
    New York Red Bulls YOR
    L 0 – 3 2026-10-01
    St. Louis City
  • Major League Soccer
    New York City FC
    W 0 – 1 2026-09-19
    New York Red Bulls YOR

Recent Results : Inter Miami

  • Major League Soccer
    Atlanta United FC
    W 1 – 3 2026-10-18
    Inter Miami
  • Major League Soccer
    Inter Miami
    W 2 – 0 2026-10-15
    New York City FC
  • Major League Soccer
    Inter Miami
    W 4 – 0 2026-10-11
    DC United UNI
  • Major League Soccer
    Columbus Crew COL
    L 2 – 1 2026-09-28
    Inter Miami
  • Major League Soccer
    Inter Miami
    D 2 – 2 2026-09-21
    San Diego

Prediction for New York Red Bulls v Inter Miami

If Messi plays well then Inter Miami win but we suspected the Argentinian may be a little jaded after his break in Spain and the travel either side. NYRB need the points and we fancy them to sneak it.

Match Prediction

New York Red Bulls
2 – 1
Inter Miami