Preview: Inter Miami start Leagues Cup campaign against Atlas
The 2025 edition of the Leagues Cup, a mid-season tournament that pits teams from Major League Soccer against their Liga MX counterparts, kicks off this week.
By James Nalton
Lionel Messi has returned from his one-game suspension for missing the All-Star game and his Inter Miami team will face Mexican side Atlas in their opening game, looking to relive their 2023 success in this tournament.
Messi’s chance at another trophy
Though Inter Miami failed to win the MLS Cup in Messi’s first full season in 2024, they had won the inaugural edition of the expanded Leagues Cup in 2023, just after Messi arrived.
It was seen as a sign of things to come and the beginning of Inter Miami’s dominance of North American soccer, but though they did win the MLS Supporters’ Shield for topping the overall standings in 2024, they are yet to follow-up that 2023 Leagues Cup triumph in other cup competitions.
This tournament offers a chance for Inter Miami to get back in the hunt for trophies and meet the levels expected of them since Messi joined.
The arrival at Miami of Messi’s buddy Rodrigo De Paul from Atlético Madrid should help, and he’s expected to appear at some point during this tournament.
New Leagues Cup format
The Leagues Cup (which you can follow in the app – here) has changed format once again, and rather than involving all 30 teams from MLS, only includes 18 to match the number of teams from Liga MX.
MLS versus Liga MX games have understandably been the most intriguing matchups in previous editions of this tournament, and the big advantage of the new format is that it guarantees such matches throughout the league stage and in the quarterfinals.
A new league phase, not dissimilar to the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League but with two leagues rather than one, replaces the original group stage.
Though Mexican sides will face MLS sides in all league phase games, the 18 participating MLS teams will be in one league table and the 18 from Liga MX in another. The top four from each advance to the knockout stage.
When Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup in 2023, they only faced one Mexican team in the seven games they played.
This edition, therefore, should provide them with a proper test against Mexican opposition.
Opposition watch: Atlas
Atlas have begun the new Liga MX season with a win, a draw, and a defeat in the opening three games of the Apertura, taking a mixed bag of form into the Leagues Cup.
They were knocked out in the last 32 by compatriots Club América last year, and lost on penalties to New England Revolution at the same stage in 2023.
Atlas attacking star Eduardo Aguirre has started the new Mexican season with a goal and an assist in the three games they have played, while 22-year-old Paraguayan Diego González looks set to contribute more regularly this season.
Montenegro international forward Uroš Đurđević will be looking to get in the goals, and their back line features the one-time Brazilian wonderkid, Dória, the left-footed centre-back who is now aged 30.
Prediction
An early tournament statement win for Messi and Miami.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
You can follow every Inter Miami game live this season with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.