By Favian Renkel
Inter Miami CF, with their late-game dramatics and star-powered roster, are set to face another team in the spotlight: Club Necaxa. With the possibility of having six points within reach, both sides enter this clash having won their opening matches in Leagues Cup play. While neither team can clinch qualification just yet, a win would place one foot firmly in the next round.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
- 1st matchup all time
- Record at Leagues Cup: Inter Miami (10-2), Necaxa (2-4)
LAST FIVE GAMES
- Inter Miami CF:
- 3 Wins, 1 Draw, 1 Loss
- Coming off a last second win versus Atlas on Wednesday
- Club Necaxa:
- 2 Wins, 2 Draws, 1 Losses
- Coming off convincing 3-1 win over Atlanta United on Wednesday
MAIN STORYLINES
- Messi may not have scored in Miami's opening match but he assisted on both goals showing off why he's the motor of Miami's attack.
- Will Rodrigo De Paul be out there for a second consecutive game after an Inter Miami debut in which he played the full 90 minutes.
- Winning is no longer enough in this new Leagues Cup format. Despite Miami earning the three point they sit outside the top 4 MLS teams, can they win but also put a dent in the goal differential columm.
- Miami has been one of the more dominant teams in Leagues Cup since 2023 with a 10-2 overall record. Can Necaxa pull off the upset?
- The Necaxa series on FX has been the talk of the town and star power like Eva Longoria is expected to be in attendance, will that be a distraction to the club.
- Necaxa is currently on a 3-game unbeaten run, looking to win again and seal a spot among Liga MX's top four.
KEY FACTORS
- Club Necaxa:
- Will Fernando Gago make any changes to the squad after a convincing win vs Atlanta.
- Necaxa currently on a 3-game unbeaten run, looking to win again and seal a spot among Liga MX's top four.
- Tomás Badaloni continues to play the role of super sub for Necaxa with two goals coming off the bench vs Atlanta, can he do it again.
- Inter Miami CF:
- Messi is now up to 13 goal contributions (10 goals, 3 assists) in 8 career Leagues Cup games.
- Will a rest day be considered for any of Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba or Luis Suarez after all playing the full game vs Atlas.
- Following their Club World Cup exit, via 4-0 loss to PSG, they have gone 5-1-1 since. Can they keep it rolling.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
The stars will be out at Chase Stadium on August 2 at 7 p.m. local time, where Inter Miami looks to stay unbeaten. With a +1 goal differential, the Herons aim to extend their lead and rack up as many goals as possible in front of a home crowd.
Javier Mascherano’s squad, led by Lionel Messi, is in a favorable position. With so few MLS teams winning outright in regulation, Miami’s path to advancing out of Phase 1 appears clearer—provided they take care of business against Necaxa. In their first outing, it was Messi who delivered once again, finding Marcelo Weigandt for a late winner. The goal was momentarily under review, but once confirmed, celebrations erupted—complete with Messi exchanging words with Atlas players in a viral moment.
Mascherano seems set on consistency, likely sticking with the same starting XI, even as some veteran players showed signs of fatigue late in the last match. Rodrigo De Paul, the club’s newest addition, brings fresh energy. The Argentine made his debut against Atlas and now has a chance to truly announce himself in pink, potentially netting his first goal for Inter Miami.
On the other side, few expected the team that was embarrassed in last year’s Leagues Cup with a 5-0 quarterfinal defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes to be in such a strong position this early in the competition. Club Necaxa’s commanding win over Atlanta United included the tournament’s first clean sheet and a regulation-time victory—impressive, regardless of Atlanta’s recent form. Fernando Gago’s squad showed urgency from kickoff and never let up.
Now the question becomes: can Necaxa replicate that performance against the most star-studded team in the tournament?
Gago has made the stakes clear—defeating Inter Miami in regulation would be the surest path to qualification, setting up the third group-stage match as a potential final.
This matchup is more than just a meeting between two perfect teams—it’s a clash of ambition, celebrity, and tournament survival. With stars on both sides and stakes rising, Inter Miami and Necaxa are set to deliver one of the most memorable moments of the group stage. Victory won’t guarantee advancement, but it will bring it tantalizingly close.
