Inter Miami host CF Montréal: Lionel Messi to face former Barcelona teammate Alexis Sánchez again
On Saturday, August 29, Inter Miami and CF Montréal meet in an MLS regular-season match at Nu Stadium in Florida, with attention on Lionel Messi and new Montréal forward Alexis Sánchez reuniting after their time together at Barcelona.
Match context
Inter Miami and CF Montréal meet in matchday 22 of the 2026 MLS regular season at Nu Stadium in Miami, Florida. Sources give different kickoff references — some cite 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 29, while another lists a 02:30 kickoff on Sunday in European time, a difference explained by time-zone conversion. One outlet, OneFootball, notes the venue was "yet to be confirmed" at the time of writing, while the other sources agree on Nu Stadium. The game will be broadcast on Apple TV, the exclusive home of MLS matches.
A particular storyline is the reunion of Lionel Messi and Alexis Sánchez, former Barcelona teammates, since Sánchez joined Montréal this season.
Form and statistics
Inter Miami sit second in the Eastern Conference but are ten points behind leaders Nashville, according to Scores And Stats. The team has struggled recently — Bolavip reports Miami are winless in their last five matches (0 wins, 4 losses, 1 draw), including defeats to Toronto FC and Nashville. Messi has scored 15 goals and provided 8 assists in 18 appearances this season, while Luis Suárez has added nine goals, per OneFootball. There have also been changes to the coaching staff: Bolavip reports the departure of assistant coach Guillermo Hoyos, while LiveScore mentions the arrival of new coach Kily González.
CF Montréal sit near the bottom of the table, in 14th place per OneFootball, with just five wins from 21 matches. The club is on a four-game unbeaten run but has lost seven of ten away fixtures. Prince Osei Owusu leads the attack with 13 goals and 6 assists this season.
Lineups and injuries
Inter Miami's expected lineup includes Dayne St. Clair in goal, Ian Fray, Maximiliano Falcón and Noah Allen in defence, Casemiro and Rodrigo De Paul in midfield, and Messi, Suárez and Germán Berterame up front. Several players are out injured, including Tadeo Allende and Mateo Silvetti. CF Montréal are expected to field Thomas Gillier in goal, Dawid Bugaj and Brayan Vera in defence, and Owusu alongside Daniel Ríos or Noah Streit in attack. Sources disagree on whether Sánchez will start — Bolavip projects him in the starting XI, while LiveScore has Streit starting instead.
History and predictions
Inter Miami have won the last four meetings between the sides, with the most recent encounter finishing 1-0 to Miami in Montréal. However, sources differ on the overall record over the last ten meetings: Sportsgambler cites six wins for Miami, three for Montréal and one draw, while OneFootball reports five wins for Miami, four for Montréal and one draw.
Bookmaker odds compiled by Scores And Stats have Miami at -225 to win, the draw at +500 and Montréal at +550. Predictions vary: OneFootball expects a home win, LiveScore forecasts a 2-2 draw, while Sportsgambler favours a bet on Montréal losing by no more than one goal.
