Inter Miami vs New York City FC – What can you expect in the Eastern Conference finals?

Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, will look to take one step closer to a first Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup title when it hosts the Eastern Conference final against the survival instincts of New York City FC.

Messi was dominant in his second MLS postseason, scoring six goals and adding six assists to be involved in every playoff goal the Herons have scored.

While Miami sits in third place in the East, it also finished third overall in the MLS Supporters’ Shield race, looking to gain home field advantage against both remaining teams in the West – San Diego or Vancouver – if it can clinch a final berth in the MLS Cup.

It’s the same situation the Herons faced last year, when they were top overall after winning the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, only to be upset in a best-of-three first-round match against Atlanta United.

Miami’s first-year manager Javier Mascherano says his team must understand that nothing can be taken for granted, even after decisive 4-0 wins in back-to-back playoff games against Nashville SC and FC Cincinnati.

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“So far we have played very well, but we have not achieved anything,” Mascherano said in Spanish.

“Our mentality has to be that we have to play the game from the first minute, just like we did against Nashville and against Cincinnati.”

Fifth-seeded NYCFC lost leading scorer Alonso Martinez to a torn ACL before the 1-0 semifinal victory over top-seeded Philadelphia Union, and midfielder Andres Perea to a broken leg suffered in the Game 3 first-round victory in Charlotte.

Summer signing Nicolas Fernandez Mercau picked up the slack by scoring twice in the Game 3 win against Charlotte and assisting Maxi Moralez in the 1-0 victory in Philadelphia. In Moralez, NYCFC has its own 38-year-old from Argentina, who already won an MLS Cup with the club in 2021.

NYCFC boss Pascal Jansen said his team will not be intimidated by Miami’s stars, including eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, as well as his former FC Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.

“Sometimes it can be difficult to see your own qualities and your own perspective when you play against a good team, a good team like Miami,” Jansen said. «But we are not. We know we have a good side. Good players. We have shown that all season.»

Published on November 29, 2025