Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami slipped two points at the worst moment, drawing 2-2 with Cincinnati and jeopardizing their 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup bid. The Herons still control their fate, yet with only two MLS games left, margin for error has vanished.
Now sitting on 56 points in fourth place, Miami clings to the final slot that still grants a continental ticket. Nashville SC leads with 71 points, while New England Revolution and Vancouver Whitecaps each sit on 58. Just behind, FC Dallas trails with 54.
The next fixture is decisive. On Nov. 1, Miami travels to New England; only a victory keeps control. A draw won’t suffice, as the tiebreaker favors regular‑season wins, pushing the Revolution ahead.
Should Miami drop points while Dallas beats Sporting Kansas City, the club would slip to fifth with a single match left – the home showdown against Charlotte on Nov. 7.
Lionel Messi joins Gianluigi Buffon as one of the oldest players ever to finish in the top ten of Ballon d’Or voting.
If Inter Miami drops to fifth, can they still carve a path to the Champions Cup?
A fifth‑place finish doesn’t slam the door shut. Miami could still qualify by clinching back‑to‑back MLS Cup titles – a tall order. They might also sneak in if a top‑four side lifts the MLS Cup, which would shift the final berth down. In my view, banking on a cup win is a risky gamble.
The US Open Cup also tilts the balance. St. Louis City, already in as tournament champions, would relinquish its spot if it ends the season in the top four, while runner‑up Columbus Crew would claim a berth. Hence the scramble for regular‑season positions intensifies in these closing weeks.
Miami can still seize control by beating New England; the Cincinnati draw merely erased their cushion. Now almost every remaining match will determine whether Messi’s squad reaches next year’s continental stage.