Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami CF

Columbus Crew, a three-time MLS Cup champion (2008, 2020, 2023) and one of the league's founding clubs, hosts Inter Miami CF, the Florida franchise built around Lionel Messi since his 2023 arrival. Messi's presence has turned this fixture into one of MLS's most-watched draws league-wide; a 2025 meeting between the sides was even shifted to Cleveland's larger Browns stadium to accommodate demand, drawing a franchise-record crowd for a Crew home game. On the field, Miami's attack -- built around Messi alongside longtime national-team teammates -- has produced some lopsided results against Columbus in recent seasons, while the Crew's own MLS Cup pedigree makes them one of the more credible tests on Miami's schedule. Expect a match with genuine stakes in the Eastern Conference table as well as star power, when the two sides meet in Columbus on September 27, 2026.