Los Angeles FC vs Inter Miami Prediction & Picks - Major League Soccer
USA - Major League Soccer
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by Bradley Gibbs | in Major League Soccer Picks
What is arguably the most high-profile game during the opening weekend of the 2026 Major League Soccer campaign will take place at BMO Stadium on Saturday evening, where LAFC and Inter Miami will clash. This is a battle between two of the last four MLS Cup winners, with LAFC picking up the top prize back in 2022, while the Herons went all the way in 2025.
Both teams were very strong during the previous regular campaign, with LAFC finishing third in the Western Conference. Inter Miami finished third in the Eastern Conference, so this is absolutely a game between two of the biggest hitters in all of Major League Soccer. There was no cross-conference action between these two last season, but they did meet in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Saturday's hosts won by a goal to zero at this venue, before losing 3-1 in Miami. Another interesting game awaits.
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Los Angeles FC vs Inter Miami Form
Table
| Teams | Pts | P | W | D | L | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4
|
31 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | +11 |
|
9
|
24 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | +7 |
Los Angeles FC and Inter Miami Latest Matches
3/6 (50%)
2/6 (33%)
1/6 (17%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Feb 17, 2026 - Concachampions
Nov 22, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Nov 2, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Oct 29, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Oct 18, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Oct 12, 2025 - Major League Soccer
4/6 (67%)
1/6 (17%)
1/6 (17%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Oct 29, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Oct 8, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Oct 5, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Sep 21, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Aug 31, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Aug 1, 2025 - Leagues Cup
3/6 (50%)
2/6 (33%)
1/6 (17%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Feb 17, 2026 - Concachampions
Nov 22, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Nov 2, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Oct 18, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Oct 12, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Sep 27, 2025 - Major League Soccer
5/6 (83%)
0/6 (0%)
1/6 (17%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Dec 6, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Nov 29, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Nov 23, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Nov 8, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Nov 1, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Oct 24, 2025 - Major League Soccer
6/6 (100%)
0/6 (0%)
0/6 (0%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Dec 6, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Nov 29, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Nov 8, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Oct 24, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Oct 11, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Oct 4, 2025 - Major League Soccer
3/6 (50%)
1/6 (17%)
2/6 (33%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
Nov 23, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Nov 1, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Oct 18, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Sep 27, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Sep 24, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Sep 13, 2025 - Major League Soccer
Los Angeles FC against Inter Miami : Head to Head (H2H)
60 %
0 %
40 %
Average stats (last H2H results)
Apr 9, 2025 - Concachampions
Apr 2, 2025 - Concachampions
Sep 3, 2023 - Major League Soccer
Mar 12, 2022 - Major League Soccer
Mar 1, 2020 - Major League Soccer
Los Angeles FC - Inter Miami: Form Analysis
Pre-season hasn't gone too badly for the LAFC boys, who've not lost any of their three friendlies ahead of this fixture. They did tie two of those warm-up games, failing to keep a clean sheet in both, which doesn't exactly bode well ahead of a game against one of strongest offensive set-ups that Major League Soccer has to offer. Last time out, the LAFC boys got back down to business competitively, playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and they certainly sharpened their offensive tools, scoring six goals.
This will be Inter Miami's first competitive match since beating the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS Cup Final back in early December.
This will be Inter Miami's first competitive match since beating the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS Cup Final back in early December. They've since won one, lost one and tied one in friendlies, most recently tying 2-2 with Ecuadorian outfit Barcelona SC. They'll now be looking to step on the gas and make a winning start to the 2026 MLS season.
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Los Angeles FC against Inter Miami Lineups: Starting 11
Formation : 4 - 3 - 3
Formation : 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Substitutes
T. Hasal
DefenderA. Smoliakov
K. Nielsen
R. Hollingshead
MidfielderR. Raposo
M. Choiniere
N. Ordaz
A. Boudri
T. Boyd
R. Rios Novo
DefenderF. Mura
G. Lujan
MidfielderD. Ayala
D. Ruiz
S. Morales
ForwardD. Pinter
T. Allende
L. Suarez
Missing players
A. Long
MidfielderJ. Shaffelburg
I. Jesus
ForwardJ. Ebobisse
Los Angeles FC & Inter Miami Squad Analysis
The hosts are expected to be without the services of Jeremy Ebobisse, who probably wouldn't have started this fixture even if he was fit, though the absence of the US forward gives head coach Marc Dos Santos less options from the bench. Heung-min Son who was in electric form having come in half way through the previous campaign will start in offense, as will Denis Bouanga. Those two players formed a deadly partnership towards the end of 2025.
Lionel Messi is expected to anchor a more junior offense that contains Mateo Silvetti.
For Inter Miami, there will be no Sergi Reguilon, who is out injured, while Ryan Sailor will also miss out with injury. Veteran Luis Suarez is expected to start on the bench, with Uruguay's all-time top scorer to be used more sparingly this term. Lionel Messi is expected to anchor a more junior offense that contains Mateo Silvetti.
Most goals and assists
Los Angeles FC
Inter Miami
D. Bouanga
(6 Goals)
L. Messi
(12 Goals)
S. Heung-min
(8 Assists)
L. Messi
(7 Assists)
Los Angeles FC - Inter Miami Key Points
- Only one MLS player registered more assists than Lionel Messi in 2025.
- During the 2025 campaign, Lionel Messi produced an impressive 16 assists.
- Per 90 minutes last season, Lionel Messi registered an average of 0.59 assists.
- Lionel Messi signed off the 2025 campaign by registering seven MLS assists in his last four appearances.
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Our Los Angeles FC vs Inter Miami Prediction
Clearly one of Major League Soccer's most creative players, Lionel Messi is absolutely expected to pull the strings for Inter Miami again this season, and the man considered by many to be the greatest soccer player of all time can begin the 2026 campaign by causing lots of problems for LAFC.
Only Anders Dreyer of San Diego registered more MLS assists than Messi last season, while nobody ended the campaign in anywhere near as hot form creatively. If Messi is half as creative here as he was during MLS Cup Final, odds of +240 will start to look very generous indeed.
Our LAFC vs Inter Miami Pick: Lionel Messi 1+ Assists.
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Los Angeles FC vs Inter Miami match : Frequently asked questions
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