Messi, Inter Miami seeking first win at Nu Stadium as they host Orlando City
Inter Miami’s new home field has not been an advantage so far for Lionel Messi and his teammates, who came away with three ties in row in the first three games at Nu Stadium.
They aim to break that frustrating trend on Saturday night against state rival Orlando City. The team enters the weekend after several days of intense training, but players also had some fun visiting to the F1 paddock Miami Grand Prix track at Hard Rock Stadium.
Inter Miami players went as guests of team sponsors adidas and Audi, and they also rode Go-Karts at the AMR Track in Homestead.
Saturday will be the 20th time the clubs face each other, and if ever Miami was the favorite, this is the time.
Miami is unbeaten in its past nine games and sits in second place in the Eastern Conference with 19 points from five wins, one loss and four ties. Midfielders Yannick Bright and Telasco Segovia are back after serving suspensions last weekend.
Orlando, meanwhile, had a poor start to the season and is in 14th place in the East with seven points (two wins, seven losses, one tie). Orlando has conceded a league-high 29 goals, including five-plus in three road games.
However, the team picked up some momentum Wednesday night, beating New England 4-3 on the road in the Round of 16 of the U.S. Open Cup. Inter Miami managed to score only one goal against New England last weekend, so that should give Orlando City reason to believe it can win on Saturday (7:15 p.m., FS1, Apple TV).
The last time these teams played was March 1 in Orlando. Both squads had different coaches who have since stepped down. Inter Miami trailed 2-0 at halftime, then-coach Javier Mascherano made a halftime adjustment, bringing Mateo Silvetti off the bench into the attack, and the team rallied to win 4-2.
Silvetti scored one goal early in the second half. Messi then scored the equalizer, Telasco Segovia made it 3-2 in the 85th minute and Messi completed his brace with a goal just before the final whistle.
Mascherano, who resigned unexpectedly two weeks ago, said after the March comeback win at Orlando: “In the second half, our players were a championship team. It was not tactics or anything like that. There was heart, courage, possession, resilience and commitment.”
Guillermo Hoyos, who was the team’s sporting director, stepped in as interim coach after Mascherano’s exit. The team has two wins and a tie under him.
Orlando and coach Oscar Pareja parted ways on March 11 after seven seasons. Argentine assistant coach Martin Perelman took over as interim coach. Perelman expects a slightly different look from Miami on Saturday, but another tough matchup.
“They changed their structure the last two games, but we know them and they know us,” Perelman told reporters Friday after training. “We are especially preparing our team, which is always our priority.”
Defender Facundo Mura suspects Inter Miami will not allow itself to fall behind on Saturday.
“It should be different this time,” Mura said. “It will be in our house with our supporters. We are coming in a different way. It won’t be easy. No games are. But our experience there should help. At halftime, as a team we showed a lot of character to turn things around and win as visitors. Today we are in a different place. That was a good learning experience for us, and now hopefully we can finally win at home.”
Asked why they were unable to get more than a 1-1 tie against New England last weekend, Mura said fatigue set in after three games in seven days, including back-to-back wins at altitude in Colorado and Salt Lake City.
“It was three matches in seven days with a lot demand and intensity, so physically we’re probably a bit tired,” Mura said.
“But we’ve had a good, long week with time to recover and prepare for the next match. Even though we could not win in the last match, we have taken seven of the last nine points and we feel we have improved, especially mentally, so I think we will arrive in good shape for the next game.”
One person who surely will be watching the match closely is Canadian national team coach Jesse Marsch. Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and Orlando keeper Maxime Crepeau battling for the starting role on Canada’s World Cup team.
When they faced each other in March, St. Clair, the 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year with Minnesota, saved three shots. Crepeau turned away four shots.
Inter Miami vs. Orlando City Rivalry Night festivities
The first 10,000 fans who walk through the gates at Nu Stadium on Saturday for Inter Miami’s game against Orlando City will receive a Royal Caribbean-branded T-shirt.
There also will be a special youth prematch training session from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. All guests ages 5 - 14 with a match ticket are invited to this special initiative at the Baptist Health Sports Fields, located between the Royal Caribbean East Gate and the North Gate.
Participants of all skill levels are invited and will rotate through Inter Miami Academy-style training stations led by academy coaches. Participants will also receive a limited-edition “Play Like an Icon” T-shirt and a captain armband, courtesy of Royal Caribbean, while supplies last.
Halftime will feature a laser show. After the game, fans are invited to a free live set from Miami-based DJ, DJ Irie, on the West side of the concourse at the Modelo After Party at The Terraces.
This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 3:42 PM.