Inter Miami began its Leagues Cup debut against Club Atlético San Luis on Tuesday night, opening a tournament that looks different this year and carries more direct stakes in the group stage.
The match marked the start of Miami’s run in a restructured Leagues Cup that now separates the competition into MLS and Liga MX tables. This edition includes 18 teams from Major League Soccer and 18 teams from Liga MX, with each club playing three matches in the opening phase. The top four teams in each table advance, and the format now gives clubs a clearer path toward the knockout rounds and a chance at Concacaf Champions Cup qualification.
Miami enters as the defending champion
Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup in 2023, so the opener against San Luis came with the added weight that always follows a title defense. Last year’s tournament also left a mark on the club after Luis Suárez was suspended for six matches following the final. That history makes this year’s start a little more measured, even with the same ambition.
Lionel Messi had just returned from the Mundial 2026 before the tournament opener, and head coach Guillermo Hoyos said the short break can matter in a season like this. Hoyos described vacations as something players need to relax, while also noting that the rhythm of football is missed quickly. He also called Messi irremplazable and one of the players who mark the path in football history.
What comes next for Inter Miami
After facing San Luis, Inter Miami is scheduled to play Rayados de Monterrey on Saturday and León the following Wednesday. The final is scheduled for next Sunday, September 6. One notable change this year is that matches in Mexico are part of the opening phase for the first time, adding another layer to a competition that now fully reflects clubs from the United States and Mexico.
For Inter Miami, the first question was simple: start well and protect the points needed to move on. In a format with no draws and direct consequences for the table, there is little room to ease into the tournament.
