Chicago Fire vs Inter Miami Preview – prediction, team news, lineups | MLS 2026
The Herons have three wins in their last five meetings with the Men in Red.
Chicago Fire FC will be gearing up to battle it all against Inter Miami for their round 24 contest of the Major League Soccer (MLS) 2026 regular season. Soldier Field is going to witness this intense outing between these clubs.
The Gregg Berhalter-led side have failed to secure a win in their last four matches. They are coming in after being held to a draw by Toronto FC in what was an eight-goal thriller. Their performances in the backline have not been good enough, and they need to think of something new now.
Chicago Fire FC will be at home, making it a big advantage for them. Against Lionel Messi and company, they cannot afford to make even the slightest mistake.
After their 7-1 victory against CF Montreal, things looked good for Inter Miami. But they were held to a 2-2 draw in their very next fixture against Atlanta United. Their performances during the last five matches have been very inconsistent.
The Herons will now be eager to jump back to winning ways once again. Kily González’s men must keep their efforts in the backline up to the mark, or otherwise they should get ready to drop more points. Miami will be away from home, and this will make things tougher for them.
Kick-off:
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- Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Stadium: Soldier Field
- Date: Thursday, September 10
- Kick-off time: 06:00 am IST/ 12:30 am GMT (Wednesday, September 9; 08:30 pm ET, 05:30 pm PT)
- Referee: TBA
- VAR: In Use
Form:
Chicago: W-D-L-D-D
Miami: L-D-L-W-D
Players to Watch
Robert Lewandowski (Chicago Fire)
Robert Lewandowski will have a crucial role to play in the final third for Chicago Fire. He was one of the goalscorers for his side in their 4-4 draw against Toronto. The 38-year-old Polish striker will be once again deployed alongside Philip Zinckernagel and Puso Dithejane.
He is going to cause problems for Miami’s defence. Lewandowski has scored five goals in his eight Major League Soccer appearances so far.
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Despite failing to score a goal, Lionel Messi was quite impactful in the final third for Inter Miami in their last fixture against Atlanta United. He bagged a crucial assist and was a constant threat to the opponent’s defence. The 39-year-old Argentine forward will be looking to come up with another top performance.
In 20 MLS appearances, Messi has scored 18 goals and has 10 assists to his name.
Match Facts
- Chicago Fire are winless in their last four matches.
- Inter Miami have only managed one win in their last three MLS games.
- Only one of the last five fixtures between these clubs has ended in a draw.
Betting Tips & Odds
- Inter Miami to win @9/5 Unibet
- Leo Messi to score @20/23 Coral
- Goals over 3.5 @8/11 Ladbrokes
Injury and Team News
Chicago Fire are going to miss out on the services of Mbekezeli Mbokazi and André Franco. They are injured. Jonathan Bamba is back in training and might be available for the upcoming clash.
Santiago Morales, Micael and Tadeo Allende are not going to be a part of Inter Miami due to their injuries. Gonzalo Lujan and Sergio Reguilon might also miss out due to a lack of fitness.
Head-to-Head
Matches Played: 11
Chicago Fire (wins): 5
Inter Miami (wins): 4
Draws: 2
Predicted Lineups
Chicago Fire predicted XI (4-3-3)
Brady (GK); Dean, Rogers, Elliorr, Gutman; Saletros, D’Avilla, Haile-Selassie; Zinckernagel, Lewandowski, Dithejane
Inter Miami predicted XI (4-3-3)
St. Clair (GK); Fray, Casemiro, Falcon, Caicedo; De Paul, Bright, Segovia; Messi, Berterame, Suarez
Match Prediction
Both of these clubs are struggling with their form at the moment. Chicago Fire at home are going to push for a win, but Inter Miami, with strong squad quality, will be putting up a strong fight.
Lionel Messi and company are likely to come out on top and secure three points.
Prediction: Chicago Fire 2-3 Inter Miami
Telecast Details
Fans from all around the world can tune in to Apple TV to watch all the Major League Soccer matches live.
When and where is the Chicago Fire and Inter Miami MLS match?
Soldier Field is going to witness this clash on September 10 at 6 am IST.
Where and how to watch Major League Soccer live in India?
By tuning into Apple TV, fans will be able to view all the matches live.
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