Inter Miami secured a place in the 2024 Major League Soccer playoffs following a 2-0 victory over FC Cincinnati on Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, thanks to two goals from Luis Suárez.
Despite a red card issued to Tomás “Toto” Avilés late in the first half, the South Florida team successfully held on for the win in the second half against Cincinnati, who currently sits in second place.
Lionel Messi was absent from the match, watching from the stands alongside NFL legend Tom Brady. Messi has played in only 12 out of Miami’s 26 MLS matches this season as he continues to recover from an ankle ligament injury sustained during Argentina’s Copa América final win over Colombia on July 14. Team coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino stated on Friday that he expects Messi to return before the season concludes.
With Suárez’s two quick goals, Inter Miami solidified its playoff position. This marks the team’s first postseason appearance since 2022, having failed to qualify last year after finishing 14th in the Eastern Conference with a total of 34 points across 34 games.
The top seven teams from each conference automatically qualify for the first round of the three-match playoff series, which begins on October 26. In each series, the higher seed will host the opening match, play the second game away, and return for a potential third match if necessary.
Inter Miami is guaranteed to host at least one playoff game at Chase Stadium. Following the first round, the playoffs will pause for the November FIFA international window before resuming on November 23 for the conference semifinals. The MLS Cup is scheduled for December 7 at the home of the higher-seeded team.
Currently, Inter Miami leads the Eastern Conference with 56 points from 26 games, holding an eight-point advantage over Cincinnati. With eight regular-season matches remaining, Miami is also in contention for the 2024 Supporters’ Shield and aims to break its own record for points in a season.