Major League Soccer, Round 24Chicago FireCHI 10/09/2026 01:30 Inter Miami Venue Soldier FieldTable of ContentsPreview for Chicago Fire v Inter MiamiThe Major League Soccer TableTeam News for Chicago Fire v Inter MiamiExpected line-ups for Chicago Fire v Inter MiamiStats for Chicago Fire v Inter MiamiWhere to Watch Chicago Fire v Inter Miami: TV and online streamsPrediction for Chicago Fire v Inter MiamiPreview for Chicago Fire v Inter MiamiLionel Messi headlines a star-studded cast as Inter Miami take on the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field on Wednesday night. Messi was yesterday included in the list of 30 contenders to win the 2026 Ballon dOr in recognition of his outstanding year with Miami and Argentina.The 39-year-old was the key contributor as the Florida club claimed their maiden MLS Cup crown in December he won the Golden Boot with 29 goals and 48 total goal contributions as well as the MVP award and he followed that up with a series of stellar displays as Argentina reached the final of the World Cup before losing to Spain.It is not just Messi that fans can get excited about, though, and there is a definite Barcelona flavour to the game.Messi will, of course, have Miami team-mate Luis Suarez by his side and they will come up against another former Blaugrana hero in Chicago striker Robert Lewandowski.The Pole has made an excellent start to his career Stateside with five goals and two assists in his first eight MLS appearances.Neither side is in great form with Chicago having defensive issues after drawing their previous three MLS games, including a 4-4 thriller with Toronto FC last time out.The feeling in the locker room was disappointment, and I think thats a good thing, because we expected to win and we didnt do it, boss Gregg Berhalter said about their draw with the Canadians.So what we talked about was the focus at the end of the game. We got ourselves back into it, we took the lead, and it was really about how do we prevent that one attack that they had at the end? And we didnt do it well, and they ended up getting the tie.For us, weve got to be better at defending, weve got to be more compact. Offensively, were creating enough. Were doing enough to score goals.Berhalter is excited, though, at the match-up with Messis Miami.He added in remarks reported by the Miami Herald: This is the aim of Major League Soccer, to play games like this in front of sold-out stadiums with marquee players. We always talk about Major League Soccer being a league choice for top players, and this game is an example of this. You can see a lot of top players featured in this game.Miami, who will again be led by Guillermo Hoyos while new boss Kily Gonzalez awaits his work visa, have won just one of their last five in MLS.The Major League Soccer Table Major League Soccer 2026 USA Eastern Conference #TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostGFGAGDPtsLast 5 1 Nashville SC23165247173053 D W W W W 2 Inter Miami23127458431543 W L D L D 3 Chicago Fire22115643321138 D D D W W 4 New England Revolution2311483729837 L W D W L 5 Charlotte2310674032836 D W W D W 6 FC Cincinnati228774951-231 L D W D W 7 New York City FC237883631529 D D D L L 8 Orlando City SC2384113854-1628 W D W L D 9 Philadelphia Union2376103639-327 W W D D W 10 New York Red Bulls2376103246-1427 D L D L L 11 Toronto FC2351173642-626 D D W D W 12 DC United2251072836-825 D L L D D 13 Columbus Crew2365123439-523 W L L L L 14 Atlanta United FC2364132740-1322 L W W W L 15 CF Montreal2356123048-1821 L L D W D Position 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 : Promotion MLS (Play Offs: 1/8-finals) Position 8, 9 : Promotion MLS (Play Offs: 1/16-finals) Team News for Chicago Fire v Inter MiamiMbekezeli Mbokazi and Andre Franco are out for the Fire. Defenders Micael and Gonzalo Lujan are doubtful for Miami and Mateo Silvetti is sidelined after reinjuring his shoulder against Atlanta. Sergio Reguilon has a hamstring strain and could miss out.Expected line-ups for Chicago Fire v Inter MiamiChicago Fire: Brady; Dean, Rogers, Elliott, Gutman; Saletros, DAville, Haile-Selassie; Zinckernagel, Lewandowski, DithejaneInter Miami: St Clair; Fray, Casemiro, Falcon, Caicedo; De Paul, Bright, Segovia; Messi, Suarez, TaylorStats for Chicago Fire v Inter MiamiInter Miami are aiming to become the first MLS Cup champion to defend its title since the 2011-12 Los Angeles GalaxyLionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski have scored almost 1,700 career goals between them for clubs and countryInter Miami won their last meeting 3-2 in JulyNo MLS team has scored more goals this season than Miamis 58Chicago can claim an eighth regular-season home triumph on Wednesday, the most for this club in a single MLS campaign since 2019Where to Watch Chicago Fire v Inter Miami: TV and online streamsKick-off is at 7.30pm CT on Wednesday, which is 1.30am BST in the early hours of Thursday morning for those watching in the UK. The match is available live on Apple TV via the MLS Season Pass.Prediction for Chicago Fire v Inter MiamiThere should be goals with two of MLSs most attacking teams squaring off. We think the spoils may be shared which wouldnt be a bad result for either side.Also expect Messi and Lewandowski to be prominent. Match PredictionChicago Fire 2 2 Inter Miami Topics Chicago Fire FC Inter Miami CF Lionel Messi Robert Lewandowski Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Messi bags two assists for Inter Miami in first match after Argentina retirement Mitch Fretton 6th September, 2026 Inter Miami v Atlanta United: Preview, line-ups, stats and where to watch Mitch Fretton 4th September, 2026 Argentina to pause league matches following Messi international retirement Nicholas McGee 3rd September, 2026 BREAKING: Lionel Messi retires from international football Mitch Fretton 31st August, 2026 MLS: Messi scores four as Inter Miami end winless run Mitch Fretton 30th August, 2026 Inter Miami v Montreal: Preview, expected line-ups, stats Mitch Fretton 28th August, 2026
