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Inter Miami could make or break some rivals' playoff dreams

Seven clubs are within seven points of seventh place in the Eastern Conference; the Herons play five of them in their next five matches.
ByKen Garner
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New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil has 5 goals and 6 assists in 10 matches against Inter Miami.
New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil has 5 goals and 6 assists in 10 matches against Inter Miami. | Icon Sportswire/GettyImages

Las Garzas can't take any of their remaining matches for granted

Seven matches -- 21 potential points -- separates Major League Soccer's 30 teams from the MLS Cup playoffs or hanging up their cleats. Only Nashville SC knows its fate with mathematical certainty; the Coyotes (18 wins, 3 losses, 6 draws for 60 points) are 10 points ahead of the Vancouver Whitecaps and on pace to smash Inter Miami's 2024 record of 74 regular season points. The Music City side has clinched a playoff spot and only a complete collapse will prevent Nashville from holding home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

The other 29 teams are scrambling for the last 17 playoff spots; more precisely, 15 Western Conference teams will vie for nine berths, and 14 Eastern Conference clubs will jockey for one of eight remaining playoff spots. After 27 league contests, no team has been eliminated, but Sporting Kansas City (21 points) in the West and CF Montréal (24 points) in the East surely hear their windows of opportunity screeching shut.

Inter Miami (12-5-10, 46 points) is third in the Eastern Conference and sixth in the Supporters' Shield race. The defending MLS Cup champions have been consistently disappointing since the beginning of August, but if the Herons' health improves and new manager Cristian "Kily" González can get the best from Miami's talented roster, Las Garzas should challenge for their second league title and a berth in the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup tournament.

The Herons can't afford to take any opponent for granted, though, having won just twice in their last 12 matches in all competitions. Each of its final seven opponents have a realistic shot of qualifying for an Eastern Conference playoff spot, although just two -- New England (46 points) and Charlotte (43) -- could be considered title contenders. The other five -- Red Bulls New York (33), New York City FC (33), FC Cincinnati (33), DC United (30), and Atlanta United (27) will compete with Orlando City (34) for the seventh, eighth and ninth playoff positions.

For reference, Orlando City needed 53 points to claim the East's ninth playoff spot in 2025; Charlotte's 59 points was good enough to secure fourth place and home-field advantage in the first round.

Here's Inter Miami's remaining schedule:

  • Saturday, 10/10 -- DC United (6-8-12, 30 pts).
  • Wednesday, 10/14 -- New York City FC (8-10-9, 33 pts).
  • Saturday, 10/17 -- at Atlanta United FC (7-14-6, 27 pts).
  • Saturday, 10/24 -- at Red Bulls New York (9-12-6, 33 pts).
  • Wednesday, 10/28 -- FC Cincinnati (8-9-9, 33 pts).
  • Sunday, 11/1 -- at New England Revolution (14-9-4, 46 pts).
  • Saturday, 11/7 -- Charlotte FC (12-8-7, 43).
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