Seattle Sounders v Inter Miami match preview
The 2025 Leagues Cup final is the Seattle Sounders’ chance to win the only major North American competition they have not won and avenge their defeat on their previous appearance in the showpiece, losing 3-2 to Leon despite being 1-0 ahead in the 60th minute in 2021.
The Sounders beat the LA Galaxy 2-0 in the semi-finals on Thursday courtesy of Pedro de la Vega’s seventh-minute strike and Osaze De Rosario’s clever goal, flicking the ball over his markers before stabbing in with 33 minutes remaining.
“We’re going to play against [Lionel] Messi at our home field in front of 65,000 people, and I would seriously counsel everyone should be there because it’s going to be an entertaining game,” coach Brian Schmetzer said, discussing the final at Lumen Field.
“My perspective on this [is I’m a] local kid [and have] seen a lot of big events at the stadium –championships, finals.
One match from glory ✨ pic.twitter.com/GytRoEai1s
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) August 29, 2025
“We’re hosting the greatest player… Miami’s coming to Seattle in a meaningful championship game.
“That followed playing [in the Club World Cup] against Paris Saint-Germain, arguably the best club in the world, [and Diego] Simeone and Atletico, Botafogo.
“It’s been a great summer. I’m hoping to make it an even better summer on Sunday.”
Messi scored twice and Telasco Segovia added an added-time third as Miami recovered from falling behind shortly before half-time to win their derby semi-final 3-1 at home to Orlando City, who had twice beaten them by three goals in this season’s MLS.
The Herons won the Leagues Cup in 2023 and have two more points than Seattle in the MLS, having played two fewer games.
“Seattle are a great team with a fantastic coach who has been in the league for a long time and has made them perennial winners” said Miami manager Javier Mascherano, via the Miami Herald.
“They are a club with a lot more history than us and they are in good form. It will be a very difficult game, but no team is perfect.
“We have to try to exploit whatever weaknesses Seattle may have. We will have to stay focused and have a near-perfect game to win.
“If we play the way we have in the past two Leagues Cup games and improve a few things, we should have a good chance.”
Luis Suarez scored penalties in either half – including an 89th-minute winner – as Miami beat Tigres in the quarter-finals.
Seattle beat Puebla on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the last eight, overcoming Danny Musovski’s 76th-minute dismissal.
Seattle v Inter Miami team news
Left-back Nouhou Tolo is suspended for the final after being sent off in the 83rd minute of their semi-final for an 83rd-minute challenge that was deemed serious foul play after a VAR review.
Winger Paul Arriola and midfielder Joao Paulo have long-term knee injuries and forward Jordan Morris has a shoulder problem.
Ecuador forward Allen Obando missed Miami’s win over Orlando and preceding MLS draw with DC with a hamstring problem.
Mascherano observed a suspension in their semi-final as a result of his red card in the home victory over Tigres.
Seattle Sounders v Miami predicted line-ups
Seattle Sounders starting XI: Andrew Thomas, Cristian Roldan, Kim Kee-hee, Yeimar Gomez, Jackson Ragen, Obed Vargas, Paul Rothrock, Jesus Ferreira, Alex Roldan, Pedro de la Vega, Osaze De Rosario
Inter Miami starting XI: Oscar Ustari, Ian Fray, Maxi Falcon, Gonzalo Lujon, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Yannick Bright, Tadeo Allende, Rodrigo De Paul, Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi
How to watch Seattle v Miami: Live stream, TV channel
Kick-off on Sunday is at 20:00 ET (17:00 PT/ 01:00 on Sunday BST), with live coverage available through the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.
In the US, a subscription costs $14.99 a month or $69 a season. Existing Apple TV+ subscribers pay $12.99 per month or $59 a season.
Seattle Sounders v Inter Miami stats
- The Sounders have lifted the Concacaf Champions Cup, Supporters’ Shield, MLS Cup twice and US Open Cup four times
- Seattle’s De la Vega and De Rosario and Miami’s Suarez and Segovia each have three goals in this season’s competition, requiring two more to match the tally of outright leader Angel Correa, of Tigres
- Only one of their last 14 games in all competitions has ended in defeat, recording 10 wins along the way
- The only previous meeting between the teams ended 1-0 to Miami in April 2022, Robbie Robinson scoring the only goal as Phil Neville’s team beat Schmetzer’s side in front of more than 32,000 fans at Lumen Field
- Seattle have completed the fourth-most passes in this season’s MLS (12,405), 132 ahead of Miami, who have the highest long ball percentage in the league (57.45%), with Seattle sixth (50.1%)
- Miami have one win in four games away from their Chase Stadium home, where they are unbeaten in 10, including nine wins
- Their 3-2 defeat at Columbus Crew in last season’s last 16 is their only loss to MLS opposition in the Leagues Cup, winning all of their other eight such matches
- Messi has 27 goals and 11 assists in 33 appearances this season, with the Miami captain’s goals against Orlando his first in the Leagues Cup
- The Argentina skipper completed 90 minutes in the competition for the first time since Miami’s 2-1 home win over Atlas in their group stage opener on July 31, in which he contributed two assists
- Uruguay record scorer Suarez has three goals and three assists in his last three League Cup appearances
Seattle Sounders v Inter Miami prediction
Home advantage has made Seattle slight favorites, with the Sounders losing one of their 13 MLS games at Lumen Field this season, although they have drawn four of them.
Miami beat Nashville 10-9 on penalties in the 2023 final and a score draw appeals, perhaps 2-2. Seattle have the worst defensive record in the Western Conference top six and eighth-worst in the top 10, while the Eastern Conference club have not kept a clean sheet for eight matches in all competitions and have one shut-out in 17 games.
