Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami live score: MLS Cup play-offs result, updates, stats as Lionel Messi focuses on the semi-finals

After helping secure the club’s top spot MLS victory in the play-offs, Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami away at Atlanta United in search of their series victory.

The Herons won their opening first round match 2–1 after goals from Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba, the latter of which was a dramatic late winner of the highest quality. The best-of-three series now moves to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the hosts, who reached this stage as wildcard winners, will hope to pull themselves out of the deficit.

Atlanta have been a thorn in Inter Miami’s side all season, taking four points from their two league games before pushing the Herons to the brink in their play-off match a week ago, with Saba Lobzhanidze scoring in all three games. Yet Alba’s strike took the hosts to a first win in three attempts against their first round opponents at the most opportune times this year.

A win for Inter Miami here would advance them to the Eastern Conference semifinals in a two-game sweep, while an Atlanta United win would see the series return to Ft. Lauderdale for a winner-takes-all decider the following weekend.

The Sporting News follows the match Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

MORE: 2024 MLS Cup Playoff Bracket, Schedule, Results, Highlights

Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami live score

	1st half	Goalscorers
Atlanta United	–	–
InterMiami	–	–

Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez

Predicted lineups:

Atlanta United (4-5-1, from right to left): 1. Brad Guzan (GK) — 2. Ronald Hernandez, 24. Noah Cobb, 3. Derrick Williams, 18. Pedro Amador — 9. Saba Lobzhanidze, 13. Dax McCarty, 59. Alexey Miranchuk, 6. Bartosz Slisz, 35. Ajani Fortune — 29. Jamal Thiare

Inter Miami (4-3-3, from right to left): 1. Drake Callender (GK) — 57. Marcelo Weigandt, 6. Tomas Aviles, 14. David Martinez, 18. Jordi Alba — 42. Yannick Bright, 5. Sergio Busquets, 55. Federico Redondo — 10. Lionel Messi, 9. Luis Suarez, 20. Diego Gomez.

MORE: Find out how to watch the Atlanta United vs. You can stream Inter Miami LIVE

Live updates Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami, MLS Playoff Highlights

2 hours until kick-off: As his season comes to an end, Lionel Messi has reflected on life after his playing days are over. The 37-year-old told transfer guru Fabrizio Romano last week that while he has not yet decided on a path forward after he retires as a player, he knows he is not interested in becoming a coach.

‘I don’t know what I want to do after I retire’ said Messi. “I would not like to become a coach, but everything is not clear yet. I am someone who likes to live day by day, so for now I only think about playing, training and having fun on the field.”

Messi has indicated in the recent past that he might be open to a sporting director role, but at the moment it seems like he won’t think about that until he’s done as a player.

Leo Messi is hungry for more titles

Full interview @433 @AppleTv pic.twitter.com/WZdZeyfL6r

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 31, 2024

Kick-off time Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami

This MLS Cup playoff match will kick off in Atlanta on Saturday, November 2 at 7:00 PM local time at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Here’s how that time translates across time zones in North America:

	Date	Kickoff time
Eastern time	Sat November 2	7:00 PM
Central time	Sat November 2	6 p.m
Mountain time	Sat November 2	5 p.m
Pacific time	Sat November 2	4:00 PM

Lineups Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami, team news, from 11

Atlanta United found out this week Edwin Mosquera will likely miss the rest of the playoffs after needing knee surgery.

Injuries on Brooks Lennon And Stian Gregersen in the first leg they both show doubts about participating in this match. Lennon suffered a dislocated shoulder and will be difficult to replace as the team’s minutes leader this season, while Gregersen retired with a hamstring injury.

Atlanta United expected starting lineup (4-5-1): Guzan (GK) — R. Hernandez, Cobb, D. Williams, Amador — Lobzhanidze, McCarty, Miranchuk, Slisz, Fortune — Thiare.

Atlanta United subtitles: The matchday selection will be released one hour before kick-off

Just like Atlanta United, Inter Miami also suffered an injury to a defender in the first leg. While there was fear of that Ian Fray had suffered a heartbreaking fourth ACL tear, reports claim he escaped with only an MCL injury, which will keep him out for the rest of the season but won’t threaten his 2025 season.

Otherwise, Inter Miami is generally in good form. Nicholas Freire And Facundo Farias have been missing with their ACL recovery, while David Ruiz is sitting out with a hamstring tear and Leo Afonso is sidelined with a groin injury.

Inter Miami expected starting lineup (4-3-3): Callender (GK) — Weigandt, Aviles, D. Martinez, Alba — Bright, Busquets, Redondo — Messi, Suarez, D. Gomez.

Inter Miami subtitles: The matchday selection will be released one hour before kick-off

Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami live stream, TV channel

This MLS Cup Playoff Round One match will be streamed exclusively on MLS Season Pass from Apple TV.

Apple is giving fans a great opportunity to watch every match of the MLS Cup playoffs for one low price. New subscribers can sign up MLS Season Pass for just $9.99 to get all the playoff games from now through the MLS Cup Final. In the meantime, those with a current Apple TV+ subscription can sign up for it MLS Season Pass free on top of their active account.