Inter Miami begin their defence of the MLS Cup title in the 2026 playoffs against Columbus Crew in the first round, with the matches to be played between 20 November and 2 December, the club has announced. The dates and kick-off times will be confirmed later by the league, while tickets for Inter Miami’s home matches have gone on sale, as Nu Stadium hosts playoff games for the first time.
A thrilling draw before the playoffs
Inter Miami finished the regular season with a 3-3 draw at home to Charlotte, after leading 3-0 at half-time. Ian Fray opened the scoring in the 14th minute, then Luis Suárez added the second from a corner, before Rodrigo De Paul scored the third in the 42nd minute. In the second half, Liel Abada pulled two goals back in the 50th and 55th minutes, then Rodolfo Aluko equalised in the 90th minute.
With this result, Inter Miami finished the season second in the Eastern Conference with 60 points, setting up a meeting with Columbus Crew, who finished seventh with 47 points. Charlotte finished fifth with 54 points and will face Chicago Fire, who are fourth, one point behind.
What it means for Arab fans
The Inter Miami vs Columbus clash is an early test for the reigning champions, who enter the playoffs after a draw in which they squandered a three-goal lead, raising questions about their defensive readiness. Inter Miami have Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul in their ranks, making them a focus of interest for Arab and Moroccan audiences, especially with the matches approaching at the end of November.
Meanwhile, Congo DR forward Cédric Bakambu has announced his departure from San Diego FC after just two months, in a message on his Instagram account. Bakambu said: “I would have loved to continue this experience, but some decisions are beyond our control.” He added: “I leave with great memories and immense gratitude.” Bakambu (35) joined in September as a free agent after his contract with Real Betis ended, and made nine appearances, scoring four goals.
Here is a summary of the key details of the match and the playoffs in the coming days.
