(VIDEO) Where to Watch Livestream MLS’s Inter Miami vs. Toronto FC Tonight: Is Messi Playing Today?

Inter Miami hosts Toronto FC on Saturday, Aug. 22, in a pivotal MLS Eastern Conference matchup, with Lionel Messi confirmed to play despite a heated confrontation earlier in the week that had briefly put his availability in question.

How to Watch

The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, also referred to as Nu Stadium. In the United States, Apple TV holds exclusive streaming rights to every Major League Soccer match, including this one, through its MLS Season Pass subscription service. There is no free, legal broadcast option available in the U.S. for this game, since Apple’s exclusive rights deal with the league means all MLS matches, including marquee fixtures involving Messi, are only accessible through a paid MLS Season Pass subscription on the Apple TV app, available on smart TVs, streaming devices, phones, tablets and web browsers.

Is Messi Playing Tonight?

Yes. Lionel Messi is confirmed to start for Inter Miami against Toronto FC, after avoiding a suspension from Major League Soccer over an altercation with Philadelphia Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan during Miami’s 2-2 draw with Philadelphia on Aug. 19. According to Athlon Sports, MLS reviewed the incident and issued Messi an undisclosed fine rather than a suspension, clearing him to feature at Nu Stadium. Messi’s projected starting spot alongside Luis Suárez confirms he will lead Miami’s attack as the club looks to end a difficult recent stretch.

Messi’s recent form has carried significant emotional weight. According to Bolavip, Messi scored against Philadelphia in that midweek draw, marking his first goal since the death of his father, Jorge Messi, and helping end a three-game losing streak for Inter Miami. The goal moved Messi to 13 MLS goals on the season, putting him one behind the league’s current Golden Boot leader.

The Bigger Picture

Inter Miami enters Saturday’s match sitting second in the Eastern Conference with 39 points, but the club’s recent form has raised questions about its overall cohesion heading into the stretch run of the regular season. According to Goal.com, Miami has suffered three defeats in its last four matches across all competitions, including a Leagues Cup group-stage exit and a lopsided 4-1 loss to Nashville SC, adding pressure on head coach Javier Mascherano’s side to find more consistent results.

Toronto FC, by contrast, arrives in Florida after a dramatic result of its own. The club fought back from a man disadvantage, after defender Walker Zimmerman was sent off, to secure a 3-3 draw against Charlotte FC on Aug. 19, with goals from Daniel Sallói and Niklas Dorsch among the scorers. That result left Toronto with 21 points from 20 matches, sitting 11th in the Eastern Conference standings but still fighting to improve its position before the regular season concludes.

Projected Lineups

According to World Soccer Talk, Inter Miami’s projected starting XI features goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo behind a back line of Sergio Reguilón, Maximiliano Falcón, Jordi Alba’s replacement at fullback, and other defensive options, with Rodrigo De Paul, Casemiro and Tomás Ávilés or a similar midfield trio supporting Messi and Suárez up top. Toronto FC is expected to line up with goalkeeper Sean Gavran behind a back line adjusted for Zimmerman’s absence due to suspension, with Djordje Mihailovic serving as the primary creative engine supporting striker Sallói in attack.

Mihailovic, an established U.S. international, has been the focal point of Toronto’s attacking play throughout the season, known for his tactical intelligence, precise passing and set-piece delivery. His ability to break down stubborn defenses from central areas makes him one of the key threats Miami’s backline will need to account for.

Inter Miami will also be missing key contributors due to absences beyond Messi’s situation. According to Athlon Sports, midfielder Yannick Bright is suspended, while Micael and Mateo Silvetti are expected to miss the match through injury, further testing the depth of Mascherano’s squad as the club looks to snap its recent slide.

Head-to-Head History

The two clubs have met several times in recent seasons, with Inter Miami holding a clear edge in the series. According to Goal.com, Miami defeated Toronto 4-2 in their most recent MLS meeting on May 9, 2026, at BMO Field. Prior to that, the two sides played to a 1-1 draw at the same venue in September 2025 and another 1-1 draw in Miami in April 2025. Across their last five meetings in all competitions, Inter Miami holds three wins to Toronto’s none, with two draws, and the two sides have combined for 17 goals across those matches.

What’s at Stake

With the MLS playoff race intensifying as the regular season enters its final stretch, both clubs have significant incentive to secure a positive result Saturday. For Inter Miami, snapping its recent run of poor form and reasserting its position near the top of the Eastern Conference remains the priority, particularly with Messi back among the goals and looking to build further momentum following a personally difficult stretch tied to his father’s death. For Toronto FC, currently sitting outside the playoff picture in 11th place, points against a direct conference rival like Miami carry outsized importance in the club’s push to climb the standings before the season concludes.

Fans looking to follow Saturday’s match without an Apple TV MLS Season Pass subscription can typically find updates through official MLS social media channels, live blog coverage from outlets covering the match, or delayed match highlights posted after the final whistle, though live, real-time viewing of the match itself in the United States requires the paid Apple TV subscription service given the league’s exclusive broadcasting agreement.