NYCFC vs. Inter Miami, time, TV, how to watch, is Messi playing?

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – After a premature exit in the Concacaf Champions Cup, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami return their focus to MLS play with a matchup against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, March 22.

Messi is healthy and expected to play before he joins the Argentine national team for two friendlies in Argentina later this month.

Messi scored his 900^th goal against Nashville in the second leg of the Champions Cup last Wednesday, but the club was eliminated in the Round of 16 of the tournament due to the away goals tiebreaker rule in a 1-1 draw.

“We can’t change what happened, and there’s no point in dwelling on it. Clearly, we’re still in the process of coming to terms with it and dealing with the disappointment of being eliminated,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said before a training session on Saturday, March 21.

“That’s soccer — it happens sometimes — but I think it’s up to us to prove that what happened the other day was just a fluke. And well, the best way to prove it is to focus on the league now.”

Overall, Inter Miami could use some help in the scoring department.

Messi has scored four of Inter Miami’s seven goals in their 2W-3D-1L start across all competitions. Only Mateo Silvetti, Telasco Segovia and Rodrigo De Paul – Messi’s World Cup winning teammate, who was not present at Saturday’s practice – have found the back of the net this season.

Striker Germán Berterame has been scoreless since joining the club in a $15 million transfer from LIGA MX side CF Monterrey. Tadeo Allende, who set the MLS record with nine goals during the title run last season, has yet to score. Uruguayan star Luis Suárez has also been scoreless in limited action.

“Beyond having Leo — who always delivers an incredible number of goals, whether by scoring them himself or providing assists — we need the rest of the team to start scoring and contributing to those numbers as well,” Mascherano said. “This is a time when we have to work much harder on that aspect, and we’re doing just that.”

Inter Miami and NYCFC last met in the MLS Eastern Conference final, winning 5-1 on Nov. 29, 2025.

De Paul (muscle contusion), Inter Miami defenders Maxi Falcon (knee) and Sergio Reguilón (knee) won’t play against NYCFC due to injuries.