Inter Miami is set to host New York City FC in the MLS Eastern Conference final after both clubs advanced with crucial wins on Sunday night.
Inter Miami will host No. 5-seed New York City FC at Chase Stadium later this week for the MLS Eastern Conference final after both teams secured critical victories on Sunday night.
According to a report from Sports Illustrated (SI), Inter Miami are off to the Eastern Conference final of the MLS Cup playoffs for the first time in club history after defeating FC Cincinnati 4–0 on Sunday night.
The No. 3-seed Herons will welcome No. 5-seed New York City FC (NYCFC) on either Nov. 29 or 30 at Chase Stadium, ensuring Lionel Messi has led the club just two wins away from winning the 2025 MLS Cup.
In the hours after Miami punched their ticket, NYCFC secured their spot by upsetting the Supporters’ Shield-winning Philadelphia Union with a 1–0 win on the road at Subaru Park in Chester, PA.
Maxi Moralez, who turns 39 in February, scored the winning goal for NYCFC in the 27th minute. U.S. men’s national team goaltender Matt Freese was also pivotal, securing the clean sheet with five saves. This tremendous upset followed NYCFC’s prior victory over No. 4-seed Charlotte FC in the first round.
The report notes that NYCFC has experience at this stage, having last qualified in 2022 before winning MLS Cup in 2021.
However, of the two remaining Eastern Conference teams, only Inter Miami have the possibility of hosting MLS Cup on Dec. 6, should they advance, due to the final points totals in the Supporters’ Shield standings. The Eastern Conference final is a single-elimination match.