Inter Miami last night booked their place in the Leagues Cup final after an emphatic 4-1 win against the Philadelphia Union, with a spot in next year’s CONCACAF Champions League also clinched.
The Herons ran riot against one of the best sides in MLS on their own turf as Josef Martinez, Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba all put on a show to lead Inter Miami to another famous win.
Tata Martino’s side are yet to lose a game since Messi’s arrival, and last night’s win puts Inter Miami on the cusp of claiming their first piece of silverware. But that’s not all the Florida franchise achieved last night.
Inter Miami to compete in CONCACAF Champions League
Having now made the final, Inter Miami have now clinched a berth in next year’s CONCACAF Champions League, the North American version of the same competition that Messi made his own during his FC Barcelona years.
With Inter Miami still unlikely to make the MLS play-offs despite their incredible Leagues Cup form, qualifying for the Champions League now is quite the achievement for the Herons at this stage in the season.
And given how good Inter Miami have been in the Leagues Cup with Messi leading the charge, there’s a strong chance that the Argentine’s side will now be favorites for the Champions League.
Indeed, the Champions League is a different beast entirely to what Inter Miami have experienced this summer in the Leagues Cup, with only one MLS side ever winning the competition in it’s modern version.
However, with Messi still Messi and more signings expected between now and next year, Inter Miami could be legit favorites for the competition come the start of 2024.