As international action concludes, we are back to the basics of the domestic scene. There’s a lot to catch up on in the MLS while the Copa America 2024 kept US fans busy but the latest match sees Inter Miami hosting Toronto FC at the Chase Stadium on July 17. Even in the absence of star players Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the Herons surprisingly stood their ground in the race for the Supporters’ Shield and the MLS Cup.

Tata Martino and Co. were on a hot streak, winning four consecutive games with a 2-1 victory. However, the dream run came to an end in the previous fixture against Cincinnati, where, 10-man Miami was thrashed 6-1. It was the largest-ever defeat in the club’s history, since losing 5-0 to the New England Revolution in 2021.

Yet, they remain separated from the Eastern Conference toppers by a single point. On the other hand, Toronto FC are coming off a close 2-1 win over Philadelphia, retaining their 8th place in the table with 27 points. This match can surely pose problems for Miami due to a lot of factors.

Inter Miami vs Toronto FC: Team news

Injuries

Inter Miami: Will Lionel Messi play against Toronto? This is the biggest question that remains among ardent fans. But unfortunately, the answer to this query is a big no. To remind you, the Argentinian superstar sustained an ankle injury on Sunday during his nation’s Copa America victory over Colombia.

The concern doubles as the return date of Messi hasn’t been revealed yet. While there aren’t any other injury concerns for Inter Miami, one major absence against Toronto would be Sergio Busquets. The Spanish midfielder, whose nation lifted the Euro 2024 on Sunday, was sent off for his challenge in the previous game.

Toronto FC: The Canadian side has some major injury concerns ahead of their midweek clash. Manager John Herdman won’t be able to avail the services of Alonso Coello (thigh), Brandon Servania (knee), and Tyrese Spicer (back), with the trio still nursing from their respective injuries.

Predicted lineups

Inter Miami predicted lineups (4-3-3): Callender; Weigandt, Kryvtsov, Fray, Alba; Redondo, Bright, Cremaschi; Gressel, Suarez, Taylor

Toronto predicted lineups (3-4-3): Johnson; Rosted, Long, Gomis; Laryea, Osorio, Longstaff, Marshall-Rutty; Etienne, Bernardeschi; Owusu

Head-to-head stats and prediction

Total matches: 8

Won by Inter Miami: 6

Won by Toronto: 2

Draw: 0

The match won’t be easy for Inter Miami, given that they might be in a shock over their previous defeat. Likewise, Toronto enters the match with a strong foot but misses key names due to injury. Regardless of these factors, we reckon the match will see both sides compromising on a draw, with the score being Inter Miami 1-1 Toronto.

When and how to watch Inter Miami vs Toronto FC on TV and livestream?

Inter Miami vs Toronto FC will kick off at 9:30 ET / 16:30 PT. Fans in the United States as well as the United Kingdom can catch the action live on Apple TV (MLS Season Pass).