FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Four MLS clubs take center stage in the 2025 Leagues Cup semifinals on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will host Orlando City at 8:30 p.m. inside Chase Stadium, while the Los Angeles Galaxy will host the Seattle Sounders at 10:45 p.m. ET at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA.
All four clubs will be back in action again on Sunday, Aug. 31 — either in the Leagues Cup final and third-place match.
The big news before the semifinals is Messi’s availability for Inter Miami. The Argentine World Cup champion has been dealing with a right hamstring injury for the last month and seemed to indicate he will play against Orlando.
Messi posted a brief promotional clip for the match on his Instagram account Wednesday morning, a customary occurrence before matches he participates in. Still, Messi’s status will be confirmed when Inter Miami announces its starting lineup.
Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s League’s Cup action, and stay tuned as USA TODAY Sports provides live updates from the Inter Miami-Orlando City match.
Watch Leagues Cup on MLS Season Pass
Is Messi playing tonight?
Messi’s availability will be known when Inter Miami announces its starting lineup an hour before the match.
What time is Inter Miami vs. Orlando City?
The match is Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 8:30 p.m. at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Orlando City Leagues Cup match?
The match is available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV, and Apple TV+ channel on Amazon Prime, Xfinity and DirecTV.
When is the LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders Leagues Cup match?
The match is Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 10:45 p.m. ET at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA.
How to watch LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders Leagues Cup match?
The match is available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV, and Apple TV+ channel on Amazon Prime, Xfinity and DirecTV.
What’s at stake in the Leagues Cup semifinals?
Both finalists and the third-place winner will earn berths to the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup tournament – which determines entries into the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.
Leagues Cup betting odds
Inter Miami and Seattle are the favorites to reach the Leagues Cup final, according to BetMGM.
Inter Miami vs. Orlando City
Inter Miami: -110
Draw: +275
Orlando City: +195
LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders
L.A. Galaxy: +165
Tie: +240
Seattle Sounders: +120
Messi injury update: Here’s the latest
Messi and Jordi Alba — who suffered a knock to his right knee — returned to Inter Miami training on Monday and Tuesday, assistant coach Javier Morales said.
“We’ll make a decision about the final lineup for the match,” Morales said of Messi and Alba. “But luckily they trained and were able to complete the session, which is a positive thing.”
Messi has missed four games due to the hamstring injury, which he appeared to reaggravate during a premature return in an Aug. 16 match against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Why is Messi’s return from injury important?
After the Leagues Cup semifinal Wednesday and the final or third-place match Sunday, Messi will rejoin the Argentine national team for a World Cup qualifying match against Venezuela in Buenos Aires on Sept. 4.
The match will be Messi’s last match in his home country for the foreseeable future, with no other matches scheduled before World Cup 2026. Messi has yet to declare he will play with the defending champions in the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Messi upcoming schedule with Inter Miami and Argentina
Aug. 31: Leagues Cup final OR third-place match
Sept. 4: Argentina vs. Venezuela (World Cup qualifying)
Sept. 9: Ecuador vs. Argentina (World Cup qualifying)
Sept. 13: Charlotte FC vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)