Inter Miami to face Atlético San Luis in Leagues Cup opener with Messi starting
Inter Miami will open the 2026 Leagues Cup against Mexican side Atlético San Luis on Wednesday, 5 August 2026 at the Nu Stadium in Miami. The match kicks off at 19:30 ET (17:30 CST) and will be shown live on Apple TV.
Lionel Messi is expected to start for Inter Miami, re‑joining the attack after his return from the 2026 World Cup. He will do so without Luis Suárez, who is serving a six‑match suspension for a spitting incident in the previous tournament final, and without Germán Berterame, who remains sidelined with a head injury.
The 2026 edition features 36 clubs – 18 from MLS and 18 from Liga MX – and uses a no‑draw format, with tied games decided by penalty shoot‑outs. Inter Miami are the defending Leagues Cup champions from 2023 and enter the competition unbeaten in their last seven matches across all competitions.
Entities: Atlético San Luis · Atlético de San Luis · German Berterame · Guillermo Hoyos · Inter Miami CF · Javier Mascherano · Lionel Messi · Luis Suárez · Nu Stadium · Ángel Guillermo Hoyos
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The 2026 Leagues Cup features 36 clubs (18 MLS, 18 Liga MX) and uses a no‑draw format with penalty shoot‑outs. (multiple)
- [● 9 SOURCES] Lionel Messi will start for Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup opening match against Atlético San Luis. (multiple)
- [● 6 SOURCES] The match will be played at Nu Stadium in Miami on August 5, 2026, with kickoff at 19:30 ET. (Match schedule announced by Inter Miami and league organizers.)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Inter Miami aim to win the 2026 Leagues Cup and secure a berth in the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup. (Club objectives.)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The match will be broadcast live on Apple TV. (multiple)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Germán Berterame is injured and unavailable for the Leagues Cup opener. (multiple)
- [● 7 SOURCES] Luis Suárez is suspended for six Leagues Cup matches and will miss the tournament. (multiple)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Inter Miami are the defending champions of the 2023 Leagues Cup. (multiple)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Inter Miami have been unbeaten in their last seven matches across all competitions entering the tournament. (multiple)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Inter Miami will play Atlético San Luis in the Leagues Cup 2026 opening match on August 5, 2026 at Nu Stadium in Miami. (multiple)