Inter Miami secured a berth in the 2026 MLS playoffs after a 2‑0 victory over New York City FC at Nu Stadium on Wednesday night. The win, which came on a Wednesday evening, gave the Herons a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference with 52 points from 29 matches.
The first goal arrived early in the first half when Germán Berterame finished off a pass from Luis Suárez, breaking a long scoreless run that had stretched back to a May 24 defeat against the Philadelphia Union. Berterame’s strike was the opening salvo for a team that had been searching for a quick start. Shortly thereafter, Rodrigo De Paul doubled the lead by linking up with Lionel Messi just outside the penalty area before firing the ball into the upper left corner of the net. Messi’s contribution was part of a season that has seen him claim the league’s Golden Boot with 23 goals and also lead the league in assists, with 14 to his name.
New York City FC, which sits just outside the playoff cut, had a late chance to level the score when they earned a penalty. However, Miami’s goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair made a decisive save to preserve the clean sheet. The result moved Inter Miami up to second place in the conference, trailing only Nashville SC, which holds the top spot in MLS.
Inter Miami’s playoff berth is the second consecutive postseason appearance for the club. The Herons reached the playoffs in 2024 after missing out in 2023, and they returned to the postseason again in 2025, capturing the MLS Cup by defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3‑1 at their home stadium in Fort Lauderdale. With this latest victory, the team continues its recent streak of qualifying for the MLS playoffs each season since 2024.
The win also means that Miami will face a tougher schedule in the postseason, as they will be matched against higher‑seeded teams in the Eastern Conference. The club’s coaching staff and players will now focus on preparing for the next phase of the competition, hoping to build on the momentum generated by this decisive win over New York City FC.