Toronto welcomes conference rival Inter Miami to BMO Field for the final match of their historic nine-game homestand.

The match pits two teams that have underperformed in the eyes of their fans. Inter Miami are MLS’s defending champions, but they have not looked like a championship-calibre team this season.

Toronto, while outperforming their numbers from last season, are also struggling amid raised expectations. The storyline entering the match is one of two teams searching for redemption following recent shock defeats.

BMO Field’s temporary stands for the World Cup have now been opened, with the club reportedly expecting 45,000 fans for the match against Inter Miami. It will serve as both a test event for the upcoming World Cup matches in Toronto and a welcome way to accommodate the high number of fans hoping to catch a glimpse of all-time great Lionel Messi.

How Toronto FC come into the match

For Toronto, the overriding mood since Tuesday’s shock loss to Atlético Ottawa in the opening match of the Canadian Championship has been embarrassment. Injuries played a role in limiting manager Robin Fraser’s selection choices, but a lineup that looked more like TFC II than the senior side, compounded by questionable substitutions, has soured the mood in Toronto. That feeling has only grown following last Saturday’s unexpected draw with league leaders San Jose Earthquakes.

Post-match on Tuesday, Fraser placed the blame for TFC’s elimination at the hands of Atlético Ottawa on his players and challenged them to respond against Inter Miami. However, Fraser will still be fielding a depleted lineup on Saturday, as none of the players sidelined through injury midweek are expected to return in time for Inter Miami.

This match will be the ninth and final game of the Reds’ homestand before the World Cup takes over BMO Field. While the club has only lost once in their previous eight league matches, they have also won just twice. Although the results overall are better than last year, they remain concerning for a club with playoff ambitions come autumn.

The team is in the middle of an injury crisis that has exposed their lack of squad depth. Neither of their two Designated Players, Djordje Mihailovic or Josh Sargent, is available for selection, along with nine other players. Given the circumstances, the health of the squad is a major reason why manager Robin Fraser’s position remains secure for now.

As previously noted, several TFC II players have been required to fill out the senior squad in recent weeks. It will be interesting to see how TFC continues to use those players moving forward. In league play, Antone Bossenberry has made two appearances, while Micah Chisholm has also featured. Both have performed well, given the difficult circumstances they have been thrown into.

However, under MLS rules, a club may have up to four Short-Term Agreements per player per season, and a player can appear in up to two MLS league matches under those agreements. As such, 17-year-old midfielder Bossenberry cannot play for Toronto again this year without signing a league contract. Additionally, defender Reid Fisher can only be called upon once more, as he has already been named to Toronto’s bench three times.

How Inter Miami come into the match

The Florida side, as a whole, cuts a frustrated figure arriving in Toronto. The team entered this season as defending MLS Cup champions and boasted a squad rich in star power, led by none other than Lionel Messi alongside other big names such as Luis Suárez, Germán Berterame and Rodrigo De Paul. However, results have been disappointing overall despite their position in the standings.

There was plenty of fanfare early in the season as the club anticipated the move into their new home ground, Nu Stadium. Despite the hype, the club has yet to register a win in its new digs, recording just three draws to date. That has done little to ease the tension brewing both on the field and in the clubhouse.

A shocking managerial change on April 14 saw Javier Mascherano resign and be replaced by Guillermo Hoyos. However, the club’s form has remained equally inconsistent under the new manager. Pressure has continued to build, especially after last week’s stunning 4-3 home defeat to rivals Orlando City SC.

The loss was made even more shocking by the fact that Miami had a 3-0 lead in the 38th minute before a Martín Ojeda hat trick and a late goal by former TFC man Tyrese Spicer helped Orlando score four unanswered goals to steal the win. That performance has been emblematic of Inter Miami’s season so far, as defensive lapses and an inability to control matches from start to finish have repeatedly let them down. New manager Hoyos will be expecting a response to the bitter Orlando result when his side takes the pitch in Toronto.

Despite the addition of reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair in the off-season, Inter Miami have struggled defensively. The Herons have shipped 19 goals this year, with the back line ranking among the league’s poorest performers. Offensively, Miami has been decent, but far from overwhelming.

Unsurprisingly, Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami in scoring with eight MLS goals, while Germán Berterame sits next with three. No other player on the squad has more than two goals. The team remains heavily reliant on the 38-year-old Messi to drive the attack.

Inter Miami is tied with the New England Revolution for second in the Eastern Conference with 19 points, but their form has been inconsistent and underwhelming for the defending MLS champions. Their 22 goals scored rank among the top five in the league.

Availability

Inter Miami come into the weekend match in relatively good health, with just Sergio Reguilón and Mateo Silvetti listed as out.

For Toronto FC, the list of players unavailable through injury is extensive and includes Jose Cifuentes, Theo Corbeanu, Nicksoen Gomis, Benjamin Kuscevic, Richie Laryea, Djordje Mihailovic, Matheus Pereira, Jules-Anthony Vilsaint, Lazar Stefanovic and Henry Wingo (thigh). In addition, Josh Sargent is listed as questionable but is highly unlikely to feature.

Projected XIs

Toronto FC (4-2-3-1): Luca Gavran; Raheem Edwards, Zane Monlouis, Walker Zimmerman, Kobe Franklin; Alonso Coello, Jonathan Osorio; Dániel Sallói, Markus Cimermancic, Malik Henry; Deandre Kerr

Inter Miami CF (4-3-3): Dayne St. Clair; Noah Allen, Micael, Maximiliano Falcón, Ian Fray; Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright, Telasco Segovia; Tadeo Allende, Luis Suárez, Lionel Messi

Game information and how to watch

📆 Saturday, May 9, 2026
⏰ 1:00 pm ET / 10:00 am PT
🏟 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
🧑‍⚖️ Victor Rivas
📺 Apple TV, TSN