FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Inter Miami CF beat Pumas UNAM 3-1 in their final group game of the 2025 Leagues Cup on Wednesday night at Chase Stadium to clinch a spot in the knockout round of the tournament.
Despite an early lead for Pumas, goals from Luis Suárez, Rodrigo De Paul and Tadeo Allende lifted Inter Miami to the victory. Captain Lionel Messi celebrated each goal from the sideline because he sat out the game after sustaining a hamstring injury against Necaxa on Saturday.
The club concluded the initial phase of the competition with eight points, defeating Atlas and Pumas in regular time, and drawing against Necaxa before earning the additional point by winning a penalty shootout 5-4.
“It’s a great joy. We achieved our objective of qualifying, and I think we did it well, playing a great game despite the difficulties we faced,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said after the game.
“I’m happy for the lads, the effort they put in. This is the first objective, but it can’t change anything for us. Now, our focus is on Sunday [for the MLS game].”
Seattle Sounders FC, with a late 2-1 victory over Tijuana on Wednesday night, joined Miami as the second MLS team to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
The new Leagues Cup format features clubs competing for points during the group stage to secure a ranking in a league-specific table. The four highest-ranked clubs from Liga MX and MLS then advance to the knockout phase of the competition.
Mascherano’s side knew it needed a win to ensure a spot in the quarterfinals, and in the absence of Miami’s star player Messi, Suárez turned on the class with a goal from the penalty spot and a brilliant assist to set up Allende’s goal.
De Paul, the Argentina star midfielder who came to MLS to play with his national team friend Messi, made his club debut in Inter Miami’s League’s Cup opener against Atlas last Wednesday, had two assists against Necaxa on Saturday and scored his first goal for the Herons vs. Pumas.
“I’m more grateful for De Paul’s willingness and energy, than for his performance,” Mascherano said about De Paul.
“Things can go better or worse, but he’s showing the willingness to put the jersey on and play the way he does without a preseason. He just came back from vacation, and his influence on the rest of the team is a great help.”
Pumas was eliminated from the competition with the loss. After the match, Pumas coach Efrain Juarez criticized the Leagues Cup format.
“I hope to see if we can change the format and have every team from the MLS go to Mexico,” Juarez said. “I have to come to Atlanta to play against Atlanta. And I have to come to Miami to play against Miami. In these tournaments, they don’t give you a clear idea of who’s better.”
Inter Miami won the inaugural edition of Leagues Cup in 2023, before falling in the round of 16 against the Columbus Crew in 2024.