Inter Miami will have another chance to win a trophy on Wednesday when Lionel Messi and the Herons host Cruz Azul in the 2026 Campeones Cup at Nu Stadium in Miami.
The matchup pits the reigning MLS Cup champions against Cruz Azul, who qualified after winning the 2026 Liga MX Clausura and then defeating Toluca in the Campeon de Campeones. The game will begin at 8 p.m. ET and will be available worldwide on Apple TV.
What Happens If Inter Miami Win Against Cruz Azul?
If they win, Inter Miami will be the 2026 Campeones Cup winners. It would also be the fourth major title since Messi joined in 2023, after the Leagues Cup in 2023, the Supporters’ Shield in 2024, and the MLS Cup in 2025.
The game offers Messi a chance to collect more trophies in his Miami days. The Argentine has played a pivotal role in the club’s transformation, and Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul are also key players.
What Happens If Inter Miami Draw Against Cruz Azul?
If it is a draw after 90 minutes, however, the trophy would not be shared. The Campeones Cup is a single-match tournament, meaning that the game will have a winner. The game goes straight to a penalty shootout to decide the winner if the score is tied after regulation.
That is a no-draw deal for Miami. If the game is level at the end of 90 minutes, Messi and his side will go straight to a penalty shootout to decide the winner.
What Happens If Inter Miami Lose Against Cruz Azul?
If they lose, Cruz Azul will win the Campeones Cup and Inter Miami will be the runner-up.
It would also end Miami’s hopes of adding another trophy to their recent collection. The Herons are looking to add to their Leagues Cup, Supporters’ Shield, and MLS Cup trophies for a fourth season in a row.
It’s also the first time that Inter Miami head coach Cristian “Kily” González will have a chance to win a trophy. He was appointed just days before the final, so his first competitive assignment comes with silverware on the line. Gonzalez has said that this is the greatest challenge of his career.
In the end, the scenarios are simple: If Inter Miami wins, the trophy remains in Miami; if it draws, the final extends beyond 90 minutes, and if it loses, Cruz Azul is crowned champion.
