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Inter Miami's full attention this weekend will be on christening their brand new home ground, Nu Stadium, when they entertain Austin FC on matchday six on Sunday, April 5, their first game in front of their home crowd this season.
The MLS Cup champions will be chomping at the bit to get in front of their adoring fans in Florida and put on a display that the home faithful will be proud of, even though they would be pretty content with the start their team have made in the MLS season.
Austin's primary goal this weekend is to spoil the party and straighten out their early-season form, which has seen the visitors fall to 11th in the Western Conference, but they have enjoyed relative success against the Miami club in the past, which they will hope to replicate.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for Inter Miami vs Austin FC, and make sure to check out our Today's betting tips page for more of our free expert MLS predictions!
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Inter Miami vs Austin FC key stats
- Inter Miami have only played away from home since the start of the season.
- The visitors have lost both away MLS matches they have played this term.
- The home side have never beaten the Verde and Black.
Inter Miami vs Austin FC preview: Herons to soar in first home game
| Inter Miami | vs | Austin FC |
|---|---|---|
| 9th | Position | 20th |
| 10 | Points | 5 |
| 9 | Goals For | 5 |
| 8 | Goals Against | 7 |
| 1 | Clean Sheets | 2 |
| 28th | Home Rank | 13th |
| 1st | Away Rank | 23rd |
With this being their first home game of the season, and the first-ever match to be played at the Nu Stadium, Inter Miami will expect the 26,700-seater to be filled, especially since it is the first time Floridians will see their team in league action.
If that is not a big enough drawcard, perhaps the presence of club captain Lionel Messi should pull the crowd in on Sunday morning, as the Herons aim to register their first home league win of the season, and their first at their new stadium.
Inter Miami are averaring 1.80 goals per game going forward and 1.60 goals going the other way.
The champions enjoyed a fabulous 2025 season, bagging their maiden MLS Cup title, but their credentials this season are already being questioned, especially with the absence of retirees Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.
Head coach Javier Mascherano still has a wonderful squad at his disposal, and given that they won three of their five MLS games so far, he will be fairly happy with what he has seen from his team.
The Herons will have to do it without new signing Sergio Reguilon, who is nursing a muscle problem, while Maxi Falcon is recovering from a knee injury and will not be available for the stadium's opening.
The visitors have had an indifferent start to the 2026 MLS campaign, winning only one of the five league outings they have played, but there is a long way to go for the Verde and Black to catch up.
What will concern head coach Nico Estevez is the fact that his troops are now winless across their most recent three outings, but his team can take the positive of having never lost to the Herons in their short history.
Austin's average GF and GA this season is already 3.50 goals per game.
Facundo Torres returns to the MLS after spending three seasons with Orlando City between 2022 and 2024, and playing his football for Brazilian side Palmeiras last term.
The Uruguay international has yet to open his account for the Verde and Black, but he spent the international break on the bench, which means he could be eager to rain on Inter's parade.
However, any success for the visitors this weekend will have to be done without the services of Robert Taylor, Daniel Pereira and Owen Wolff.
Inter Miami vs Austin FC form guide & betting tips
| Inter Miami | vs | Austin FC |
|---|---|---|
| L-W-W-D-W | League Form | D-W-L-L-D |
| 10 | Points | 5 |
| 9th | Form Table | 20th |
| 9 | Goals For | 5 |
| 8 | Goals Against | 7 |
| W-D-D-D-W | Form (all comps) | D-W-L-L-D |
Whispers predicts: Inter Miami 3-1 Austin
As the current holders, it is no surprise to see little value in backing Inter Miami for the win at 1.33, but since they have yet to beat Austin in any matchup, it is worth considering a draw at 5.00.
With the Herons conceding in 80% of their MLS fixtures so far, the visitors can get some joy here, especially considering the absence of Falcon at the heart of the home defence, which is why BTTS - Yes at 1.70 is an excellent selection.
Lionel Messi is incredibly difficult to keep out of the game, and backing him as an anytime goalscorer at 1.44 is almost a guaranteed win, but there is more value in backing the Argentine captain from bagging an assist at 2.10.
> 1x2 - Inter Miami at 1.33 | Likelihood: Probable
> 1x2 - Draw at 5.00 | Likelihood: Possible
> BTTS - Yes at 1.70 | Likelihood: Probable
> Anytime goalscorer - Lionel Messi at 1.44 | Likelihood: Probable
> Lionel Messi to get an assist at 2.10 | Likelihood: Probable