Have Inter Miami Won the MLS Cup?

Inter Miami CF is one of Major League Soccer’s newest franchises, co-founded by David Beckham. Fans often ask: Have Inter Miami won the MLS Cup? As of 2025, the answer is no, they have not yet claimed an MLS Cup title. This article examines Inter Miami’s history, achievements, and championship record in MLS, including how Lionel Messi’s arrival has changed the team’s fortunes. We’ll also look at the broader MLS Cup champions list and what the future might hold for the David Beckham-led side.

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Inter Miami began play in 2020 as an expansion team. In those early years, the club focused on building its roster and fanbase, often relying on the experience of stars like Gonzalo Higuaín and later Messi. The team’s achievements in MLS so far include winning the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield. However, the MLS Cup – the league’s annual championship awarded via a playoff – has eluded them. Inter Miami’s journey in MLS has included a few playoff appearances and some high points, but they have yet to hoist the MLS Cup trophy.

Inter Miami CF: A Brief History

Inter Miami CF (nicknamed “The Herons”) joined MLS in 2020 with David Beckham as a co-owner. The goal was to create a competitive team in South Florida. The club plays in the Major League Soccer (MLS), the top tier of the US soccer league system, which uses playoffs to decide its champion (unlike many global soccer leagues). Beckham’s vision was to win trophies and build a winning tradition. In their first MLS season, Miami qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs but fell to Nashville SC in the play-in round. The early seasons were tough – in 2021 Miami finished near the bottom of the table and missed the playoffs.

Inter Miami’s progress accelerated when they signed global superstar Lionel Messi in mid-2023. Messi’s arrival instantly boosted the team’s profile and performance. That year, Inter Miami won the 2023 Leagues Cup (a summer tournament involving MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX teams) – their first ever trophy. They also finished as runners-up in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup, losing the final to Houston Dynamo. In 2024, Messi helped Miami achieve the best regular season record in MLS, earning them the Supporters’ Shield – a first in club history. These successes underline the growing Inter Miami achievements, but the MLS Cup trophy remains missing from their cabinet.

Inter Miami’s MLS Cup Playoff History

Despite regular-season success, Inter Miami’s MLS Cup playoff record has been short on deep runs. Here’s a look at their playoff appearances and key results:

2020 Season: The inaugural season saw Miami reach the expanded playoffs, but they lost to Nashville SC in the play-in round.
2021 Season: Miami struggled through the year and did not qualify for the playoffs.
2022 Season: Miami again made the playoffs, but were beaten 3-0 by New York City FC in the first round.
2023 Season: Bolstered by Messi, Miami won Leagues Cup, but again fell short in MLS playoffs (they were eliminated before the Conference Finals).
2024 Season: Miami clinched the Supporters’ Shield (best record), yet were shocked by underdogs Atlanta United, losing 2–3 in the decisive third game of Round One.

To date, Inter Miami have never appeared in an MLS Cup Final. Each playoff attempt ended in early knockout rounds. As one report noted, “Inter Miami have been eliminated from the MLS Cup playoffs after losing Game 3 of their opening-round series to Atlanta United” in 2024. In short, the club is “yet to win an MLS Cup” or even reach the final.

Inter Miami’s Trophy Cabinet

While the MLS Cup is absent, Inter Miami has started building a trophy cabinet:

2023 Leagues Cup: First official title in club history. Inter Miami defeated Nashville SC in a dramatic final (10-9 on penalties) after a 1–1 draw. Messi scored Miami’s first goal in that final, and closed the shootout with a goal and save, delivering the club’s “first official title”.
2024 Supporters’ Shield: Awarded for best regular-season record. In October 2024, Inter Miami beat the Columbus Crew to clinch the Supporters’ Shield – a “first time in Club history”. Messi and Luis Suárez starred in that clinching match.
U.S. Open Cup: Miami reached the 2023 final but lost 2–1 to Houston Dynamo. They have not yet won this knockout cup.

Image: Lionel Messi (center) and Inter Miami teammates celebrate lifting the 2024 Supporters’ Shield trophy. They have won trophies like the Leagues Cup and Supporters’ Shield, but not the MLS Cup.

Key trophies (Inter Miami):

Leagues Cup Champion: 2023.
Supporters’ Shield Winner: 2024.
U.S. Open Cup Runner-up: 2023 (lost final).

Despite these successes, MLS Cup winners remain others. Inter Miami’s title tally is small compared to the league’s top clubs.

MLS Cup: What Is It?

The MLS Cup is the final match of the MLS playoffs, held in November or December, determining the league champion. Unlike most soccer leagues worldwide, MLS uses a postseason playoff format. The two conference playoff champions meet in the MLS Cup Final. (By contrast, the team with the best regular season record gets the Supporters’ Shield, as Inter Miami did in 2024.) Winning the MLS Cup also grants a berth to the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

How Playoffs Work

After the regular MLS season (2024 saw 29 teams playing 34 games each), the top teams enter the MLS Cup Playoffs. In 2024, 18 teams qualified: 9 from each conference. A Wild Card game is followed by a Round One best-of-3 series, then single-elimination Conference Finals, and finally the MLS Cup Final. Inter Miami’s wildcard advantage in 2024 (via Supporters’ Shield) allowed them to host first round games, but they fell in Round One.

Thus far, Inter Miami’s MLS Cup history is short. They have never won a conference final or reached the league final. Their playoff losses have come against teams like NYCFC, Atlanta United, and Nashville SC.

MLS Cup Winners and Legacy Clubs

To understand the challenge, consider other MLS champions. The league’s most successful team is LA Galaxy (6 MLS Cup titles). DC United was dominant early on, winning four titles (1996, 1997, 1999, 2004) in the first decade of MLS. Other winners include the New England Revolution, Seattle Sounders FC (2 titles each), Columbus Crew (2 titles), Houston Dynamo (2 titles), and single titles by clubs like Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake.

MLS Cup Winners (selected):
- LA Galaxy: 6 championships (most recent 2024).
- DC United: 4 titles (MLS’s early dynasty).
- Seattle Sounders FC: 2 titles (2016, 2019).
- Columbus Crew: 2 titles (2008, 2020).
- Other champions include Chicago Fire, Kansas City, etc.

None of these teams are expansion clubs as young as Inter Miami. Even so, it took LA Galaxy until 2002 (their 7th season) to win their first title, and DC United won in their 3rd season (1996). Inter Miami is still in its 6th MLS season, and has not reached such milestones yet.

MLS champions list: A full listing is available on MLSsoccer.com and Wikipedia. Notably, the Galaxy “are the most successful team in MLS Cup history” with six titles. This highlights how difficult the MLS Cup playoffs can be, even for star-filled teams.

Lionel Messi’s Impact on Miami

A key factor in the “Inter Miami MLS Cup” conversation is Lionel Messi. Signed in July 2023, Messi dramatically raised expectations. In his partial 2023 season, he helped win the Leagues Cup and dazzled fans worldwide. In 2024, Messi (and teammate Luis Suárez) led the league in assists, and helped Miami set scoring records. They totaled 74 points for best MLS record.

Messi’s presence has brought Miami closer to the title. After Messi joined, one sports writer noted Miami is “chasing history” in the MLS Cup, though they ultimately fell short. Messi’s skill and leadership have given Miami a high-powered attack, but the team still faced playoff disappointments. For example, even with Messi scoring five goals in 2024 playoffs, Miami lost to Atlanta.

While Messi has transformed the team’s fortunes (including winning a Supporters’ Shield), the MLS Cup itself remains elusive. Some analysts argue that consistency and depth (especially defensively) are needed to win the playoffs. Miami’s journey with Messi continues, and fans hope his impact will eventually deliver that coveted MLS Cup victory.

For more background on Messi joining the club, see our article on Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami (internal link).

Inter Miami’s 2024 Season Review

The 2024 season was historic for Miami on many fronts: they won a Supporters’ Shield and participated in the CONCACAF Champions Cup (reaching the quarterfinals). Under coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino, the team played an attacking style. Key stats:

Regular season record: 20 wins, 4 losses, 8 draws (74 points).
Top scorers (all competitions 2024): Lionel Messi (with 11 goals), Luis Suárez, etc.
Defense: Despite offensive firepower, defensive lapses cost them – especially in the Atlanta playoff series, where they conceded 3 goals in Game 3.

A list of Miami’s 2024 MLS regular season results and standings is available on MLSsoccer.com. Their high finish gave them home advantage in playoffs, but they were upset by the 8th-seed Atlanta United 3-2 (on November 10, 2024). Miami’s 2024 playoff exit was widely called “one of the biggest upsets in MLS playoff history”.

Key takeaway: The 2024 season showed Miami’s potential. Winning the Supporters’ Shield proved they can top the standings (see MLS standings 2024 for details). However, the MLS Cup playoffs are single-elimination after Round One, and Miami must learn from the 2024 experience to go further next time.

The Road Ahead: Can Miami Win the MLS Cup?

So, have Inter Miami won the MLS Cup? Not yet. But what does the future hold? With Messi, Suárez, and other stars, Miami’s roster is one of the strongest in MLS. They also have new stadium plans and a growing fanbase. The challenges are: staying healthy, finding consistency, and overcoming playoff pressure.

What needs to happen?

Tactical adjustments: Analytics suggest Miami’s high-scoring offense must be balanced by a stronger defense in playoffs.
Experience: Other MLS champions often credit depth and playoff experience (something Miami is still building).
Continued star power: If Messi and Suárez stay, Miami will remain a favorite. They can compete for championships every year.

In interviews, club officials have expressed confidence. As one expert put it, Messi’s influence makes Miami a “serious contender” for the MLS Cup. Meanwhile, rival teams have taken notice. Internal and external analysis suggests that with their squad, Miami could break through soon. Readers: What do you think? Will Inter Miami win their first MLS Cup in 2025 or later? Leave a comment below and let us know your predictions.

Remember: Inter Miami is active on social media – share this article with fellow fans and continue the conversation on platforms like Twitter or Facebook. Your thoughts matter for our community!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Have Inter Miami ever reached the MLS Cup Final?
A: No, Inter Miami have not yet reached the MLS Cup Final. Their playoff runs have ended in earlier rounds (Round One or Wild Card) since joining MLS in 2020.

Q: What trophies has Inter Miami won so far?
A: Inter Miami’s trophies include the 2023 Leagues Cup (their first-ever title) and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield (best regular-season record). They have not won the MLS Cup or U.S. Open Cup yet.

Q: When did Lionel Messi join Inter Miami and what has he won with them?
A: Lionel Messi signed with Inter Miami in July 2023. In his time so far, he has helped the team win the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield. However, an MLS Cup championship has not yet been achieved.

Q: What is the difference between the MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield?
A: The MLS Cup is the playoff championship trophy, decided by knockout playoffs. The Supporters’ Shield is awarded to the team with the best regular-season record. Inter Miami won the Supporters’ Shield in 2024 but has not won the MLS Cup.

Q: How many teams have won multiple MLS Cups?
A: Several teams have won multiple titles. For example, LA Galaxy (6 titles) and DC United (4 titles) are the top winners. Only three teams have ever won the league and playoffs double in the same season. Inter Miami aims to join the champions list, but that remains ahead of them.

Q: What’s next for Inter Miami’s MLS Cup ambitions?
A: Inter Miami will aim to build on their 2024 success. Key factors include maintaining top form under coach Tata Martino, maximizing Messi and Suárez’s prime years, and learning from past playoff defeats. With these elements, many believe Miami has a real chance to win the MLS Cup in the near future.