Saturday in Charlotte has all the makings of a night to remember. Bank of America Stadium is sold out, with 35,000 fans packing the stands, the biggest crowd the club has ever seen. The vibe already feels like a final. Charlotte, known as the Crown, comes in on an incredible run of eight straight wins and now has the chance to match an MLS record with a ninth. Across from them stands Inter Miami, sitting in sixth place, carrying Lionel Messi on the field and the burden of keeping pace in the playoff chase.
The weight of the moment for Charlotte
Back in July, Charlotte was barely hanging on in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. Fast forward to now, and they’ve climbed all the way to third. What’s on the line this weekend could end up being the biggest moment in their short MLS history. Since July 12, they haven’t lost, stringing together eight consecutive victories. Another one, against Messi and his teammates, would put them alongside the 2018 Seattle Sounders with the longest winning streak of the modern MLS era.
A win would do even more than tie a record. It would almost guarantee Charlotte a spot in the playoffs for the third year in a row, something nobody would’ve predicted just a couple of months ago. Midfielder Pep Biel, finally healthy again, has been pulling the strings with 10 goals and 12 assists. Around him, Idan Toklomati and Wilfried Zaha bring the energy and punch in attack. What started as a season of survival has shifted into something much bigger: a push for real relevance in the postseason.
The challenge called Inter Miami
This isn’t an easy matchup. Inter Miami still has ground to make up in the standings but also holds four games in hand over most of the teams ahead. Even in sixth, they’re right in the mix, though pressure is building after losing the Leagues Cup final. Missing Luis Suárez hurts, he’s been crucial in big moments this year, but the squad is far from toothless. Messi already has 19 goals, chasing the Golden Boot, while Tadeo Allende and Telasco Segovia have chipped in with seven each.
History leans Miami’s way, too. In the eight meetings so far, the Herons have taken four, Charlotte has two, and two ended level. The last clash was a 1-0 Miami win, with Allende on target. But Charlotte holds a memory they’ll never forget. Back in 2023, it was a narrow 1-0 win over Miami that secured their very first playoff spot. That’s part of what gives this game an extra emotional edge.