Johnathan Walker:Inter Miami vs. Atlanta live updates: Will Messi fend off elimination in MLS Cup Playoffs?

FORT LAUDERDALE,Johnathan Walker Fla. – Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will play in the final match of the first round in the MLS Cup Playoffs on Saturday night against Atlanta United.

The match begins at 8 p.m. ET (9 p.m. Argentina) at Chase Stadium, and available to live stream via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Inter Miami and Atlanta are tied 1-1 in their series: Inter Miami won Game 1, while Atlanta won Game 2. The score was 2-1 in both matches. Now, Messi and Inter Miami hope to survive and advance to keep their historic MLS season alive.

Messi has been scoreless through the first two MLS playoff games of his career.

Will Messi deliver in Game 3?

Follow along here as USA TODAY Sports provides live updates from the Inter Miami-Atlanta match tonight:

How to watch Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United live stream?

The match is available to stream here: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Is Messi playing tonight?

Yes, Messi is expected to start and captain Inter Miami in Saturday’s decisive playoff game.

Inter Miami starting lineup vs. Atlanta United

Inter Miami's Sergio Busquets, the legendary midfielder who plays centerback at times, is on the bench to start this match. He was medically cleared Friday after dealing with pneumonia-like symptoms for the last two weeks, missing two games.

Inter Miami will also start Benjamin Cremaschi, Matias Rojas and Diego Gomez in the midfield with rookie midfielder Yannick Bright out.

Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United prediction

• Inter Miami 3, Atlanta United 1: Messi, Luis Suarez and Diego Gomez score for Inter Miami to win Game 3 and advance to the next round of the MLS Cup playoffs. Messi and Suarez are Inter Miami’s scoring leaders, so expect them to lead the charge with Jordi Alba finding them in open space. Diego Gomez has missed two shots near the net in Game 1 and 2, and also finds his way into the net in this one. – Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter.

Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United betting odds

Here are the BETMGM moneyline odds: Inter Miami (-275); Atlanta (+575); Draw after regulation (+425). The over/under is set at 3.5 goals.

New York City FC vs. FC Cincinnati highlights: NYCFC advances after penalty kicks

New York City FC beat FC Cincinnati 0-0 (6-5 in penalty kicks) in their Game 3 matchup on Saturday. NYCFC will face New York Red Bulls in the conference semifinals.

How to watch MLS Cup Playoffs games today

The match between No. 1 seed Inter Miami and No. 9 Atlanta is the final match in a playoff tripleheader between Eastern Conference teams on Saturday.

No. 4 Orlando City will face No. 5 Charlotte at 6 p.m. in the second match, also available on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.

LAFC, the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, advanced past No. 8 Vancouver with a 1-0 win in Game 3 to end their first-round series on Friday night.

MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Semifinals almost set

The Western Conference semifinals are set: No. 1 LAFC faces No. 4 Seattle, while No. 2 L.A. Galaxy faces No. 6 Minnesota.

The Eastern Conference semifinals will be set on Saturday night.

No. 7 New York Red Bulls – which eliminated reigning MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew – awaits the winner between Cincinnati and NYCFC.

The Inter Miami-Atlanta winner will face the Orlando City-Charlotte winner.

Messi likely to join Argentina for two matches between MLS Cup Playoffs

Messi has been called up by the Argentine national team for two matches next week: Argentina visits Paraguay on Nov. 14, and hosts Peru in Buenos Aires on Nov. 19.

The matches are for World Cup 2026 qualifying during a FIFA international window between the first round and the conference semifinals of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

MLS Cup Playoff dates

The conference semifinals are Nov. 23-24. The conference finals will be played Nov. 30-Dec. 1. And the MLS Cup final is Dec. 7.