Match Preview - D.C. United @ Inter Miami CF on Saturday, September 20 

Match Preview - D.C. United @ Inter Miami CF on Saturday, September 20

D.C. United hits the road for a matchup in sunny Fort Lauderdale as they take on Inter Miami CF this Saturday, September 20 with kick-off set for 7:30 p.m. at Chase Stadium. The Black-and-Red is on a five-match unbeaten run since Head Coach René Weiler took over the team in mid-August. Weiler will look to continue his success and get the better of Miami having recently faced the Herons at home last month to a 1-1 draw.

United is coming off a 1-1 draw against playoff hopeful Orlando City SC at Audi Field this past weekend, which saw two changes to the starting lineup that defeated New York City FC. Weiler brought in center back Lukas MacNaughton in for Kye Rowles who had just returned from internationally duty with Australia. Right back Conner Antley also entered the starting lineup for his 13th league start this season. He replaced Aaron Herrera who also had just returned from international duty with Guatemala.

Homegrown midfielder Jackson Hopkins opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, after defender Conner Antley beat Orlando forward Iván Angulo down the right-hand side and passed it to Hopkins at the top of the box. This marks Hopkins’ fourth goal of the season across all competitions. He is the second Homegrown in club history to score in back-to-back MLS matches at Audi Field (Ku-DiPietro, 2023) and the first ever to score three goals in four matches. Goalkeeper Luis Barraza made five crucial saves in the first half to take a 1-0 lead into the break. The Black-and-Red won the defensive battle in the first half, winning 25 total duels to Orlando City’s 17.

Orlando found the equalizer in the second half in the 53rd minute after a fast break that led to defender Alex Freeman getting a header from close range. Then in the 57th minute after VAR review, D.C. United went down to 10-men after Lukas MacNaughton was shown the red card. Playing with 10-men for most of the second half proved difficult for the Black-and-Red but the squad was able to be defensively sound for 30 plus minutes, securing a point at home. Luis Barraza ended the match with a season-high 10 saves, keeping Head Coach René Weiler’s unbeaten streak alive.

D.C. United now travels to Chase Stadium to take on an Inter Miami side who sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with 49 points. The Herons hold a 14-6-7 record with 57 goals scored this season, led by Lionel Messi who has 20 goals and 11 assists on the season. Miami is coming off a 3-1 league win over the Seattle Sounders on Sept. 16 and holds a 1-1-1 record in their last three league matches which includes a 1-1 draw against the Black-and-Red at Audi Field on Aug. 23. Miami Head Coach Javier Mascherano will look to clinch a spot in the playoffs with a win against D.C. United. Messi will be without forward Luis Suarez who continues to serve a suspension. Meanwhile the Black-and-Red will be without midfielder Matti Peltola due to yellow card accumulation and defender Lukas MacNaughton who is serving a one match suspension for the red card he picked up last match against Orlando City SC.

D.C. United will need to be compact in midfield and be defensively sound to keep Messi in check and limit his passes in the final third. Forward Christian Benteke and midfielder Gabriel Pirani, who have combined for 14 goals this season, must also take advantage of a Miami defense that has allowed seven goals in their last three matches across all competitions. With only four matches left in the 2025 MLS season, the Black-and Red will look to finish the season strong and continue to play spoiler to teams vying for a playoff spot.

By the Numbers | D.C. United vs. Orlando City SC | September 13, 2025

• Homegrown midfielder Jackson Hopkins scored his third MLS goal of the season in the 33rd minute, assisted by Conner Antley. Hopkins now has three goals in the last four league matches.

• Defender Conner Antley recorded one assist and had eight passes into the final third. This was Antley's first start since Aug. 23 against Inter Miami CF.

• Midfielder João Peglow recorded five recoveries and won 100% of his aerial duels tonight in 90 minutes played.

• Goalkeeper Luis Barraza recorded 10 saves off 11 shots on target. Barraza now has 83 saves in 22 appearances this season.

Last Match Against Inter Miami CF | August 23, 2025 @ Audi Field

In their previous meeting on Aug. 23, 2025, D.C. United tied 1-1 against Inter Miami CF after heroics from Homegrown midfielder Jackson Hopkins, who captained the Black-and-Red for the first time. Hopkins became the youngest captain in D.C. United history and opened the scoring in the 13th minute off a pass from Matti Peltola. This marked Hopkins' second consecutive goal and gave the home side an early lead going into halftime. The backline of Conner Antley, Lucas Bartlett, Kye Rowles, and David Schnegg only allowed four total shots from Miami in the first half. Miami would then make some key subs bringing in the likes of Midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Sergio Busquets, as well as forward Luis Suarez. Then in the 64th minute, Miami tied the match with a goal from 22-year-old midfielder Baltasar Rodriguez. The 56-minute substitute hit a half volley tying the match at 1-1 and salvaging a point for the away team.

How to Watch

D.C. United fans can catch all the action of their favorite team by subscribing to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. With this subscription, you can watch every D.C. United match live, whether it’s home or away, along with exclusive pre- and post-match coverage. Simply open the Apple TV app, navigate to MLS Season Pass, and subscribe to enjoy the entire 2025 season. Whether you're at home or on the go, you'll have access to every match, ensuring you never miss a moment of D.C. United's season. Enjoy seamless streaming on your Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, and more!

Radio broadcasts will be available live on 1190 iHeart Sports DC, 101.1 HD2, and the iHeartRadio App. Legendary broadcaster Dave Johnson, who has called matches for D.C. United since the club’s inception in 1996 will return to the booth alongside Bruce Murray, former United States National Team player (1985-1993, 85 caps and 21 goals) and Class of 2011 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee. The pair have partnered on radio calls since 2023 to deliver high-quality and passionate radio calls for fans. Supporters watching D.C. United MLS Regular Season matches on MLS Season Pass can opt to listen to Dave Johnson and Bruce Murray calling the match on the MLS Local Radio Broadcast channel.