Published Mar 20, 6:44am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Mar 20, 6:44am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Mar 20, 6:45am ET
Two of the standout teams in the Eastern Conference collide on March 22, as table-topping New York City FC host the reigning MLS Cup champions, Inter Miami.
NYC have made a red-hot start to the new season, winning three of their opening four fixtures. However, this will be their biggest challenge to date when they come up against the reigning MLS Cup champions.
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|---|---|
| New York City | +124 |
| The Draw | +246 |
| Inter Miami | +218 |
Pascal Jansen’s New York City FC have made an excellent start to the 2026 season, winning three of their first four fixtures.
They flexed their offensive muscles last weekend, easing to a 3-1 home win over the Colorado Rapids. Nicolas Fernandez scored twice in the success, while Talles Magno rounded off the scoring in the final stages. NYC were efficient in the final third of the field, hitting the target with all five of their shots.
Their counter-attacking style relies heavily on their strong defensive record, with the franchise having allowed an average xGA of just 1.07 per game.
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The reigning MLS Cup champions have made a slow start to their title defense, reflected by the fact that they have played out draws in each of their last three fixtures in all competitions.
A first setback of the season came in midweek, as Inter were dumped out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup by Nashville. Last weekend, Inter were toothless in the final third of the field, failing to create many scoring opportunities in a 0-0 draw with Charlotte FC.
Lionel Messi will be back in from the start after being rested in that stalemate, with the legendary forward scoring in the midweek loss against Nashville.
| TOTAL | NYC | Inter Miami | DRAWS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 |
| Goals | 46 | 25 | 21 |
It has been a busy week for Inter Miami, and that could be detrimental to their chances this weekend. Therefore, a well-rested NYC could maintain their strong start to the 2026 season.
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Pick
New York
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