On Saturday, Aug. 8, MLS announced the schedule for the return to regular season action following the completion of the MLS is Back Tournament. Inter Miami is set to face regional opponents Orlando City SC, Atlanta United FC and Nashville SC twice each from Aug. 22 to Sept. 12.
With the matchups now set, Inter Miami will have a better understanding of what awaits it in the next episode of the 2020 MLS regular season.
Orlando City SC
In-state opponents Orlando City will once again serve as Inter Miami’s adversary for the opening match of a new phase of the season on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 8 p.m. ET at Inter Miami CF Stadium. The sides previously squared off in the opening match of the MLS is Back Tournament on July 8.
That night, a tense contest was decided in the 97th minute as Nani struck a very late winner for Orlando City. Inter Miami, however, competed well in that match, taking a lead in the second half and creating numerous chances.
The teams will again face off on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET, this time at Exploria Stadium in Orlando.
Atlanta United FC
The reigning Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup champions will come to South Florida on Wednesday, Aug. 26 for an 8 p.m. ET matchup at Inter Miami CF Stadium. The sides will again face off on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Atlanta United will be under new leadership in these matches following the departure of head coach Frank de Boer on July 24 and the appointment of interim head coach Stephen Glass.
The matchup will feature a number of reunions for Inter Miami players and executives. Notably, COO & Sporting Director Paul McDonough served as Atlanta United Vice President of Soccer Operations from Jan. 2016 to Aug. 2018, building the expansion franchise into MLS Cup winners in just their second season.
A trio of Inter Miami players, meanwhile, played for the Georgia-based club in recent years. Versatile fullback / midfielder Brek Shea spent the 2019 season with Atlanta, making 19 regular season appearances and helping the team win the U.S. Open Cup, making three appearances in the competition.
Another left back, Mikey Ambrose, also spent time with Atlanta, playing for the team from 2017 to 2019. In his three seasons with the team he appeared in 20 regular season matches and two playoff matches, helping the team win each of its three titles.
Inter Miami’s most recent signing, center back Leandro González Pirez, starred for Atlanta from 2017 to 2019. The Argentine defender made 95 regular season and nine playoff appearances in that span, starting each one. González Pirez was crucial to the team’s efforts en route to the MLS Cup, U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup titles. He also earned individual accolades along the way, being named to the 2019 MLS All-Star Team and nominated as a finalist for the MLS Defender of the Year award twice.
Nashville SC
Inter Miami will face fellow expansion franchise Nashville SC in Nashville on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 8:30 p.m. ET and again in South Florida on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. ET. The two sides officially joined the league as expansion franchises this season as the 25th and 26th franchises, respectively.
While Inter Miami has played five matches to date, Nashville has played just two as they were withdrawn from the MLS is Back Tournament due to positive COVID-19 cases. Accordingly, the team will face FC Dallas, the other team withdrawn from the tournament, in three additional matches beginning with a home-and-home series on Aug. 12 and Aug. 16.
Nashville lost its first two matches of the regular season, falling 2-1 to Atlanta United and 1-0 to the Portland Timbers.
