Can D.C. United get their playoff ambitions back on track at Inter Miami?
They may be the joint-most successful club in the history of Major League Soccer, but D.C. United fans haven't had a great deal to cheer about in recent years. They haven't won a trophy since the 2013 U.S. Open Cup; they haven't won a postseason match since 2015, and they haven't reached the MLS Cup Playoffs since 2019.
Since Wayne Rooney's departure in 2019, D.C. have finished 13th in the Eastern Conference (24th overall in the Supporters' Shield standings), 8th (16th overall), 14th (28th overall), and 12th (23rd overall). Despite boasting the league's top scorer in Christian Benteke, D.C. placed 10th in 2024 (20th overall) before taking home the Wooden Spoon with the worst record out of MLS' 30 teams in 2025.
This season, however, things are starting to perk up for the Black and Red, who sit 11th in the East (19th overall). They've lost just 8 times, second only to Nashville (3) and Inter Miami (5), but their inability to turn draws into wins has resulted in them being dragged down with 12 stalemates. D.C. are three points behind New York Red Bulls and New York City FC, as well as four behind seventh-placed Orlando City, with a game in hand, and they're also three points behind 10th-placed FC Cincinnati.
Whilst eighth and ninth place face off in a play-in match to determine who faces first place (all but certainly Nashville), the top seven sides receive automatic qualification to the playoffs. D.C. have eight finals ahead of them as they look to return to the postseason, with René Weiler's side set to travel to Miami, host the Red Bulls and travel to Orlando before facing Cincinnati home and away. They'll then travel to Toronto FC and Columbus Crew, both of whom trail D.C. by a point despite having played one more game, before closing out their regular season with a home match vs. NYCFC on November 7.
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The games are coming thick and fast for D.C. United after a two-week break, but the good news is that they know how to beat these sides, with their last four wins coming vs. Orlando, NYCFC, Toronto and most recently Columbus on September 9. Since then, however, they were held to a 0-0 draw vs. Atlanta United and capitulated to a 2-1 defeat vs. Charlotte FC, both at home.
D.C. have generally struggled on the road this season, with 4 of their 6 wins coming in the nation's capital, but they proved that they can be a threat away from home in their most recent clash. Going up against MLS Cup finalists Vancouver (1st in the West and 2nd overall), D.C. took an early lead via Kimito Nono before conceding twice before the break. They responded via Lucas Bartlett only to fall behind once again via Thomas Müller, but D.C. would have the last laugh as Nono slotted home the equalizer.
After holding the runners-up to a draw at home, D.C. will now be looking to nullify reigning champions Inter Miami in their own backyard. It will be an emotional affair in South Florida as Lionel Messi plays his first match since ending his legendary 21-year career with Argentina, and he'll be more keen than ever to showcase his magic and end Miami's five-game winless streak.
The Herons have won four of their last five encounters with the Black and Red, the only exception being a 1-1 draw in August 2025 that featured Miami's B team and that ultimately ended D.C.'s chances of qualifying for the playoffs with two months to spare. It won't be easy for D.C. as they seek their first win vs. Miami since June 2023, but if they are to pull off the upset, they'll need their Japanese trio to deliver the magic once again.
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Whilst Nono stole the show with a brace in British Columbia, Keisuke Kurokawa contributed with an assist, and Hosei Kijima set up Nono's second goal vs. Vancouver. This, combined with the return of stars like Louis Munteanu, Matti Peltola and Tai Baribo from international duty, could very well prove crucial as D.C. seek their first away victory since May 3.
“We need to play together," stated Kijima in an exclusive Breaking the Lines interview. "We need to play intensely and disrupt their rhythm as much as possible. We know that Miami like to keep the ball and find their best players, so it's important to be on the same page and make the decisions that can lead us to win.”
Can D.C. close the gap on the playoff spots with a victory or a draw in Nu Stadium? Or will Messi and co. get back to winning ways? Stay tuned for what promises to be a high-stakes showdown in the 305.