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The Crew are set to face Inter Miami at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1 in their last MLS regular-season game before Leagues Cup play.
It comes in the wake of substantial roster changes to Columbus, highlighted by midfielder Max Arfsten's departure for Middlesbrough. According to a Dispatch source, Arfsten will be shipped to Middlesbrough FC in England's EFL Championship, a cut below the Premier League. Middlesbrough is paying a $7.5 million transfer fee.
That would be the third-highest outbound transfer fee in Crew history behind former Cucho Hernandez ($16 million) and recently transferred forward Diego Rossi ($8 million).
The Crew also signed five players during the summer transfer window who have yet to appear for Columbus. Fans may see the debut of former La Liga forward Brais Mendez, who began training with the Crew on July 24 and is making progress on conditioning.
Sitting in the 11th spot in the Eastern Conference, the Crew are set to face Miami, which is ranked second in the standings. It is not yet clear whether superstar Lionel Messi will appear for Miami. Messi returned to practicing with Miami on July 30 following Argentina's runner-up finish in the 2026 World Cup.
Miami, which won the MLS Cup in 2025, also boasts former Liverpool and FC Barcelona forward Luis Suarez, as well as former Real Madrid and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, who transferred to Miami after the World Cup.
See below for live coverage of the Aug. 1 match.
Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos told reporters he will be having conversations about Lionel Messi's return to play for the MLS club. Messi returned to practice July 29 after playing seven matches in the World Cup.
"We've been talking, in that regard. He only just got back. We haven't really had the chance to have a proper conversation yet," Hoyos said on July 31 via ESPN.
Messi was not listed on Inter Miami's availability report, according to the Miami Herald. It remains to be seen if Messi will be available off the bench, or even as a potential starter, in tonight's match against the Crew.
At age 39, Messi scored eight goals in the 2026 World Cup for Argentina, the second most behind France's Kylian Mbappe. Argentina lost to Spain 2-1 in the final.
Date: Aug. 1
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Streaming: Apple TV
You can watch the Crew take on Inter Miami with an Apple TV subscription, which starts at $12.99 per month.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami live updates, Lionel Messi availability
Continue reading...
It comes in the wake of substantial roster changes to Columbus, highlighted by midfielder Max Arfsten's departure for Middlesbrough. According to a Dispatch source, Arfsten will be shipped to Middlesbrough FC in England's EFL Championship, a cut below the Premier League. Middlesbrough is paying a $7.5 million transfer fee.
That would be the third-highest outbound transfer fee in Crew history behind former Cucho Hernandez ($16 million) and recently transferred forward Diego Rossi ($8 million).
The Crew also signed five players during the summer transfer window who have yet to appear for Columbus. Fans may see the debut of former La Liga forward Brais Mendez, who began training with the Crew on July 24 and is making progress on conditioning.
Sitting in the 11th spot in the Eastern Conference, the Crew are set to face Miami, which is ranked second in the standings. It is not yet clear whether superstar Lionel Messi will appear for Miami. Messi returned to practicing with Miami on July 30 following Argentina's runner-up finish in the 2026 World Cup.
Miami, which won the MLS Cup in 2025, also boasts former Liverpool and FC Barcelona forward Luis Suarez, as well as former Real Madrid and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, who transferred to Miami after the World Cup.
See below for live coverage of the Aug. 1 match.
Is Lionel Messi playing tonight?
05:45 PM ET, August 1 2026, Dan Aulbach
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Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos told reporters he will be having conversations about Lionel Messi's return to play for the MLS club. Messi returned to practice July 29 after playing seven matches in the World Cup.
"We've been talking, in that regard. He only just got back. We haven't really had the chance to have a proper conversation yet," Hoyos said on July 31 via ESPN.
Messi was not listed on Inter Miami's availability report, according to the Miami Herald. It remains to be seen if Messi will be available off the bench, or even as a potential starter, in tonight's match against the Crew.
At age 39, Messi scored eight goals in the 2026 World Cup for Argentina, the second most behind France's Kylian Mbappe. Argentina lost to Spain 2-1 in the final.
How to watch Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami tonight
05:31 PM ET, August 1 2026, Dan AulbachDate: Aug. 1
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Streaming: Apple TV
You can watch the Crew take on Inter Miami with an Apple TV subscription, which starts at $12.99 per month.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami live updates, Lionel Messi availability
Continue reading...
