Red Bulls are Preparing for a Big Match against Inter Miami

By Daniel Feuerstein | Morris Township, October 23rd, 2026

Red Bull New York is getting ready for its next home match as it prepares to welcome back Lionel Messi and his friends at Inter Miami for a huge game with implications for the home side’s playoff hopes. After FC Cincinnati played their rescheduled match against DC United, they took the eighth spot and pushed the Red Bulls down to ninth, making this weekend’s matchup especially important. After earning their first result at Inter Miami’s new Nu Stadium with the two-goal draw, now it’s time for these young guns to go out on the pitch at Sports Illustrated Stadium and push themselves to earn their first win against Miami with Messi.

A new manager again for Inter Miami and for Bradley

Since winning the 2025 MLS Cup, Inter Miami has had a coaching carousel in the 2026 season. After a poor start and failing to earn their first win at the brand-new Nu Stadium, Javier Mascherano handed in his walking papers and said goodbye. Then their interim was Guillermo Hoyos, who was Mascherano’s assistant coach and scout, while the club was searching for someone permanent. That man is now Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez, who came over from Club Atletico Platense of the Argentine Primera Division, and since he took charge on September 15th, he started with a draw, a loss, and then three straight wins. But now it’s up to Michael Bradley to get his squad ready for a different Miami side, unlike the one they faced back on April 11th when they earned that two-goal draw.

“I think Kily Gonzalez has come in a short amount of time, giving the team some new ideas for sure. If you compare certainly to Javier Mascherano’s team that we played against early in the year, as we watch, there are differences for sure in terms of the way that they play, how they set themselves up. I think (Lionel) Messi’s role is also a little bit different, even though we all understand very well that the greatness and the quality of Messi is still his ability to read the game and understand in any given moment how to affect things based on what he sees; that part is still incredible, and so I would imagine that he still has big freedom to do that. But again, we still see differences in terms of how they set themselves up around him, and so we’ll be ready. Obviously, what doesn’t change is the fact that they have a really good team. They have a lot of really good players, and we know it all. It sets up to be a really, really big game at our stadium,” said Michael Bradley

Can the Red Bulls find a way to stop Messi

Without a doubt, Lionel Messi is the most amazing footballer we have ever seen in our lifetime. Many will say Pele and Diego Maradona were the two best players to get worldwide fame outside their own countries, but Messi has been incredible, and every time he has the ball at his feet, or finds a way to get free and pounce on a goal-scoring opportunity, he still dazzles for his club and now formerly his country of Argentina. While the Red Bulls must play their style of football, the big question could be: will one of their defensive players shadow him and keep an eye on what he does?

“We’ll have ideas about how to make the game hard on him. Part of making the game hard on him will be playing our football and making the game really hard on Miami collectively as a team and trying to make it a night where we can be aggressive, and we can be on top during long periods of the game, but we know that there will be moments where he’s able to find the ball, and we have to then have real good ideas and a real understanding of how we’re going to deal with some of those situations, how we want to make things difficult for him.

Obviously, part of that is understanding when he floats around and drifts and almost tries to lull you to sleep in moments when you have the ball. How we can keep a real eye on him and make sure that we know where he is at all times, but again, it’s football, and it’s 90 minutes, and it’s unpredictable and fluid and dynamic, and situations will arise that we have to then be ready individually and collectively to be able to work best work,” said Michael Bradley

Julian Hall has had a decent season

Since the beginning of the 2026 season, we were all shocked when Julian Hall was pencilled in as a starter in the season opener at Orlando City. He scored nine goals and 12 in all competitions, scoring a hat trick and a few two-goal games, along with a few winners. Since the World Cup break, he’s slumped quite a bit, but he did convert a game-winner at New York City FC in Yankee Stadium and a goal in a big home win over San Diego FC. He was on fire, scoring three goals in his first three matches against Peru, Chile, and Mexico, tying a record for scoring goals in his first three matches for the U.S. Men’s National Team. He’s ready to get involved against Messi and Miami once again.

“I think a lot has happened in a short amount of time, and I think sometimes I just try to take a breather and look back and see all the things that I’ve experienced along the way. Especially this past national team break, it was something I’ll definitely remember for the rest of my life. My main goal now, being back with the Red Bulls, is just to create memories with the team by making the playoffs,” said Julian Hall.

The Red Bulls Mentality must be at a high level

For the second time this season, the Red Bulls will need to play at their best. Facing Lionel Messi is a huge task, and they need to make sure they get their tactics correct to get the result. They need to play the same way, or at least close to it, as much as possible as they did when they were down in Miami. Especially with their current playoff position, as they must earn the full three points and remain within the wild card round. This is the start of staying above the line, as the next four games, including this weekend’s game, are very important to remain above the playoff line.

“I think right now it’s especially like we have no choice really but to push hard. I think obviously throughout the season our mentality has always been the same. Like I said before, some games didn’t go our way, but I think especially around this time is when it’s like all or nothing really, and I think we already have that collective mindset that we’re going to do whatever it takes on the field, and you know whatever happens because we know we put everything out onto the pitch,” said Julian Hall

This is a big match, and the Red Bulls must do all they can to stay above the playoff line and get the full three points to ensure they cement that spot after decision day.

Red Bull New York hosts Inter Miami FC as they look to stay in the Wild Card positions.

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