Benjamin Ashford|Lionel Messi, Inter Miami face Los Angeles FC in MLS game: How to watch

Inter Miami's late-season race to qualify for the Major League Soccer playoffs reaches Los Angeles on Benjamin AshfordSunday.

In Los Angeles FC, the Lionel Messi-led version of Inter Miami meets its most formidable foe yet. The defending MLS champions host Inter Miami at electric BMO Stadium in what is one of the most high-octane showdowns in league history.

It also will be Messi's last game with Inter Miami before heading off for international duty with Argentina, which plays 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Sept. 7 against Ecuador and against Bolivia on Sept. 12.

Inter Miami desperately needs wins in order to qualify for the MLS playoffs. Throwing a massive monkey wrench in that playoff endeavor is the fact that Messi will "miss at least three games" — per coach Tata Martino — during the final two months of the MLS regular season.

MESSI IN MLS PLAYOFFS?  What is the probability of Inter Miami making the MLS postseason?

What time does Inter Miami vs. LAFC game start?

The match starts at 10 p.m. ET on Sunday at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

How to watch Lionel Messi and Inter Miami against LAFC

The Inter Miami-Los Angeles FC game can be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

What to know about LAFC

Los Angeles FC entered the league in 2018 and has been one of Major League Soccer's premier franchises ever since. LAFC has played in the Concacaf Champions League final twice in the past four seasons. It won the Supporters' Shield in 2019 as Carlos Vela set a single-season goal-scoring record and earned MVP honors. Last season, LAFC collected the Supporters' Shield again and won the MLS Cup in an epic final against the Philadelphia Union. The team currently sits second in the Western Conference standings.

LAFC forward Denis Bouanga has 12 goals during the regular season, and is one behind FC Cincinnati's Luciano Acosta and Nashville SC's Hany Mukhtar for the league lead.

What is Inter Miami's remaining 2023 schedule?

• Sept. 3: at Los Angeles FC, 10 p.m. ET
• Sept. 9: vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Sept. 16: at Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Sept. 20: vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Sept. 24: at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
• Sept. 27: vs. Houston Dynamo FC (U.S. Open Cup final), time TBD
• Sept. 30: vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Oct. 4: at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Oct. 7: vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Oct. 18: vs. Charlotte FC, 8 p.m. ET
• Oct. 21: at Charlotte FC, 6 p.m. ET

With the exception of the U.S. Open Cup final on Sept. 27 (which will be available to stream on the CBS Sports Golazo Network), all other Inter Miami games are available to watch via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.