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When Inter Miami and Orlando City take to the field for the inaugural Florida Derby at Nu Stadium on Saturday, more than just local pride and three crucial Eastern Conference points will be at stake.
With May now underway, it marks the final window for players to stake their claim for World Cup roster spots, as all 48 participating nations must submit their squads by May 30. Opportunities to make adjustments after that deadline are extremely limited.
While the scramble for roster places spans virtually every top flight in global football, the Florida Derby carries a particular World Cup significance, given Lionel Messi's situation, the goalkeeping talent on display and several others who could represent their countries next month.
Here, Sports Illustrated examines three key World Cup narratives surrounding the fixture.
Lionel Messi's Status Remains Unknown
Despite claiming the 2025 MLS MVP award and Golden Boot, Lionel Messi's participation in the 2026 World Cup remains very much up in the air.
Having lifted the 2022 World Cup trophy and secured a second Copa América title in 2024, the eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient may be reluctant to return to Argentina unless another trophy is within reach. At this stage, the 38-year-old already has the ideal send-off story written.
This season, Messi's output has dipped as Inter Miami have struggled to establish a clear identity, first under Javier Mascherano and now with Guillermo Hoyos at the helm. Consequently, his summer availability remains unresolved, though Argentine boss Lionel Scaloni has made clear he would welcome Messi back should he choose to participate.
"I will do everything I can to make sure he is there," Scaloni said during a March press conference when questioned about Messi's World Cup involvement. "I believe that he has to be there, for the sake of football, but it's not me who decides. It's up to him how he feels in his mind and his physical condition."
The Battle for Canada's No. 1
The competition to claim Canada's starting goalkeeper spot at the first men's World Cup on home soil could hinge on Saturday's clash, as Orlando City shot-stopper Maxime Crépeau goes head-to-head with his long-time friend and rival for the gloves, Inter Miami's Dayne St. Clair.
Both endured difficult beginnings at their respective new clubs but have shown signs of improvement lately. St. Clair's distribution and shot-stopping in tight situations have stood out, with goals conceded largely stemming from defensive breakdowns. Meanwhile, Crépeau recently produced five saves in a 1–1 draw against the Columbus Crew.
A very promising performance from Maxime Crépeau on Sunday with this stellar stop among five saves.
Orlando City were well outplayed by th Columbus Crew, but the #CanMNT man saved a point for his side.
pic.twitter.com/FGFdbcqtoX
Canada boss Jesse Marsch has long wrestled with the goalkeeping dilemma, giving both regular starts since taking charge in May 2024. Nevertheless, he has previously confirmed he will designate a clear No. 1 for the World Cup. In essence, Crépeau has generally performed better for the national side, while St. Clair brings greater athleticism and has hit higher peaks at club level.
This weekend represents the last head-to-head between the two before the squad assembles in Charlotte for a pre-World Cup camp ahead of Canada's final pair of friendlies against Uzbekistan and Ireland. Canada kicks off their World Cup campaign on June 12 against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto.
Will Rodrigo De Paul and Germán Berterame Maintain Form?
Inter Miami's inconsistent start to the 2026 season has cast doubt over two established international regulars.
For Argentina's Rodrigo De Paul, defensive vulnerabilities exposed against New York Red Bulls last month underscored the dip in form that has followed his move to MLS last summer from Atlético Madrid; meanwhile, Germán Berterame has failed to score at the rate that made him a dangerous forward for CF Monterrey and a fixture in the Mexico national team setup.
That loss of form put both men's World Cup places in jeopardy, with Scaloni stressing in March that the Argentine squad would be "decided based on objective criteria" and feature "only players who are ready and in their best form." Since then, De Paul has bounced back, contributing a goal and three assists across his last four outings while delivering incisive passes and sharp vision for attackers, potentially working his way back into Scaloni's thinking.
Berterame appears to be trending in a similar direction. After going eight games without a goal to open his Inter Miami tenure, he has now registered three goals and two assists in his last five appearances, potentially rebuilding Mexico manager Javier Aguirre's confidence in him, despite being omitted from the initial 12-man roster announcement.
Following Saturday's match, Inter Miami will play four additional league games before MLS breaks for the World Cup, while Orlando have five remaining fixtures, including a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against Atlanta United.