Columbus Crew Players React to Upcoming Playoff Matchup Against Inter Miami

Columbus Crew secure direct playoff spot with dramatic win over Chicago Fire

“They’re incredible,” interim head coach Laurent Courtois told reporters regarding Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami CF squad, “but I like us a lot.” The Columbus Crew secured their place in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs on Decision Day, clinching a 4-3 victory against Chicago Fire FC that allowed them to bypass the Wild Card round entirely.

According to a report from mlssoccer.com, Brais Méndez provided the decisive moment, scoring a 93rd-minute goal to seal the win. The victory catapults the Crew into the first round of the postseason as the No. 7 seed. Rather than facing a single-elimination knockout, Columbus has earned a Best-of-3 Series against the No. 2-seeded reigning MLS Cup champions, Inter Miami CF.

The late-season surge from the Crew represents a massive shift in momentum for a club that, as recently as October 21, sat near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Following a US Open Cup final loss to St. Louis CITY SC, the team’s playoff hopes appeared precarious. However, a six-game winning streak to close the regular season—including Saturday’s stoppage-time thriller—has fundamentally altered their trajectory.

The collision course with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami

The upcoming matchup pits a surging, resilient Columbus side against a star-studded Inter Miami roster featuring Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Rodrigo De Paul, and Casemiro. While the global spotlight naturally gravitates toward the Miami superstars, the Crew’s recent form suggests they are not merely participants in this series, but legitimate contenders.

MÉNDEZ CALLS GAME AND COMPLETES THE COMEBACK 🤯 pic.twitter.com/bKTWgacfYI

— https://x.com/ColumbusCrew/status/2119205806079983801

Columbus has already demonstrated they can compete with the defending champions. During the regular season, the Crew managed a 2-2 draw in South Florida in August and followed it up with a 2-1 home victory in September. This head-to-head success provides a psychological foundation for a team that has spent much of the year defying expectations.

BRAIS IS A DIFFERENT BREED 😮‍💨 Who else but Brais Méndez to be the difference maker on Decision Day 🤩 pic.twitter.com/nmcRpwmAeX

— https://x.com/ColumbusCrew/status/2119209831773155360

“It’s not going to phase us,” said homegrown captain Sean Zawadski regarding the club’s first-ever playoff matchup against Miami. “We have a team that has the belief. We have the confidence that we can keep going. And put anyone against us, we’re gonna give everything we have.”

The Crew’s roster depth will be tested in the Best-of-3 format. Beyond the summer arrivals like Brais Méndez, Santiago Rodríguez, and Gonzalo Tapia—the latter of whom scored a brace on Saturday—the team relies on a veteran core. This includes 2024 MLS Defender of the Year Steven Moreira and USMNT-capped goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.

Resilience through coaching transitions

The path to this playoff berth was far from linear. The club had to navigate the departure of head coach Henrik Rydström in May, a transition that could have derailed a season for many organizations. Instead, the team has maintained a high level of competitive intensity under Courtois.

The tactical stability of the squad has been bolstered by the emergence of homegrown talent. Midfielder Taha Habroune has become a breakout figure, contributing to a midfield that can match the technical proficiency of elite opponents. For the Crew, the goal is to leverage their recent winning streak to disrupt the rhythm of the league’s most high-profile offense.

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“Avoiding that Wild Card game was big for us, especially with some of the guys going on international break,” Zawadski noted. “Now it’s Miami. Everyone in the league, everyone around the world knows how good they are, all the quality they have, and all their players.”

As the postseason begins, the contrast between the two sides is stark: Inter Miami carries the weight of expectation and global celebrity, while Columbus carries the momentum of a team that refuses to be counted out. For the Crew, the postseason isn’t about the names on the opponent’s jersey, but the belief in their own ability to stay in the fight.

“The mentality of this team [is] we never feel like we’re out of the game,” Zawadski said. “Whether we’re down one goal, two goals, whatever it may be, home or away, the mentality of this team is to keep going.”