“I would give Julian the advice to follow his heart,” Bradley replied to Bolavip during his Tuesday media availability ahead of Wednesday’s derby against New York City FC in the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup round of 16.

Hall, born and raised in the US, also has Polish citizenship through his mother, who met with Poland‘s soccer federation president Cezary Kulesza this week.

Bradley not putting pressure on Hall to choose the USMNT over Poland

Despite being an icon of the US national team with 151 caps, Bradley understands that Hall’s decision will be personal, which is why he’s encouraging his player to decide what he feels best.

“For any football player who has the possibility to play for two countries, I personally can’t imagine what goes into a decision like that. I was only able to play for one national team, and so that is not something that I have experience with,” Bradley added.

“But for me, when it comes to any big decisions in life, you think about things, and you reflect, and then ultimately you make a decision based on your heart, and based on where you want to go and what you want out of your life and what you want out of that decision. And when you make the decision, then you go for it and you don’t look back.“

Poland FA president meets with Hall’s mother in New York

Kulesza’s post on X revealing the meeting with Hall’s mother made noise on social media, hinting at Poland’s interest in recruiting Hall before he suits up for the Stars and Stripes.

“I met in New York with Julian Zakrzewski Hall’s mom, Ms. Agnieszka. It’s impressive how she supports her son on his soccer journey. We were of the same opinion – that the surname Zakrzewski looks beautiful on a white-and-red jersey,” Kulesza wrote.

Julian Hall’s excellent start to 2026 puts him on Poland’s radar again

Hall has been in great form for New York early in 2026, boasting six goals and two assists in just 10 MLS appearances. All of this with his mother’s birth name, Zakrzewski, on the back of his shirt.

This fact, combined with Kulesza’s recent meeting, could worry USMNT fans about Poland’s chances to recruit Hall.

That said, the forward already had the possibility to represent Poland at the youth international level, yet he only played for the US. Only time will tell what flag he ends up representing for the rest of his career.

“Yeah, his impact has been huge,” Bradley said when asked by Bolavip about Mascherano’s impact in MLS during his short time in the league.

“Obviously, he did an incredible job with Miami, he was able to lead them to their first MLS Cup. I think that part is there for everybody to see, and nobody can ever take that away from him.“

Bradley wishes Mascherano ‘all the best’

Bradley’s comments came during a media session ahead of New York’s US Open Cup fixture against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET). Shortly before Bradley addressed the press, Inter Miami announced Mascherano will be replaced by Guillermo Hoyos, at least on an interim basis.

“Obviously without being there, on the inside of things, it’s impossible to know, it’s impossible to understand the situation,” Bradley added. “You know, in the last little bit, I saw things about personal reasons, and so obviously, again, without being on the inside, you never know exactly what the situation is.

“As a colleague, I wish him all the best for his future, and I know that with his qualities as a coach, with his experience in football, with his personality, he’s gonna continue to do great things in the game, and so I wish him all the best.“

Bradley revealed having one of Mascherano’s jerseys

Bradley had already shown his respect for Mascherano during the weekend. During his postgame press conference after Saturday’s 2-2 draw in Miami, the New York Red Bulls HC remembered the day he exchanged jerseys with the Argentine legend after an international game.

“I have a huge amount of respect for Javier, I always did as a player and now as a coach. He won’t remember this, but one of the proudest moments in my career was after a game with Argentina, he sent somebody into the locker room because he wanted to exchange jerseys with me. So I have one of his Argentina jerseys at home,” Bradley revealed.

“I was a never a guy who went out of my way to trade jerseys but when somebody like Javier Mascherano went out of his way to ask for mine, then you can be sure that I’ve kept his.

“He was an incredible player, had a huge career at some top, top clubs, and now as a young coach has done a really good job, obviously, led Miami to the MLS Cup last year. For me, the experience of coaching against other really good managers is exciting.“

Mascherano’s praise for Bradley

Before shocking the MLS community on Tuesday, Mascherano also heaped praise on Bradley during Saturday’s pre-game interview with Apple TV.

“I faced him in international games many times, he was a very good player and a very important player for the USA,” Mascherano said of Bradley before facing the New York Red Bulls, in what turned out to be his last game at the helm of Inter Miami.

“He did really well last season, winning the MLS Next Pro championship. This season you can see his ideas about football, and for me, he will be a really successful coach in this league.”

[Watch Inter Miami vs New York RB in the USA on Apple TV]

Inter Miami head into this matchup aiming to rebound from a frustrating draw against Austin FC, a result that leaves them fourth in the standings with 11 points but still just two behind league leaders Nashville SC, keeping Lionel Messi and company firmly in the early-season race.

Awaiting them is a dangerous New York Red Bulls side sitting seventh with 10 points and eager to climb the table, making this clash a pivotal opportunity for both teams as they look to gain momentum and close the gap at the top.

When will the Inter Miami vs New York RB match be played?

Inter Miami will play against New York RB this Saturday, April 11, in a 2026 MLS regular season game, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 PM (ET).

Inter Miami vs New York RB: Time by State in the USA

ET: 7:30 PM
CT: 6:30 PM
MT: 5:30 PM
PT: 4:30 PM

How to watch Inter Miami vs New York RB in the USA

Tune Apple TV to catch the 2026 MLS regular season showdown between Inter Miami and New York RB live in the USA.

“They don’t get distracted at all,” Bradley told Bolavip during a media session on Thursday. “We have a really good group. Training has been excellent all week. Like we have all season long, we continue to talk about the idea that we play one game at a time.

“You play the team that’s in front of you, and you get ready, you do everything you can all week to prepare and to be ready, when that whistle blows, to spill your heart and soul into that game and that 90 minutes. And when that’s done, then we get ready to do it again.“

Inter Miami chasing first win at Nu Stadium

Saturday will be only the second-ever game to be held at Nu Stadium, a venue Inter Miami heavily invested in to play near Miami International Airport after years of making Fort Lauderdale their temporary home.

A Messi header saw Inter Miami share a 2-2 draw against Austin FC in the Nu Stadium opener, so the Herons are still chasing their first-ever win at their new home.

Bradley says NY Red Bulls are excited and ready

Bradley had nothing but praise for Inter Miami, calling them “a very good team with a lot of very good players,” while describing Messi as “the best player of all time,” praising how the Argentine star can play in different positions in Javier Mascherano’s scheme.

However, the NY Red Bulls head coach let everyone know that neither the new stadium nor the opponents’ strength will prevent his team from concentrating on winning the game.

“As I said, we are excited. The new stadium in Miami looks incredible. Anytime as a player you get to play against good teams, good players, that’s what it’s all about. You want to play in the biggest games. As a group, we are really excited, and I know that we’ll be ready when the game starts,” Bradley added.

Dylan Nealis excited to return to Miami

An interesting storyline ahead of Saturday’s game has to do with defender Dylan Nealis, who also addressed the press on Thursday.

The 27-year-old will be facing the team that drafted him third overall in 2020. Curiously, Nealis’ professional debut came against his current team during an Inter Miami 1-4 loss to the New York Red Bulls.

“Yeah, it was quite long ago,” Nealis told Bolavip. “I mean, I haven’t really changed much as a player, at least I don’t think so, but maybe just a bit more mature. I was changing, I was playing different positions at that time. Just excited, that’s the club I started at, so happy to get back down there.”

This game will have implications in the top spots of the 2026 MLS Eastern Conference regular season standings. Inter Miami arrive in fourth place with 11 points, with New York just one point shy in seventh place.

[Watch Monterrey vs New York Red Bulls live in the USA on Apple TV]

Monterrey came up just short in a roller-coaster 3-2 defeat to FC Cincinnati, a match full of high-intensity chances that ultimately slipped through their grasp.

Now the Rayados must regroup quickly as they collide with the New York Red Bulls, who kicked off their campaign with a gritty 1-0 victory over Chivas and will look to carry that momentum straight into the final.

When will the Monterrey vs New York Red Bulls match be played?

Monterrey will face New York Red Bulls this Sunday, August 3, in a Matchday 2 showdown of the 2025 Leagues Cup league stage, with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 PM (ET).

Monterrey vs New York Red Bulls: Time by State in the USA

ET: 8:00 PM
CT: 7:00 PM
MT: 6:00 PM
PT: 5:00 PM

How to watch Seattle Sounders vs Santos Laguna in the USA

Tune in to MLS League Pass on Apple TV to catch the 2025 Leagues Cup showdown between Monterrey and New York Red Bulls in the USA.

[Watch Chivas vs New York RB live in the USA on Apple TV]

Two teams looking to make a strong first impression in the Leagues Cup square off as the New York Red Bulls, currently outside the playoff picture in the MLS Eastern Conference, aim to turn things around on a new stage.

The Red Bulls are hoping for a fresh spark in this tournament, where surprises are always possible. Chivas enter with a mixed start in Liga MX, posting one win and one loss, and while their tradition and talent suggest upside, they’ll need to back it up with results if they plan to contend for a deeper run.

When will the Chivas vs New York RB match be played?

Chivas will play against New York RB this Thursday, July 31, in a Matchday 1 showdown of the 2025 Leagues Cup league stage, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 PM (ET).

Chivas vs New York RB: Time by State in the USA

ET: 7:30 PM
CT: 6:30 PM
MT: 5:30 PM
PT: 4:30 PM

How to watch Chivas vs New York RB in the USA

Tune in to MLS League Pass on Apple TV to catch the 2025 Leagues Cup showdown between Chivas and New York RB live in the USA.

Alexander Hack had scored the opener for the hosts at Red Bull Arena in the 14th minute of the first half, taking advantage of a poor reaction from goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo and the defenders after a corner kick.

However, just 10 minutes later, Messi rescued Inter Miami with a brilliant assist to Jordi Alba. Soon after, he delivered another superb pass to the Spanish left-back, who this time set up Telasco Segovia to make it 2–1 with a subtle touch. Segovia himself extended the lead near the end of the first half with a well-placed strike.

Messi’s goals

After a first half in which Messi led Inter Miami as a playmaker and distributed assists, he showed his scoring side after the break. In the 60th minute, Sergio Busquets delivered a brilliant pass that left him one-on-one with goalkeeper Carlos Coronel. Messi didn’t miss—he rounded the keeper and scored into an open net.

Fifteen minutes later, it was Luis Suarez who provided the assist with a cross into the box. The Argentine forward controlled the ball with his chest, beat a defender, and fired home the team’s fifth goal with a powerful left-footed strike.

Messi leads MLS in goals in 2025

Lionel Messi’s two goals on Saturday against New York Red Bulls add to an already remarkable list of performances this season. He has scored twice in six of his last seven appearances for Inter Miami—the only exception being last Wednesday’s 3–0 loss to CF Cincinnati.

Thanks to that incredible run, Messi has climbed to the top of the MLS scoring charts. He now leads the league with 18 goals, surpassing Nashville’s Sam Surridge, who had been the top scorer with 17. Behind them are Cincinnati’s Evander (15), Philadelphia Union’s Tai Baribo (14), and Sporting Kansas City’s Dejan Joveljic (13).

The Herons are trying to make up lost ground in Major League Soccer after their participation in the Club World Cup left them with several games in hand and trailing in the standings. Following Wednesday’s loss to FC Cincinnati, they fell further behind the Philadelphia Union, the Eastern Conference leaders.

Given that context, things didn’t start well for Inter Miami on Saturday. They quickly fell behind after a 14th-minute goal by Alexander Hack, who capitalized on a corner kick and a poor reaction from the goalkeeper and defenders.

But that early setback didn’t affect Lionel Messi’s mindset. He immediately took on the responsibility of leading the team, stepping into the role of playmaker. In the 24th minute, he picked up the ball in the attacking half and delivered a brilliant assist to Jordi Alba, who found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Carlos Coronel and made no mistake.

That stunning pass instantly brought back memories of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Messi was instrumental in Argentina’s title run. In particular, it drew parallels to his assist to Nahuel Molina for the opener against the Netherlands, when he threaded the ball through a crowd of defenders.

Another brilliant pass from Messi

Alba’s goal seemed to spark Inter Miami, who completed the comeback almost immediately. Just three minutes after the equalizer, another pass from Messi found Alba in a perfect position inside the box. This time, however, the Spanish left-back chose to set up Telasco Segovia, who needed only a subtle touch to score.

With the 2–1 lead, Javier Mascherano’s team took full control of the match and faced little pressure from New York RB. In fact, during the remainder of the first half, they had several chances to extend the lead—something Segovia eventually did with a precise right-footed shot.

Messi sets impressive record

With his performance on Saturday, Lionel Messi became the first player in Inter Miami history to reach 30 assists. It’s an impressive milestone considering the short time the Argentine star has been with the club—he arrived just two years ago and has played 67 matches since then.

However, some clarification is needed. This statistic follows Major League Soccer’s criteria, which count not only direct assists but also so-called “secondary assists.” These are passes made not to the goal scorer, but to the player who provides the assist—and they must meet certain conditions. “The pass must contribute significantly and directly to the goal, requiring a reasonable amount of skill, vision, and accuracy,” MLS rules state.

[Watch New York Red Bulls vs Inter Miami CF live in the USA on Apple TV]

Inter Miami saw their impressive run halted with a 3-0 loss to FC Cincinnati, but Lionel Messi and company remain focused on climbing the standings as they look to bounce back.

Their next challenge comes against a determined New York Red Bulls squad currently sitting eighth in the table, just one point behind local rivals New York City FC in the race for a playoff spot.

When will the New York Red Bulls vs Inter Miami CF match be played?

New York Red Bulls will take on Inter Miami CF this Saturday, July 19, in a 2025 MLS regular season game, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 PM (ET).

New York Red Bulls vs Inter Miami CF: Time by State in the USA

ET: 7:30 PM
CT: 6:30 PM
MT: 5:30 PM
PT: 4:30 PM

How to watch New York Red Bulls vs Inter Miami CF in the USA

Tune in to MLS League Pass on Apple TV to catch the 2025 MLS regular season showdown between New York Red Bulls and Inter Miami CF, live in the USA.

From the start of the match, the Herons showed they were better prepared to take on this clash. In fact, just eight minutes into the first half, they opened the scoring through a cross from Marcelo Weigandt, which was flicked on by Luis Suarez and reached Fafa Picault inside the box. The winger struck it in one motion and beat goalkeeper Carlos Coronel.

Not content with just one goal, Inter Miami kept pushing forward and were rewarded in the 30th minute, when Weigandt pounced on a rebound inside the box and scored amid confusion from the opposing defenders. However, there was a brief moment of suspense after the goal, as VAR called referee Ismir Pekmic to review a possible offside—something that was ultimately ruled out.

Luis Suarez ends goal drought

The defensive gaps left by New York Red Bulls made Saturday night’s match the perfect opportunity for Luis Suarez to break his nine-game scoring drought across MLS and the Concacaf Champions Cup.

In the 39th minute, Messi played a deep pass to Tadeo Allende, who approached the box and sent in a drilled cross that found the Uruguayan striker. Suarez’s initial shot was soft and blocked by a defender, but he didn’t give up—he chased down the rebound and fired a powerful left-footed strike that left Coronel with no chance.

Messi scores a beautiful goal

Although Eric Choupo-Moting pulled one back for New York Red Bulls just before the end of the first half, it didn’t change the flow of the match. After the break, Inter Miami remained in control, and through Messi, they found their fourth goal of the night.

In the 21st minute, Leo picked up the ball outside the opponent’s box, linked up with Telasco Segovia for two quick passes, and found himself face-to-face with the goalkeeper, pressured by two defenders. He took his time to create space and fired a powerful left-footed shot that found the back of the net. It was Messi’s eighth goal in 13 matches for the Herons this year.

What’s next for Inter Miami?

With their 4-1 victory over New York Red Bulls, Inter Miami now have 21 points in MLS and sit in fourth place in the standings, just three points behind leaders Columbus Crew. However, the Herons have an advantage in the race for the top spot: they have played one game fewer, meaning they could potentially be the leaders of the Eastern Conference as well. Their next match is Saturday, May 10, against Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field.

[Watch Inter Miami vs New York RB live in the USA on Apple TV]

Inter Miami are looking to bounce back after a rough week that included a 4-3 loss to FC Dallas—costing them a shot at first place in the Eastern Conference—and a humbling exit from the CONCACAF Champions Cup at the hands of the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Lionel Messi and his squad aim to regroup and shift their focus to MLS play as they host the New York Red Bulls, who currently sit eighth in the East and are pushing to gain ground in the playoff race.

When will the Inter Miami vs New York RB match be played?

Inter Miami will face New York RB this Saturday, May 3, in the Matchday 11 of the 2025 MLS season, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 PM (ET).

Inter Miami vs New York RB: Time by State in the USA

ET: 7:30 PM

CT: 6:30 PM

MT: 5:30 PM

PT: 4:30 PM

How to watch Inter Miami vs New York RB in the USA

Tune in to MLS League Pass on Apple TV to catch the 2025 MLS regular season showdown between Inter Miami and New York RB, live in the USA.