MLS Next Pro Match Preview: Chattanooga FC v Inter Miami CF II

Philip Farrell
6 days ago
6 min read

**Anthony Sorenson of Chattanooga and Matteo Saja of Miami battle in the previous meeting between the sides in May. Photo credit - Inter Miami CF Communications**

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

Match: Chattanooga FC vs. Inter Miami CF II

Date: Saturday, July 4th, 2026. 19:30 (Eastern)

Venue: Erlanger Park, Chattanooga, TN. Capacity: 8,032

How to watch: OneFootball, MLSNextPro.com, YouTube

Tickets: https://www.mlsnextpro.com/chattanoogafc/tickets/

CHATTANOOGA, Tn --- Saturday marks a special day in Chattanooga, for more reasons than one. Not only is the 250th anniversary of the republic being celebrated as with everywhere else in the nation, but more history will be made when Erlanger Park hosts its first ever soccer match. The 8,000+ capacity ballpark is the home of the Chattanooga Lookouts (AA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) and was opened earlier this year to wide acclaim. Blending a rustic design with state-of-the-art facilities, it stands as a salute to Chattanooga’s industrial past and the boundless horizons of its professional sports. It's a place where the past and the future embrace in the warm glow of the present and this Saturday, soccer (a sport with its own storied history in the Scenic City) takes center stage.

There’s a lot of work that goes into a temporary transformation like this, even at Erlanger which, as Jason Freier, Managing Owner of the Lookouts, told me, was built with soccer in-mind. On June 30, 12,000 square feet of sod was laid over the diamond while the first soccer lines were painted on the field the next day. July 2 saw the goalposts move in, borrowed from the Baylor School where they had been used by the Spain national team for the past three weeks. The players trained that day for the first time on the baseball field, the feedback being that playing on grass felt so good. On Thursday evening, I chatted to groundcrew and operations staff at Finley Stadium as they were removing the advertisement hoardings alongside the field, for transportation to Erlanger on Friday. I’m not alone in dying to see the final product. But enough about the setting, let’s discuss the soccer.

Chattanooga (P:16 W:7 D:4 L:5 SOW:3 GF:32 GA:28 GD:+4 Pts:28) currently sits in sixth place and hasn’t lost in four games. Hovering on a slightly less than 50% win ratio, they have picked up points in 12 of their 16 games played. Interim Head Coach Richard Dixon has his side looking solid if unremarkable but so far does seem to have broken their typical summer hoodoo since joining MLS Next Pro. This is CFC’s first time playing at Erlanger which represents somewhat unfamiliar surroundings. Alex Krehl is the team’s top scorer on nine goals, while Tate Robertson has four league assists, both are in the top four league-wide in their categories.

Although Miami (P:14 W:0 D:4 L:10 SOW:1 GF:13 GA:36 GD:-23 Pts:5) has played less games than everyone else in the Eastern Conference, they nonetheless look like the weakest side across the whole of MLS Next Pro in 2026. The fewest points, the joint-fewest goals, and the worst goal difference - they’ve yet to win a game. They also have a poor record against Chattanooga. Their only solace might lie in the fact that Saturday’s surroundings will be somewhat unfamiliar to CFC too. But getting a result at Erlanger will be a tall order for the Herons. With seven goals on the season, Idoh Zeltzer-Zubida is their top scorer.

The match starts at 7.30pm Eastern and we can expect hot and humid conditions with the threat of storms, rain, and lightning all afternoon. The temperature at kick-off should be about 89 degrees. Streaming will be available on MLSNextPro.com, the league’s YouTube channel, and the OneFootball app. Raleigh-based referee Lauren Aldrich will officiate.

**Erlanger Park, home of the Chattanooga Lookouts, being prepared to host its first soccer game. Photo credit - Chattanooga FC Communications**

THE HISTORY

Chattanooga: P:7 W:4 D:2 L:1 SOW:2 GF:18 GA:15 GD:+3

Inter Miami II: P:7 W:1 D:2 L:4 SOW:0 GF:15 GA:18 GD:-3

Saturday’s game will be the second of three meetings between these sides in 2026’s regular season.

Back in early May CFC were 2-1 winners over Miami in Fort Lauderdale after a pair of late penalties from Tate Robertson (80’) and Farid Sar-Sar (90+4’) earned an unlikely comeback win after Idoh Zeltzer-Zubida had put the home side ahead. They will meet again in Florida on July 31.

While something of a natural rivalry has developed between these sides, one borne of in-game and on-field moments rather than geography or something forced, Miami’s record against the men from Tennessee is actually quite poor. A 5-1 win in August 2025 while big, is their only victory, They’ve tied CFC twice, both in 2025, losing both penalty shootouts.

Inter-squad rivalries exist in the forms of Sar-Sar and striker Yuval Cohen, both alumni of the Inter Miami system and now with Chattanooga.

REPORT CARDS AND LINEUPS:

CHATTANOOGA

Last weekend, Chattanooga FC earned two points against Chicago Fire II in a 2-2 draw that was followed by a 4-1 shootout win at Finley Stadium. Late in the first-half, captain Alex McGrath volleyed off a fine pass from Daniel Mangarov to put them up 1-0. Chicago came back to notch two goals early in the second-half before Damien Barker John scored for CFC in his second-straight match to level in the 74th minute. Goalkeeper Eldin Jakupović duly made two saves in the resulting penalty shootout while Tate Robertson, Ameziane Sid Mohand, Yuval Cohen, and Mangarov scored each of their four spot-kicks to win 4-1, the club's third consecutive shootout win.

Predicted Starting XI (4-3-3): Eldin Jakupović; Anthony Sorenson, Farid Sar-Sar, Mattias Hanchard, Yves Tcheuyap; Isaiah Jones, Tate Robertson, Alex McGrath (C); Ameziane Sid Mohand, Damien Barker John, Alex Krehl

I think the above is Dixon’s preferred XI at present, all players being available. Jakupović and Farid Sar-Sar pick themselves, McGrath provides guile and leadership in the middle, Robertson’s conversion from right-back to deep-lying playmaker has been seamless, while Alex Krehl’s goalscoring makes him essential. Isaiah Jones and Krehl weren’t in the squad for the Chicago Fire game, but did seem to be training at Erlanger Park this week, so I assume they’ll be available. Sid Mohand and Robertson came off the bench against Chicago and helped change the game. I expect them to start. If he grabs another assist on Saturday, Robertson will become the club’s joint-All Time Primary Assist Maker, equalling the record of 24 set by club legend Juan Hernández.

While he hasn’t scored in CFC’s last two games, Krehl went on a five-game scoring run in May and June, giving him his current total of nine for the season. He’s ranked fourth in the league’s goalscorer charts as of the writing of this article and Miami offers the Eastern Conference’s worst defensive record. Therefore, Krehl is my Chattanooga player to watch as this is a great opportunity for him to add to his season tally.

INTER MIAMI II

**Photo credit - Inter Miami CF Communications**

Miami were narrow 1-0 losers last weekend when they were visitors to NKU Soccer Stadium and FC Cincinnati 2. Cheikhou Niang converted an in-swinging corner kick for Cincinnati in the second minute of three added in the first half that gave the hosts their win. Miami huffed and puffed and caused problems but ultimately came away with nothing - the story of their season.

Predicted Starting XI (5-3-2): Matias Marin; Theo Vorenkamp, Daniel Sumalla, Tyler Hall (C), Matteo De Paula, Sloan Morrison; Idoh Zeltzer-Zubida, Ian Urkidi, Alejandro Flores; Diego Rey, Jerremy Ortela

With seven goals on the season, Israeli attacker Idoh Zeltzer-Zubida is Miami’s clear main goalscoring threat. He and fellow forward Mateo Saja are the top scorers in club history with Saja on 17 and Zeltzer-Zubida on 16. Midfielder Preston Plambeck is another player Chattanooga will need to monitor. He has three assists and two goals of his own for five goal contributions so far.

But it is Zeltzer-Zubida who is the Miami player to watch at Erlanger Park. He leads the club on goals scored per 90 minutes (.75), shots per 90 (2.4), shots on target per 90 (1.3), and successful dribbles per 90 (2.5).

ANALYSIS AND PREDICTIONS

Regardless of Zeltzer-Zubida, Plambeck, and Saja - this has to be a Chattanooga win. They’re better, are playing better, are getting better results, are higher in the table, and are at home. Soccer is full of unpredictable variables, not least what playing on Erlanger Park’s surface might offer. But I’ll go with a CFC win, 2-0 and Krehl to score.