Inter Miami’s visit to LAFC headlines the opening weekend.
MLS is back! For the final time under the current calendar, Major League Soccer kicks off a new season this weekend, lifting the curtain on the league's 31st season.Next time a new season starts, we’ll be talking about the short 14-game 2027 campaign, which will transition into the new schedule which will run from July through May, starting with the 2027–28 season.
are two teams with silverware dreams at the start of every season. For Atlanta, that would mean a massive bounce-back after a dismal 2025, while Cincinnati seeks a return to Eastern Conference dominance and more success in the MLS Cup playoffs. This match will feature plenty of talent, including two of the most expensive incoming transfers in the 2024–25 offseason, with each of Atlanta's Emmanuel Latte Lath and Cincinnati’s Kévin Denkey seeking more consistency in attacking production in 2026.on the opening weekend of the season, after the two sides completed one of the most expensive inter-league cash-for-player transfers in league history this offseason. Tai Baribo, who D.C. acquired for $4 million, scored 19 goals across all competitions for Philadelphia in their Supporters’ Shield-winning campaign last season and now suits up for the side from the capital. Meanwhile, his former side looks to move forward with structure and a hopeful young team under manager Bradley Carnell. It’s also the current team from the American capital against the city of the nation’s founders, kicking off the season in the 250th year of the United States.Michael Bradley led Red Bull New York II to the MLS Next Pro championship in 2025. | Red Bull New YorkThis one used to be a South American goalkeeping matchup of Carlos Coronel and Pedro Gallese, but things change quickly in MLS. This season, thematchup features a North American goalkeeper rivalry, with Canadian international Maxime Crépeau set for his Lions debut and former USMNT backstop Ethan Horvath taking the reins between the sticks for New York. At the same time, this marks the MLS managerial debut of former USMNT star Michael Bradley, who took over on the New York touchline from Sandro Schwarz this offseason. With the new goalkeepers and new coaching outlook, this match could have plenty of unexpected factors. At the end of the day, we’ll go with New York getting a nice new manager bump to start 2026.are back on the pitch for the first time since losing the 2025 MLS Cup to Inter Miami. They look very different, too, no longer having talismanic winger Ali Ahmed rushing down the wing, changing their tactical outlook even with Germany’s all-time trophies leader, Thomas Müller, likely starting in attacking midfield. Fresh off extending 2025 MLS Manager of the Year finalist Jesper Sørensen, they also have already gotten a chance to sharpen their competitive edge, having played to a scoreless Concacaf Champions Cup draw midweek against C.S. Cartaginés., this season starts with the goal of consistency. Can Diego Luna bring what he showed in 2025 and continue to develop? After spending 2025 on loan at FC Cincinnati, can Lukas Engel solidify the defense following his move from English Championship side Middlesbrough? There are plenty of questions to be answered.Facundo Torres will look to crack Uruguay's World Cup roster with impressive performances with Austin FC. | Courrtesy of Austin FCAustin has a much better outlook coming into this game. They’ll have all their talents, including Vázquez, Torres and Canadian international winger Jayden Nelson, while taking on a Minnesota side making their debut under manager Cameron Knowles and likely without star signing James Rodríguez, who has not yet received his clearance to work in the United States.enter the 2026 season with plenty of hope, having Djorde Mihailovic for his first full campaign in the Big Smoke, as well as the acquisition of USMNT striker Josh Sargent for a club-record fee from Norwich City FC. While Sargent won’t play in this one, expect to see the debut of Walker Zimmerman at the back after he joined from Nashville SC, as well as Brazilian left back Matheus Pereira, who was acquired from Portuguese side Santa Clara through the winter.won’t be a simple task, but even the attacking force that is Petar Musa might not be able to secure a home victory for the Texas side. After missing the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs, the Dynamo went out and signed Brazilian forward Guilherme from Santos in the Brazilian Serie A, as well as Mateusz Bogusz from Liga MX’s Cruz Azul, after he previously found immense MLS success with LAFC. While Chicago should have a strong outlook in the second season under manager Gregg Berhalter, with the introduction of South African defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi and former Minnesota United midfielder Robin Lod, they still lack that superstar firepower.Cristian Espinoza will make his MLS debut for Nashville SC this weekend. | MARK ZALESKI / THE TENNESSEAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Imagesgot the 2026 competitive schedule started with a 2–0 win over Canadian Premier League champions Atlético Ottawa in the Concacaf Champions Cup earlier this week and they looked pretty good doing it. Their second goal in that one, featuring a quick buildup play and transition, hinted at what could come this season, with the duo of Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge becoming a potent trio with the introduction of Cristian Espinoza, who led MLS in key passes in 2025.side making its debut under Marko Mitrović, who will be coaching his first fully professional men’s game with a team that didn’t add much after a disheartening 2025.The showcase game of the weekend, this will be the first time Son Heung-min faces off against Lionel Messi in MLS, taking center stage in a clash that also features superstars Denis Bouanga, Stephen Eustàquio, Germán Berterame, Rodrigo De Paul and more.managerial debut for Marc Dos Santos, there should be plenty to learn from this match. At the same time, it’s the second game of LAFC’s season after they showed well in a 6–1 trouncing win over Honduras side Real España in Concacaf Champions Cup action midweek.To start the first MLS season since 2011 without Darlington Nagbe, the schedule makers give us a clash of his two most prominent former clubs as the The Timbers have sorted out their goalkeeping situation and have fully committed to James Pantemis between the sticks, but will have to figure out their midfield outlook after losing David Ayala to Inter Miami. Meanwhile, the Crew could see the debut of former FC Barcelona star midfielder André Gomes, who could be a threat alongside Diego Rossi. It’s a fun matchup and Nagbe should be there too, given that the Crew named him as an individual development coach for the 2026 season on Friday.mesmerized with their success in their inaugural season, topping the Western Conference and getting starring play from relatively unknown players, including Anders Dreyer, who went on to win the 2025 MLS Newcomer of the Year award. Back for a second year under manager Mikey Varas, there’s plenty of hope they can have a repeat performance, even after parting ways with the divisive tenure of Hirving “Chucky” Lozano this offseason. While they still lack a pure striker, the addition of Lewis Morgan from Red Bull New York should allow for some more attacking flexibility and with that, they should be able to pick up all three points against aTimo Werner is the most signficant signing in the MLS history of the San Jose Earthquakes. | Courtesy of San Jose Earthquakeslook very different in their second season under manager Bruce Arena, but are potentially an improved team after adding former Bundesliga and Premier League striker Timo Werner as an offseason star acquisition. While it will take some adjusting to move on from Cristian Espinoza, Chicho Arango and Josef Martínez, the pathway forward is clear for the Earthquakes.side that only has 20 players—four of whom are goalkeepers—under an MLS contract for the start of the campaign.got their 2026 season started with an underwhelming 1–1 draw against Panama’s San Miguelito in midweek Concacaf Champions Cup action and will seek a quick bounce back against For both these teams, the key part of the story is who is not available to start the season, or likely for much of the year. Just like 2025, the Galaxy forge ahead without Riqui Puig, while their Eastern Conference foes won’t be able to turn to offensive juggernaut Alonso Martínez as he also recovers from a knee injury. With neither side offering much in the way of attacking firepower, fans could be in store for a relatively quiet Sunday showdown.Cristian Roldan hopes to start the 2026 season in strong form with eyes on the USMNT’s World Cup roster. | Joe Nicholson-Imagn ImagesLed by Crisitan Roldan’s efforts to crack the USMNT for the 2026 World Cup, expect intensity from the start, as well as the potential debuts of new signings Hassani Dotson, Nikola Petković and Ryan Sailor. For Seattle, winning is always the standard and expectation and against a less-than-settled Rapids side, they’ll hope to get a quick start on that for 2026 this weekend.Ben Steiner is an American-Canadian journalist who brings in-depth experience, having covered the North American national teams, MLS, CPL, NWSL, NSL and Liga MX for prominent outlets, including MLSsoccer.com, CBC Sports, and OneSoccer.
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