LOS ANGELES, United States – MLS resumes Saturday with Lionel Messi headlining the opening match, a few months before the World Cup from which the league hopes to benefit.
The first day notably pits Inter Miami, reigning champion with its star Lionel Messi, against Los Angeles FC of Hugo Lloris and Son Heung-min, in the majestic Californian setting of the Memorial Coliseum, the 77,000-seat stadium which will host its third Olympic Games in two years.
The 2026 MLS season will be cut in two to make room for the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for June 11 to July 19 between the United States, Mexico and Canada.
League commissioner Don Garber sees 2026 as “a great year” for his circuit, which he hopes to benefit from the light brought by the prestigious international competition.
MLS will be on hiatus for seven weeks in June and July. Five stadiums are requisitioned by FIFA, and other venues as well as club facilities will serve as training camps for national teams.
A record number of MLS players are expected to participate in the World Cup, including South Korean LAFC star Son Heung-min and, perhaps, Lionel Messi.
At 38, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, crowned in 2022 in Qatar, maintains uncertainty about a 6th participation in the World Cup.
Messi triumphed last year in MLS by leading Miami to its first league title, while being top scorer and best player (MVP) in the competition.
“Extraordinary opportunity”
A double has not been achieved in MLS since 2011-2012 and the Los Angeles Galaxy of David Beckham, now co-owner of Inter Miami, where the Argentinian is engaged until 2028.
MLS hopes to take advantage of the momentum of the World Cup by planning its resumption between the semi-finals and the final, scheduled for July 19 in New Jersey, before organizing an All-Star Game afterwards.
“The World Cup will accelerate the growth of our sport in North America like never before. MLS benefits from a unique position at the heart of the event,” rejoices Garber, who sees it as “an extraordinary opportunity.”
The league will hope to start strong with its opening weekend pitting its two current biggest names, Messi and Son, against each other.
Other football personalities have joined MLS recently: former Real Madrid James Rodriguez signed with Minnesota, in order to find playing time before leading Colombia to the World Cup.
The Mexican international striker of Argentine origin German Berterame joined Messi in Miami, and the German Timo Werner signed with San José, a few months after the arrival of his compatriot Thomas Müller in Vancouver, defeated in the final in December by Miami.
MLS is also approaching a major organizational change: in the summer of 2027 it will adopt the calendar used by the major European championships, from summer to spring, after a mini-season (14 matches then the series) played at the start of 2027.
The league will finally be able to benefit from the same transfer windows as in Europe, and thus hopes to recruit more elite players. This will also avoid duplication with major international competitions.
MLS will, however, find itself in even more direct competition with the sporting behemoths in the United States, the NFL, the NBA, the MLB and the NHL.
