As the last remnants of confetti were cleared from Chase Stadium in early December, Inter Miami—still basking in MLS Cup joy and eager for a second trophy—immediately got back to work, reconfiguring their strategy and scouting for players who could accompany the iconic Lionel Messi on another successful journey.
In pursuit of an upgraded goalkeeper, the champions secured the services of Dayne St. Clair, one of Major League Soccer’s top free agents, from Minnesota.
To fill the gap left by the retirement of Jordi Alba at left back, Sergio Reguilón from Tottenham Hotspur joined the team.
And that’s not all—a new forward is incoming as Monterrey’s Germán Berterame from the Mexican national team is set to join.
Given these developments and others, the pink-clad team from Florida embark on the 2026 MLS season this weekend with aspirations of becoming the first team to win back-to-back championships in 14 years.
Miami also converted two loans from 2025 into permanent signings: Argentines Rodrigo De Paul and Tadeo Allende, who set a playoff record with nine goals in six matches. De Paul is expected to step up significantly following Sergio Busquets’ retirement.
(Illustration by Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports)
(Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports illustration)
Messi, a two-time consecutive MVP, continues to demonstrate exceptional performance with 57 goals and 45 assists over 62 appearances in both regular and playoff matches. However, with the upcoming World Cup year, it’s anticipated that he and Miami will manage his minutes early in the season, especially considering he was nursing a hamstring injury during the preseason.
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The club’s title defense kicks off with five away games before they officially open Freedom Park, a new 25,000-seat stadium near Miami International Airport, 30 miles south of their previous makeshift venue used for the last six seasons.
Here are 11 additional talking points as Major League Soccer embarks on its 31st season:
Will MLS continue during the World Cup?
Absolutely not. The summer belongs to the World Cup, and MLS will take a break for seven weeks starting May 25—17 days before the tournament begins—and will resume just a few days before the July 19 Cup final.
Five MLS stadiums—Vancouver, Toronto, Seattle, Atlanta, and New England—are reserved for tournament matches, and multiple MLS training facilities will host World Cup teams.
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Given the immense attention on the international soccer spectacle, MLS is fully aware that stepping aside is the best course of action.
To maintain fitness, teams will continue training and holding informal matches during the hiatus.
This unprecedented pause will result in the regular season’s latest conclusion (November 7) and extend the playoffs well into December. MLS is hoping that northern teams like Minnesota, Montreal, or others aren’t left to host.
Hasn’t MLS voted to change its schedule to avoid summer conflicts?
Yes, but the new schedule will not be implemented until the 2027-28 season, which aims to align more closely with European calendars (late summer to late spring). During the colder months, MLS has pledged to prioritize indoor venues and warm-weather sites right before and after a planned winter break.
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This season will be the last to fit within a calendar year. To bridge the gap between the end of this season and the later-starting 2027-28 campaign, MLS will hold a short sprint season next year, culminating in the MLS Cup.
Lionel Messi returns to MLS with Inter Miami aiming for another championship amid a World Cup year.
(MARCOS PIN via Getty Images)
Is MLS a top league in the world yet?
No, it still has progress to make. For now, let’s set aside global ambitions—the immediate goal is achieving consistent success right here in this region, known as CONCACAF. The annual competition in this region is the Champions Cup, which was secured by MLS teams D.C. United and the Los Angeles Galaxy in its earlier years.
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However, since 2001, the only MLS team to claim the trophy has been the Seattle Sounders, while clubs from Mexico’s Liga MX—a key benchmark for MLS—have dominated with 21 titles in that span. MLS has been making strides, with representatives reaching the finals in five of the last six years, yet in the most recent championship game, Cruz Azul triumphed over Vancouver with a decisive score of 5-0.
This year, potential MLS contenders include Miami, Vancouver, Seattle, L.A. Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, Philadelphia, San Diego, Cincinnati, and Nashville.
Could the improving Whitecaps actually fall out of Vancouver?
On the surface, it appears the Whitecaps have solidified their standing in British Columbia after years of mediocrity, having reached both the MLS Cup and Champions Cup finals last season, coupled with a resurgence at the box office, thanks in part to the summer arrival of German star Thomas Müller.
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That said, the organization claims it struggles to generate enough revenue playing at BC Place, which is government-owned. They recently agreed to a lease extension through 2026, while also reaching a non-binding agreement with the city to explore the possibility of building their own stadium.
Without major changes to the current setup or a new venue secured, the future of the Whitecaps—who have been an MLS member since 2011—remains uncertain.
NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese is positioning himself as a top candidate for USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino’s preferred goalkeeper for the 2026 World Cup.
(Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Will any MLS players make the U.S. World Cup roster?
Yes, many players are in contention. Over a dozen are vying for spots on Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-man squad, particularly New York City goalkeeper Matt Freese, Columbus left back Max Arfsten, and Charlotte center back Tim Ream.
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New England’s goalkeeper Matt Turner, Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson, Vancouver midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, Seattle midfielder Cristian Roldan, and Real Salt Lake forward Diego Luna have all made strong cases as well.
The Canadian squad is also expected to feature several MLS players.
Which U.S. players from abroad joined MLS teams?
While top U.S. national team players remain overseas, goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, a backup in the 2022 World Cup, has signed with Red Bull New York after a long tenure abroad. Joining him in Harrison, New Jersey, are two young returnees: right back Justin Che (from Brondby in Denmark) and forward Cade Cowell (on loan from Chivas Guadalajara), with 11 national team appearances under his belt.
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Notable others include St. Louis midfielder Dante Polvara (from Aberdeen in Scotland) and New England midfielder Griffin Yow (from Westerlo in Belgium).
Colombia’s James Rodriguez brings star power and vision to Minnesota United.
(Jordan Bank via Getty Images)
Besides Miami’s addition of Berterame, are any significant international arrivals on the horizon?
The most intriguing newcomer is Colombian star James Rodríguez, the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner, who leads the national team yet has had a circuitous club career. His current contract in Minnesota only runs through June, with an option for an additional six months.
Since departing Everton in 2021, the 34-year-old has played in Qatar, Greece, Brazil, Spain, and Mexico, amassing 17 goals and 26 assists across 102 matches. His immense popularity—close to 52 million Instagram followers—will boost his new club and the league, but it remains to be seen if he can make a substantial on-field impact before the World Cup.
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San Jose also made a splash by bringing in Timo Werner, the 29-year-old German forward whose career has been marred by injuries since struggling at Chelsea and Tottenham. He hasn’t scored a league goal in nearly two years.
Who departed MLS?
D.C. United parted ways with striker Christian Benteke, the 2024 Golden Boot winner who has transferred to a club in the United Arab Emirates.
Two promising young talents made moves to La Liga: right back Alex Freeman from Orlando to Villarreal for a reported figure of up to $7 million and midfielder Obed Vargas from Seattle to Atlético Madrid for $3.5 million. Additionally, Chicago sold winger Brian Gutiérrez to Chivas Guadalajara.
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Veteran goalkeepers Pedro Gallese (Orlando to Deportivo Cali), Carlos Coronel (Red Bull New York to São Paulo), and Maarten Paes (Dallas to Ajax) also moved, while Philadelphia sold defender Kai Wagner to Birmingham City.
What are the most significant intra-league moves?
Following St. Clair’s signing with Miami, fellow goalkeeper standout Sean Johnson (from Toronto) joined D.C. United.
Nashville enhanced its attack by signing free-agent midfielder Cristian Espinoza, who tallied 36 goals and 70 assists over seven seasons at San Jose. He will partner with striker Sam Surridge (who scored 24 goals last year) and attacker Hany Mukhtar (with 82 goals and 49 assists over six seasons).
However, Nashville lost two key figures, as center back Walker Zimmerman moved to Toronto in free agency and winger Jacob Shaffelburg was traded to LAFC, which boosted an already formidable lineup featuring Korean superstar Son Heung Min and Denis Bouanga (who has scored 64 goals in three seasons).
Philadelphia stirred things up by trading 16-goal scorer Tai Baribo to D.C. and moving MLS Best XI defender Jakob Glesnes to the Galaxy. The 2024 champions, looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season, strengthened their offensive ranks by acquiring João Klauss (who scored 10 goals) from St. Louis.
U.S. national team midfielder Luca de la Torre will be joining Charlotte after spending last season on loan in San Diego from Spain’s Celta de Vigo.
Who are the most interesting new coaches?
Gerardo “Tata” Martino makes his return to Atlanta, where he previously led the team to an MLS championship eight years ago, following his stints with the Mexican national team and Inter Miami.
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Michael Bradley, former standout of the U.S. national team, has been promoted by Red Bull New York after a brief tenure leading the club’s developmental team, while Marko Mitrovic, who directed the 2024 U.S. Olympic team, will take charge at New England.
Is it any simpler to watch MLS matches?
Yes, but access still requires Apple TV for most games. The notable change from the past three years is that all content will now be available on that platform without an additional subscription to MLS Season Pass.
If you’re an Apple TV user, you can watch over 500 matches, including the Leagues Cup, which features MLS and Liga MX teams. Additionally, 15 MLS games will be broadcast on Fox and 19 on FS1, with all 34 games available on Fox Deportes.
The season launches on Saturday with 13 matches, highlighted by LAFC facing Miami at the historic Coliseum, which is located across Exposition Park from LAFC’s 22,000-seat BMO Stadium.