MLS returns this weekend, starting Saturday with an exciting lineup featuring LAFC and Inter Miami at the Coliseum in Los Angeles.
These teams exemplify what MLS is all about, boasting international superstars using league play in the U.S. to prepare for this summer’s World Cup. Lionel Messi guided his Miami squad to the league title last year, while Son Heung-Min joined in the summer and now aims to dethrone Messi and Miami after an impressive half-season.
Alongside this duo are numerous other standout players from both North America and abroad who, while perhaps not as well-known as the Argentine and South Korean stars, have either played for top-tier teams globally or are on their way to doing so after launching their careers in MLS.
– No more Rivalry Week? Here’s why MLS changed its 2026 calendar
– MLS jersey Power Rankings: Who’s the best dressed in 2026?
– Minnesota’s James deal is a low-risk marriage of convenience
Many teams not involved in Saturday’s prime matchup are eager to prove their rosters are as strong, if not stronger, than those favorites.
Will Messi and Miami fend off the competition to repeat their success? Can Son lead his team to glory? Or will another contender rise during a challenging campaign? Here’s what you may have missed this winter, along with key storylines shaping the 2026 season.
Can anyone stop Miami and Messi?
As Messi clinched the MLS Cup, marking the first domestic title in Miami’s brief history, he also bid adieu to longtime companions Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. The two, who were his teammates at Barcelona and joined him in MLS, announced it would be their final season. They concluded it on a high note, prompting Miami’s front office to strategize replacements and aim even higher.
Sergio Reguilón, with experience from Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid, was brought in as the Herons’ new left back. Concurrently, David Ayala was acquired from the Portland Timbers to compete for the midfield position beside world champion Rodrigo De Paul.
To strengthen the backline, where consistency has been a challenge, Miami signed Dayne St. Clair, the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, from Minnesota United, with plans to start him immediately. Micael, a former Houston Dynamo center back who spent the last season with Palmeiras in Brazil, has also returned to bolster Miami’s defense.
With a designated player spot available, Miami made a significant acquisition, bringing in Germán Berterame from Monterrey. The forward, who consistently scored in Liga MX with Rayados, will allow manager Javier Mascherano to utilize Luis Suárez as a super-sub and return Messi to his preferred No. 10 role instead of a false 9.
This remarkable rebuild positions Miami with one of the best rosters on paper heading into an MLS season in recent memory. The club also has motivation to secure additional trophies as they prepare to open the state-of-the-art Miami Freedom Park near the Miami Airport in early April.
Nevertheless, there’s a reason these matches unfold. Miami will face every opponent’s best efforts as it defends its crown, aspiring to win the Concacaf Champions Cup for the first time in club history and secure a place in the upcoming Club World Cup in 2029 after hosting in 2025.
Their Saturday rival, Son’s LAFC, poses a significant threat to Miami’s dominance. With a well-rested Son, the Black and Gold have also successfully fended off offers from Brazilian teams and reportedly from Miami itself for Gabon international Denis Bouanga. The prolific forward has netted 20 or more goals in each of the last three seasons for LAFC and has formed a strong partnership with Son despite initial concerns about compatibility.
Under new manager Marc dos Santos, a Montreal native, LAFC has also become a hub for Canadian internationals. The standout is midfielder Stephen Eustáquio, who joined the team on a short loan through to the World Cup but has an option for a full transfer. If he can replicate his national team form, LAFC will certainly want to secure the versatile 29-year-old to a more extended contract.
Center back Aaron Long’s highly anticipated return from an Achilles injury could occur in the first half of the year, as he has been registered on the club’s roster for the CCC.
The main question revolves around how Dos Santos will manage such a star-studded squad. While he has experience in MLS, he previously served as an assistant under Steve Cherundolo, who departed for personal reasons. LAFC chose Dos Santos over an unknown name, but expectations are high, and pressure will mount if the team struggles early on.
Big stars continue to shine even outside South Florida and Hollywood
The Vancouver Whitecaps are set for a full season with their summer signing, Thomas Müller, after reaching the finals of both the CCC and MLS last season but falling short. Most key players are returning, although attacking talents Ali Ahmed (to Norwich City) and Jayden Nelson (to Austin FC) have moved on. They’ll aim to finally break through after a strong 2025.
Familiar names keep choosing MLS as a destination. Most notably, James Rodríguez has joined Minnesota United, which is undergoing a transition after manager Eric Ramsay departed for West Bromwich Albion in the EFL Championship. The Colombian star aims to thrive in this set-piece-focused team as he prepares for the World Cup.
Timo Werner may not make his way back into the Germany squad, but he will play for the San Jose Earthquakes after a tumultuous final stint with RB Leipzig and a loan at Tottenham Hotspur. The Quakes lost winger Cristian Espinoza to Nashville in free agency and rely on Werner to help bolster their attack.
A familiar face has returned to MLS, as Austin FC made a significant investment to bring Facundo Torres back to the league. The Uruguayan winger previously moved from Orlando City to Palmeiras but signed a long-term deal this winter as a designated player with the Verde and Black.
Even teams with less recent success are enhancing their rosters with international players. D.C. United has signed Romanian forward Louis Munteanu, who is expected to energize D.C.’s attack and aim to help Romania advance through the World Cup playoffs this summer.
Intra-league market also continues to grow
It’s not just incoming international players making MLS more competitive. The relaxation of rules regarding cash for signing players from other clubs has led to more intra-league transfers than ever in MLS’ three-decade history. While many players may not be as renowned as James or Werner, they are individuals that new clubs hope will deliver consistent contributions.
D.C. United acquired Tai Baribo from the Philadelphia Union, who scored 18 goals last season—only a dozen less than D.C. United netted as a team.
The LA Galaxy sought to strengthen their attack after another injury to Riqui Puig by signing João Klauss from St. Louis City. After trading Ayala to Miami for cash, the Portland Timbers acquired Cole Bassett from the Colorado Rapids for replacement purposes. also, two U.S. youth internationals moved clubs, with Brooklyn Raines heading to the New England Revolution from Houston and Reed Baker-Whiting joining Nashville SC from Seattle Sounders.
This strategy allows teams to obtain players with proven MLS experience while freeing up others who may be marginalized at one club to find opportunities elsewhere.
World Cup, international duties will test managers in new ways
MLS will temporarily pause for most of the World Cup, releasing players for international duty in late May and resuming games the weekend before the tournament final in July. Several MLS stadiums will serve as venues or training sites for this prestigious tournament.
Numerous players will be participating, from Messi and De Paul with defending champions Argentina to a trio representing underdogs Haiti. MLS managers will aim to collaborate with these players to ensure they arrive in peak condition for the summer. They will also hope that regardless of the outcomes on the global stage, these players can quickly refocus for the season’s latter stretch and the subsequent Leagues Cup tournament.
also, managers must ensure that players remaining behind—likely the vast majority of their squads—stay sharp as the league resumes.
Whether it’s strategizing to dethrone one of the deepest teams in history, preparing players for championship pursuits, or trying to break into the contender ranks with a strong run of results, the upcoming season promises to be intriguing and demanding for managers and their rosters.
