- San Diego FC, the league’s 30th team, plays its inaugural game against the defending MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy.
- Two former USMNT coaches, Bruce Arena and Gregg Berhalter, make their debuts with new teams, the San Jose Earthquakes and Chicago Fire, respectively.
- Inter Miami enters MLS season as betting favorite to win 2025 championship.
The 2025 Major League Soccer season — the 30th in league history — kicks off with a full, 15-game slate starting Saturday and continuing into Sunday.
On Saturday, Los Angeles FC host Minnesota United in the only MLS game this weekend that will be featured on national television (4:45 p.m. ET on FOX). It is also the de facto 2025 MLS season opener as a stand-alone game before the evening’s action kicks off later Saturday. LAFC has never lost or tied a season opener (7-0-0).
LAFC’s El Tráfico rival, the Los Angeles Galaxy enter the season as defending MLS Cup champions and begin their campaign against expansion side San Diego FC on Sunday night in Carson, California. With 15 playoff appearances in their 16 seasons, the Seattle Sounders are an annual contender. The Sounders — expected to be among the top contenders in the Western Conference alongside the Galaxy and LAFC — kick off their season against a possible dark horse in the Eastern Conference, Charlotte FC.
Lionel Messi and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield winners, Inter Miami CF host New York City FC on Saturday. Messi and Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami have a new coach, Messi’s former FC Barcelona teammate Javier Mascherano, who replaces Tata Martino and is the fifth coach in the club’s six-season existence.
Messi has won 46 trophies for club and country, but has yet to win MLS Cup. Will 2025 be the year he leads Inter Miami to MLS Cup glory? The road to the league championship will be difficult, as there are a number of worthy contenders. Atlanta United, Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati enter 2025 as the mostly likely threats for Inter Miami in the Eastern Conference.
Elsewhere, two former U.S. national team coaches — Bruce Arena (San Jose Earthquakes) and Gregg Berhalter (Chicago Fire FC) — debut with new teams. Both will be tasked with turning around clubs with lengthy playoff droughts (no playoff wins in 12 years for San Jose; Chicago has missed the postseason the last seven seasons).
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MLS Matchday 1: What are this weekend’s games?
(All games available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.)
Saturday
- Los Angeles FC vs. Minnesota United FC, 4:45 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Atlanta United vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Inter Miami CF vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
- FC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
- D.C. United vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Orlando City SC vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Austin FC vs. Sporting Kansas City, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Houston Dynamo FC vs. FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Nashville SC vs. New England Revolution, 8:30 p.m. ET
- St. Louis City SC vs. Colorado Rapids, 8:30 p.m. ET
- San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake, 10:30 p.m. ET
- Seattle Sounders FC vs. Charlotte FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
Sunday
- Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 4 p.m. ET
- LA Galaxy vs. San Diego FC, 7 p.m. ET
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MLS game of the week: San Diego FC at LA Galaxy
- Date and time: Sunday at 7 p.m. ET
- TV/streaming info: MLS Season Pass
We’ve been waiting all day for ‘Sunday Night Soccer’!
Well, who doesn’t like to see the inaugural game of a brand-new team? San Diego FC makes its debut against the defending MLS Cup champion Los Angeles Galaxy. Perhaps this will be the start of a spirited Southern California rivalry.
While dynamic midfielder Riqui Puig will miss significant playing time after suffering a knee injury in last season’s Western Conference final and star Joseph Paintsil is out for a few weeks, the Galaxy still boast goal-scoring threat Gabriel Pec and newcomer Christian Ramírez, as well as former German national teamer and Borussia Dortmund legend Marco Reus.
U.S. national teamer Luca de la Torre and Mexican international Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano were brought in to give San Diego FC some instant star power. The two also will be counted on to give the expansion side a fighting chance in its infancy.
Expansion sides have not fared well recently in inaugural games … only one of the previous six newcomers won its first game (St. Louis City SC in 2023).
2025 MLS schedule format
Each team plays a 34-game regular season, with 17 home games and 17 on the road. Teams play conference opponents twice, once at home and once on the road. Teams also will play one match against six different cross-conference opponents.
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Where can you watch MLS games?
All Major League Soccer games air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Some select games are available for free on Apple TV and viewers only need an Apple ID to watch.
FOX Sports will air select games on linear television. This week, Los Angeles FC vs. Minnesota United airs on FOX.
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MLS betting odds: Who is favorite to win 2025 championship?
According to BetMGM, Inter Miami CF (+350) is the current favorite to win the 2025 league championship, followed by Los Angeles FC (+550), Los Angeles Galaxy (+700), Columbus Crew (+900) and FC Cincinnati (+900).
FC Dallas (+8000) and Toronto FC (+8000) face the longest title odds entering the 2025 season.
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MLS 2025 season key dates
- Feb. 22-23: MLS is Back weekend
- May 14-18: Rivalry week
- June 14-July 13: Club World Cup
- July 23: MLS All-Star Game, in Austin, Texas
- July 29-Aug. 31: Leagues Cup
- Oct. 18: Final day of regular season (MLS Decision Day)
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