2025 Major League Soccer Season Preview
League Kicks Off with 15-Game Slate
The 2025 Major League Soccer season, marking the league’s 30th anniversary, commences this weekend with a full slate of 15 games. The action begins on Saturday and extends into Sunday.
Los Angeles FC Hosts Minnesota United on National Television
The lone MLS game to be featured on national television this weekend is the clash between Los Angeles FC and Minnesota United. The match kicks off at 4:45 p.m. ET on FOX and serves as the de facto season opener. LAFC boasts an unblemished record in season openers, with a 7-0-0 mark.
Defending Champions Galaxy Begin Title Defense
LAFC’s El Tráfico rival, the Los Angeles Galaxy, enter the season as the defending MLS Cup champions. They will open their campaign against expansion side San Diego FC on Sunday night in Carson, California. The Galaxy have made 15 playoff appearances in their 16 seasons and are always a contender.
Sounders Aim to Continue Success
The Seattle Sounders are perennial contenders and are expected to be among the favorites in the Western Conference alongside LAFC and the Galaxy. They start their season against Charlotte FC, who could be a dark horse in the Eastern Conference.
Messi and Inter Miami Seek MLS Glory
Lionel Messi and the 2024 Supporters Shield winners, Inter Miami CF, host New York City FC on Saturday. Messi will be looking to add an MLS Cup title to his impressive trophy collection, which includes 46 trophies for club and country. Inter Miami have a new coach this season, Messi’s former FC Barcelona teammate Javier Mascherano, who replaces Tata Martino.
Eastern Conference Contenders
Atlanta United, Columbus Crew, and FC Cincinnati are Inter Miami’s most likely threats in the Eastern Conference. All three teams have the potential to challenge for the MLS Cup.
Arena and Berhalter Take Over Struggling Teams
Two former U.S. national team coaches, Bruce Arena and Gregg Berhalter, are making their debuts with new teams. Arena will lead the San Jose Earthquakes, who haven’t won a playoff game in 12 years. Berhalter takes over Chicago Fire FC, who have missed the postseason for the past seven seasons.
San Diego FC Makes MLS Debut
Expansion side San Diego FC will play their inaugural game against the defending MLS Cup champions Los Angeles Galaxy. The two teams will be looking to establish a new Southern California rivalry.
Expansion History
In recent years, expansion sides haven’t had much success in their inaugural matches. Only one of the previous six newcomers won their first game (St. Louis City SC in 2023).
Balanced Schedule
San Diego FC’s addition brings the total number of MLS teams to 30, resulting in balanced, 15-team conferences and an intuitive schedule. Each team will play a 34-game regular season, with 17 home games and 17 on the road. They will face conference opponents twice and six different cross-conference opponents once.
MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
All Major League Soccer games will be available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Some select games are free to watch with an Apple ID. Comcast Xfinity and DirecTV customers can subscribe through their TV providers, while T-Mobile users will receive free access to MLS Season Pass.
Linear Television Coverage
FOX Sports will broadcast select games on linear television. This weekend, Los Angeles FC vs. Minnesota United will air on FOX.
Odds and Favorites
According to BetMGM, Inter Miami CF (+350) are the favorites to win the 2025 MLS Cup, followed by Los Angeles FC (+550), Los Angeles Galaxy (+700), Columbus Crew (+900), and FC Cincinnati (+900). FC Dallas (+8000) and Toronto FC (+8000) have the longest odds entering the season.
Conclusion
The 2025 MLS season promises to be an exciting one with plenty of contenders and storylines. With the addition of a new expansion team, the league continues to grow and expand its reach, offering fans more high-quality soccer action throughout the year.
