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The beginning of the 2026 Major League Soccer season draws near as Lionel Messi and Inter Miami bid to defend their title.
Messi continues to bring his club side firsts, and 2026 will be about defending their first-ever league championship.
The Argentine legend led the Herons to the MLS Cup title in 2025, and now they hope to become the first team to win back-to-back crowns since the LA Galaxy in 2011 and 2012.
There is far more to look forward to in 2026 than just the greatest ever, however. The Philadelphia Union hope to prove their Supporters' Shield last season wasn't a fluke and redeem their postseason disappointment. Nashville SC and the Seattle Sounders hope to defend their various cup titles from last season, and six different clubs will take part in the CONCACAF Champions Cup against other sides from around the confederation.
The Sporting News brings you a round-up view at what the 2026 MLS season has in store.
When does MLS 2026 season start?
The 2026 MLS season will begin on Saturday, February 21, essentially the same as last season, just one day earlier than the 2025 campaign began.
Every team's first match and home opener
| Club | Season opener | Home opener |
| St. Louis City | Feb. 21 vs. Charlotte FC | — |
| Charlotte FC | Feb. 21 at St. Louis City | Mar. 7 vs. Austin FC |
| FC Cincinnati | Feb. 21 vs. Atlanta United | — |
| Atlanta United | Feb. 21 at FC Cincinnati | Mar. 7 vs. Real Salt Lake |
| Orlando City | Feb. 21 vs. NY Red Bulls | — |
| NY Red Bulls | Feb. 21 at Orlando City | Feb. 28 vs. New England |
| D.C. United | Feb. 21 vs. Philadelphia Union | — |
| Philadelphia Union | Feb. 21 at D.C. United | Mar. 1 vs. NYCFC |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | Feb. 21 vs. Real Salt Lake | — |
| Real Salt Lake | Feb. 21 at Vancouver Whitecaps | Feb. 28 vs. Seattle Sounders |
| Austin FC | Feb. 21 vs. Minnesota United | — |
| Minnesota United | Feb. 21 at Austin FC | Feb. 28 vs. FC Cincinnati |
| FC Dallas | Feb. 21 vs. Toronto FC | — |
| Toronto FC | Feb. 21 at FC Dallas | Mar. 14 vs. NY Red Bulls |
| Houston Dynamo | Feb. 21 vs. Chicago Fire | — |
| Chicago Fire | Feb. 21 at Houston Dynamo | Feb. 28 vs. Portland Timbers |
| Nashville SC | Feb. 21 vs. New England Rev. | — |
| New England Rev. | Feb. 21 at Nashville SC | Mar. 7 vs. Houston Dynamo |
| LAFC | Feb. 21 vs. Inter Miami | — |
| Inter Miami | Feb. 21 at LAFC | April 4 vs. Austin FC* |
| San Jose Earthquakes | Feb. 21 vs. Sporting KC | — |
| Sporting KC | Feb. 21 at San Jose Earthquakes | Feb. 28 vs. Columbus Crew |
| Portland Timbers | Feb. 21 vs. Columbus Crew | — |
| Columbus Crew | Feb. 21 at Portland Timbers | Mar. 7 vs. Chicago Fire |
| San Diego FC | Feb. 21 vs. CF Montreal | — |
| CF Montreal | Feb. 21 at San Diego FC | Apr. 11 vs. Philadelphia Union** |
| LA Galaxy | Feb. 22 vs. NYCFC | — |
| NYCFC | Feb. 22 at LA Galaxy | Mar. 7 vs. Orlando City |
| Seattle Sounders | Feb. 22 vs. Colorado Rapids | — |
| Colorado Rapids | Feb. 22 at Seattle Sounders | Feb. 28 vs. Portland Timbers |
* Inter Miami will play their first five matches of the 2026 MLS season on the road due to construction of their new stadium.
** CF Montreal will play their first six matches of the 2026 MLS season on the road due to cold weather and venue unavailability.
2026 MLS season schedule
The 2026 MLS season will begin on February 21 and run all the way through November 7.
While the season will begin at almost exactly the same time as last season, it will conclude three weeks later to account for a summer pause while the U.S. plays host to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Once the regular season is complete, the playoffs will take place over approximately six weeks.
2026 MLS schedule, key dates
| Event | Date |
| Opening Day | February 21 |
| World Cup pause | May 25-July 16 |
| Rivalry week | July 16-17 |
| All-Star Game | July 29 (Charlotte FC) |
| Decision Day | November 7 |
| MLS Playoffs begin | November 18 |
2026 MLS playoff schedule
The 2026 MLS playoffs will begin after the November international break, which takes place from November 9 to 17.
While no schedule for the playoffs has been released, they are likely to start shortly after the international break ends.
November 18 is a Wednesday, and midweek matches are not uncommon in recent postseason history, but it's more likely that the first postseason matches will begin that weekend to allow players to return from international duty and recover in time to take part.
2026 MLS rivalry matches
Here are the dates for some of the more prominent rivalry matches in Major League Soccer.
| Match | Nickname | Date | Home team |
| LA Galaxy vs. LAFC | "El Trafico" | Jul. 17 | LA Galaxy |
| Oct. 25 | LAFC | ||
| Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers | "Cascadia Cup" | Jul. 16 | Seattle Sounders |
| Aug. 1 | Portland Timbers | ||
| Inter Miami vs. Orlando City | "Florida derby" | Mar. 1 | Orlando City |
| May 2 | Inter Miami | ||
| NY Red Bulls vs. NYCFC | "Hudson River derby" | May 16 | NY Red Bulls |
| Aug. 18 | NYCFC | ||
| Sporting KC vs. St. Louis City | "Heartland derby" | Jul. 16 | St. Louis City |
| Aug. 19 | Sporting KC | ||
| CF Montreal vs. Toronto FC | "Canadian Classique" | Jul. 16 | CF Montreal |
| Oct. 10 | Toronto FC | ||
| Columbus Crew vs. FC Cincinnati | "Hell Is Real" | Jul. 25 | Columbus Crew |
| Oct. 18 | FC Cincinnati | ||
| FC Dallas vs. Houston Dynamo | "Texas derby" | Mar. 21 | FC Dallas |
| Oct. 17 | Houston Dynamo | ||
| Atlanta United vs. Charlotte FC | "I-85 derby" | Jul. 22 | Charlotte FC |
| Aug. 29 | Atlanta United |
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