MLS opens season with eyes on the World Cup

PORTLAND, Oregon (AP):

Major League Soccer (MLS) opens its 31st season this weekend, kicking off one of the most consequential two-year stretches in the league’s history.

There’s the impact of the World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer, then, in 2027, MLS will switch to a summer to spring schedule to align more closely with its international counterparts.

MLS will take a seven-week break for the World Cup from May 25 to July 16. Many of the league’s stars, including Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and Los Angeles FC’s (LAFC) Son Heung-min, are expected to play in the tournament.

MLS is hoping after that to see the so-called “World Cup Bump”, or a surge in interest that both men’s and women’s leagues often experience around football’s premier tournament.

“The World Cup will accelerate the growth of the sport across North America in ways we’ve never seen before. Major League Soccer is uniquely positioned at the centre of that moment, with all 13 host cities in the US and Canada home to MLS clubs,” Commissioner Don Garber said. “We expect to have a record number of players in the tournament, and our facilities and communities will play a role in delivering the tournament.”

The schedule shift next year aims to put MLS in a more competitive position in the transfer market, while also freeing up players for national team duty for major international tournaments during the summer.

Under the new calendar, league play will begin in mid- to late July 2027, with the final day of the regular season in April 2028. The playoffs and championship will take place in May.

The league would go on an extended break during the winter, with just a few games played in early December and none in January before resuming in early to mid-February.

“Our new format makes sense for our players, our fans, and our clubs, aligning us with the global transfer market, reducing national team conflicts, and strengthening the timing of our playoffs,” Garber said. “It reflects exactly where we see MLS going, not just aligning with the best leagues in the world but competing with them.”

Garber has described this next phase as MLS 3.0. Other issues currently being considered by MLS are changes to the playoff format and conference alignment.

The MLS season kicks off this weekend with a marquee match on Saturday night between Son’s LAFC and Messi’s Miami at the Los Angeles Coliseum before an anticipated crowd of some 70,000 fans.

MIAMI’S MIGHT

How did Inter Miami build on last year’s championship season in MLS? They got better, of course.

In addition to two-time league MVP Messi and his 29 goals in conference play, and fellow former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez, Miami added Mexican international Germán Berterame and Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.

The Herons also made the transfer of Rodrigo De Paul from Atlético Madrid permanent.

Berterame, who was born in Argentina but is a naturalised Mexican and plays for Mexico’s national team, comes from Liga MX’s Monterrey, where he has scored 68 goals in 153 appearances since 2022.

The additions should help make up for the departures of Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, who retired after Miami defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the MLS Cup title game last season.