🔮 Major League Soccer's Opening Weekend Preview | OneFootball

Welcome back!

We're less than 24 hours away from the 30th season Major League Soccer so let's take a look at some of the biggest narratives on offer on opening weekend.

Fixture of the weekend

All eyes are on the Supporters Shield winners, and Lionel Messi carries the pressure to get the Herons off to a strong start. Attention also lies on the shoulders of new coach Javier Mascherano. His pre-season results featured mixed reviews when facing MLS sides (2-2 against Orlando and 1-0 over Sporting KC), so now it's time to see exactly how confident he is at the helm.

Inter Miami ended last season's regular campaign on an 11-match unbeaten run, a run which they must keep going to a disastrous start to 2025. While they arrive somewhat tired, it's an opportunity for New York City FC to strike. Unfortunately, history is against them, with NYCFC losing five season openers in a row.

The Cityzens have had some rest after six pre-season fixtures under new head coach Pascal Jansen. They lost just one of those clashes all of which were against MLS sides. The downside, however, is NYCFC have Thiago Martins, Tayvon Gray and others sidelined through injury while playmaker Santiago Rodríguez is rumoured to join Brazil’s Botafogo.

And given it's opening weekend, we'll add these honourable mentions to our list: Atlanta United vs CF Montreal, Portland vs Vancouver and LA Galaxy vs San Diego FC.

Player to watch

After joining FC Cincinnati from the Portland Timbers, Evander will wear blue and orange this MLS season, and it looks like he has something to say.

Only four days after completing his transfer, the 26-year-old thumped home a volley on his club debut against F.C. Motagua and assisted another, showing he has the mentality and technical abilities to make Cincinnati even more threatening.

As an MVP hopeful, he's looking to get off to 2025 as strong as possible against New York Red Bulls. He's already shown MLS what he can do on the pitch, but with talents like new signing Kévin Denkey and Luca Orellano around him, he's automatically levelled up.

Two questions ahead of the matchday

📸: © Bailey Holiver-Imagn Images

What will San Diego FC bring to the table?

San Diego FC enters the mix and the club's inaugural game is a doozy against MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy. Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano and Luca de la Torre will carry the pressure, but we still have yet to understand how this squad will shape up. Making a big impression in game one is a must but unfortunately for San Diego, only one of six expansion teams won their MLS debut.

Who are LA Galaxy without Riqui Puig?

The number one thing on the MLS Cup winners' to-do list is quickly adjusting without lynchpin Riqui Puig. The 25-year-old is expected to recover from tearing his ACL around August, meaning he'll still miss a significant chunk of the season after producing 13 goals and 15 assists in 29 games last season. How they fill that gap and with who needs to be determined immediately from Matchday One.

Feature image credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images