A New Chapter for MLS After the World Cup
The 2026 World Cup has left an indelible imprint on soccer in North America, and Major League Soccer is capitalizing on that momentum by restarting its regular season with a compact slate of six rivalry fixtures. These matches are more than just points on the board; they are a showcase for the league’s growing brand and a test of how newly signed internationals adapt to the American stage.
One of the most anticipated debuts features Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, who is slated to make his Chicago Fire FC bow against Thomas Müller’s Vancouver Whitecaps. Both players arrived in the offseason with impressive résumés, and early predictions suggest a clash that could redefine the Fire’s attacking dynamics while testing Müller’s ability to sustain Vancouver’s early-season leadership.
The ripple effects extend beyond the headline act. CF Montréal has already navigated two World Cup-era matches and advanced to the Canadian Championship semifinals, while Toronto FC will be without Canadian midfielder Jonathan Osorio, who is suspended after accumulating yellow cards. The Canadian Classique, once a top-of-the-table showdown, now carries a different weight as the teams jostle for playoff positioning.
In the Western Conference, St. Louis CITY SC and Sporting Kansas City are both wrestling with inconsistency. Dejan Joveljić has already contributed six goals for Kansas City, while Marcel Hartel is shouldering much of the creative load for St. Louis, boasting three goals and two assists. Their performances will be pivotal as the conference seeks a clear leader.
The Cascadia Cup rivalry reignites when the Seattle Sounders host the Portland Timbers. Seattle’s Cristian Roldan returns from World Cup duty with the United States, and the Sounders sit sixth in the West, eight points behind Vancouver. Portland, despite sitting 13th, remains just a point away from a playoff spot, promising a tightly contested affair.
Further east, Nashville SC occupies the top spot in the Supporters’ Shield race, with Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar expected to re-enter the lineup after international commitments. Atlanta United will welcome back Miguel Almirón, whose World Cup experience with Paraguay could provide a spark. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles derby between Galaxy and LAFC continues to capture imaginations, especially as LAFC’s Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga combine for a potent attacking duo.
The league also sees strategic moves off the pitch, such as the Galaxy’s recent decision to open a Designated Player slot after selling Gabriel Pec to Brazil’s Cruzeiro, a transaction that underscores the growing financial flows in MLS. As the season unfolds, each of these storylines will intertwine, shaping a narrative that blends global star power with regional pride.