MLS Matchweek 2: What to Expect | OneFootball

By any measure, the opening MLS weekend was a big success. The league’s decision to move match streaming from behind a paywall and available to any AppleTV+ subscriber proved a wise one. Reports indicate a 59% increase in viewership over 2025’s opening weekend.

Wow, not forcing fans to pay an additional $15 a month resulted in more viewers? Shocking.

By the Numbers

1 – Visiting teams who won their opening match. The sole home team to lose was Orlando City SC, who fell to New York Red Bulls 2-1.2 – Clutch goals scored. The first was Kelvin Yeboah for Minnesota to draw them level with Austin. The second was Portland’s Ariel Lassiter to seal their 3-2 win over Columbus Crew.3 – Number of red cards issued.5 – Largest margin of victory, as San Diego FC continued their tradition of winning openers with a 5-0 shellacking of CF Montréal.6 – Number of teams who scored three or more goals.16 – Age of NYRB17 – Number of fouls called in the first half of the Seattle Sounders (5) / Colorado Rapids (12) match.46 – The number of goals scored in the opening weekend across all fixtures. That’s 3.06 goals per game.61 – Total minutes that elapsed in the Sounders/Rapids first half. That’s 16 minutes of stoppage time.

Notable Absences

Sharp-eyed observers would have noticed some big names NOT playing on opening weekend.

None of Real Salt Lake’s $12.3M transfers appeared. Morgan Guilavogui, Stijn Spierings and Juan Manuel Sanabria could not resolve visa/work permit issues, and Lukas Engel was among three players (including Victor Olatunji and Diego Luna) who suffered injury in the team’s final training session prior to traveling to Vancouver. 

Timo Werner, the big name signing for San Jose Earthquakes, was also caught in the visa snafu. As coach Bruce Arena explained in an interview, he was still filing paperwork and meeting with officials in the U.S. Embassy in Germany, and unable to travel with enough time to train. There was no surprise that SKC’s $4M Norwegian Lasse Berg Johnsen wasn’t suited up as his transfer had only been confirmed three days prior to kickoff.

Inter’s Collapse

My colleague Gary Striker texted me Saturday evening with this message: “Messi absent!” My reply: “More than Messi was absent from that game…”

LAFC manhandled the defending champions in their 3-0 win, carving through the Herons lines with impunity. The Miami defense allowed LAFC a 3.26 xG, the highest of the week. The home side also won with only 31.5% possession, the lowest of any victorious side. 

One game does not a crisis make, but none of the above is a good look for Miami. Neither is the video that circulated post-match of a visibly agitated Messi trying to enter the referee’s dressing room, only to be restrained by Luis Suárez. When did HE become the epitome of restraint and reason?

Hooligan’s Fixtures to Watch

Chicago Fire vs. CF MontréalSaturday 2:30pm ET/11:30am PTIs CF Montréal as bad as that opening game made them look? We’ll find out as they travel to Chicago. Fire controlled possession against Houston but only six total shots wasn’t enough to test or beat the Dynamo defense.

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Atlanta UnitedSaturday 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT Quakes fans should be reserved despite their thumping 3-0 win over Kansas City. SKC was widely considered by most pundits to be the Wooden Spoon contender, and their performance is indicating those predictions could be true. So if the home side can get a second win over a shaky (but far more talented) Atlanta squad, then I’ll allow the supporters a chance to crow a little. But the real reason I’m picking this game is that Timo Werner should finally touch the grass at PayPal Park. Due to his midweek arrival in the Bay Area, this will likely be as a second-half substitute.

LA Galaxy vs. Charlotte FCSaturday 10:30pm ET/7:30pm PT Both teams drew last week. Charlotte will be looking to return to next week’s home opener with more than a single point. LA Galaxy have to be a little desperate right now, as their last four matches have resulted in draws. Although they advanced into the next round of the Concacaf Champions Cup over Panamanian club Sporting San Miguélito, having to do so because of the away goal rule is a bad look. Are we seeing a mini-flashback to the horrific start of last season?

Orlando City vs. Inter MiamiSunday 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PTIt’s a Florida derby, and both teams have a black eye from the previous weekend. Will Messi channel his anger and lead Miami to a big win?