Messi kicks off MLS season in a crucial year for the World Cup | OneFootball

Lionel Messi begins a crucial season for Major League Soccer this weekend, as the rapidly growing American league seeks to capitalize on the huge increase in interest generated by the upcoming World Cup.

Messi — the undisputed star of the MLS — will lace up his boots for the fourth consecutive season with Inter Miami, facing Los Angeles FC, featuring South Korean star Son Heung-min, in the opening match this Saturday at the Memorial Coliseum, which has a capacity of 70,000 people.

It's an impactful start to the season, which will be divided into two parts by the 2026 World Cup, taking place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer.

World Cup host countries usually see an increase in attendance and interest in their national championships, and MLS officials are determined to keep Americans' eyes on the biggest sport on the planet long after the national teams return home.

Messi — the undisputed star of the MLS — will lace up his boots for the fourth consecutive time, and MLS officials are determined to keep Americans' eyes on the biggest sport on the planet even after the national teams return home.

“This is a crucial year for Major League Soccer,” said league commissioner Don Garber, describing the season as “a defining moment for our sport.”

This year's MLS season will have a seven-week break due to the World Cup, in June and July.

Five MLS stadiums will host World Cup games, while many others will be used as training centers and fan zones.

A larger number of MLS players are expected to participate in the World Cup, including Son — and possibly Messi, although the Argentine star has yet to confirm his participation in his sixth World Cup, a record.

The league plans to use the season split to its advantage to attract new fans.

An estimated investment between $15 and $30 million in marketing during the international tournament will encourage viewers to support their local teams and elevate the increasingly star-studded profile of the American league.

The MLS season returns for its second half on the rest days between the World Cup semifinals and final. An All-Star Game will follow shortly thereafter.

“The MLS will be at the center of the soccer universe during the biggest sporting event in the world, and this creates an extraordinary opportunity for our league, our clubs, and our players,” said Garber.

New stars

The decision to start the new MLS season with a game featuring the league's two biggest global stars, in a gigantic old Olympic stadium in the heart of Los Angeles, is no accident.

Garber predicts “the largest opening weekend crowd in league history“.

While the MLS has heavily relied on the charisma of Messi, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, in recent years, the arrival of Son in mid-2025 was transformative.

Signed by Los Angeles FC for $26.5 million — reportedly the largest transfer in MLS history — the arrival of the 33-year-old player brought with it the support of thousands of South Koreans living in the United States.

Other big names joining MLS teams this year include James Rodríguez from Minnesota United, who signed a six-month renewable contract in an attempt to regain good form before Colombia's World Cup campaign, after some tough seasons in the national championship.

Mexican-Argentine forward Germán Berterame joined Messi at Inter Miami, the current MLS champion and co-owned by David Beckham.

And Timo Werner, who transferred to the San Jose Earthquakes, becomes the latest German star to play in a league that already features Thomas Müller at Vancouver Whitecaps and Marco Reus at Los Angeles Galaxy.

‘Best leagues’

The MLS is planning another major change that it hopes will attract even more big names.

Starting in July 2027, the MLS will change its current spring-autumn calendar to a summer-spring system.

This change will align the MLS with major European leagues, such as the English Premier League and Spanish La Liga.

The expectation is that this will allow American clubs to buy and sell global talents during simultaneous transfer windows, especially during the summer holidays.

This would also avoid future conflicts with international matches and major tournaments.

Garber stated that the change “reflects exactly where we see the MLS heading, not only aligning with the best leagues in the world but also competing with them“.

Critics say it's a risky gamble, as the MLS will soon be directly competing for viewers with leagues like the NFL, NBA, and NHL, which have similar schedules.

*with content from AFP

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.