Major League Soccer has unveiled its highly anticipated 2026 schedule, headlined by Lionel Messi's Inter Miami opening their new stadium in April and accommodating a significant break for the FIFA World Cup.
Key Dates and Stadium Openings
The 2026 MLS regular season will commence on 21st February and conclude on 7th November, maintaining the traditional February-to-November format for the final time. This marks the last season before MLS transitions to a shortened 2027 campaign and eventually adopts a summer-to-spring calendar from 2027-28 to better align with European leagues.
All eyes will be on Inter Miami as they prepare to christen their new 25,000-seat Miami Freedom Park near Miami International Airport. The historic opening match is scheduled for 4th April against Austin FC, with kickoff at 7.30 p.m. This development follows Messi's recent three-year contract extension securing his presence at the new facility through 2028.
Inter Miami will begin their campaign with five consecutive away matches, allowing construction teams to complete final preparations at the stadium. The club hasn't confirmed whether any preseason matches will occur at the new venue before the official April opening.
World Cup Break and Broadcast Details
In a significant scheduling adjustment, MLS will pause for nearly two months during the 2026 World Cup. No matches will occur between 25th May and 16th July, ensuring players can participate in the global tournament without club conflicts.
The league will resume just before the World Cup concludes, with rivalry matches scheduled for 16th and 17th July, preceding the tournament's third-place match and final. Fans can catch a special double-header on Fox on 24th May featuring Inter Miami versus Philadelphia followed by LAFC against Seattle as part of the pre-break festivities.
Broadcasting arrangements see all 510 regular season matches available on Apple TV across more than 100 countries without blackouts or additional subscription requirements. Selected games will also air on Fox networks in the United States and TSN and RDS in Canada.
Season Highlights and Future Developments
The opening weekend on 21st and 22nd February features 15 matches, including St Louis City hosting Charlotte FC and FC Cincinnati facing Atlanta United under coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino. Messi's season debut occurs at the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum against LAFC.
Miami Freedom Park represents the first of three new MLS stadiums planned within three seasons. New York City FC's Etihad Park is scheduled to open in 2027, followed by Chicago Fire's downtown stadium in 2028.
The MLS All-Star Game lands in Charlotte on 29th July, preceded by the skills challenge on 28th July, though the opponent remains unconfirmed. The league will observe FIFA's November window before launching uninterrupted playoffs starting 18th November, though full postseason details await future announcement.
