Major League Soccer’s (MLS) 2025 season opener is set for February 22, featuring a thrilling match-up with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami hosting New York City FC.
This highly anticipated game marks the start of MLS’s landmark 30th season and coincides with the addition of its 30th team, San Diego FC. San Diego will embark on its inaugural season by facing the defending MLS Cup champions, the LA Galaxy, on February 23.
The 2025 campaign will see each team playing 34 games, maintaining the league’s tradition of competition within conferences. Teams will face their conference opponents twice and engage in six interconference matches.
Interestingly, MLS will include a pause in the regular-season schedule between June 15 and June 24 to accommodate the FIFA Club World Cup and the Concacaf Gold Cup, with Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders representing the league.
In a departure from previous seasons, the 2025 schedule will not pause for the Leagues Cup, and these matches are scheduled for midweek from July 29 to August 31. The regular season will conclude on October 18 with Decision Day, setting the stage for the playoffs whose schedule will be disclosed later.
The MLS schedule highlights include a historic match on April 6 between the San Jose Earthquakes and D.C. United, celebrating the league’s inaugural game on the same date in 1996. The league will also feature the first two MLS Cup finalists, LA Galaxy and D.C. United, on July 12 at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Fans will witness a rematch of the MLS Cup between the Galaxy and New York Red Bulls on May 10, followed by an exciting Rivalry Week from May 14 to 18. Furthermore, Austin FC will host the 2025 MLS All-Star Game on July 23 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.
The 2025 MLS season promises exciting matchups and historic celebrations as the league enters its 30th year. With teams like Inter Miami and San Diego FC highlighted at the start and intriguing games scheduled throughout the year, fans have much to look forward to in the coming months.
Source: Espn
