everything you need to know ahead of the start of the new season
The new MLS season will kick off on Wednesday, February 21 in what will be its 29th campaign, and rarely has there been such anticipation ahead of the first game.
Inter Miami will take on Real Salt Lake at their home, the DRV PNK Stadium, marking the start of Lionel Messi’s first full season in the United States. And every fan will be desperate to catch a glimpse of the Argentinian superstar.
Fight in Al Nassr’s rout of Inter Miami without Ronaldo
For the 2024 campaign, the arrival of football’s biggest names to play soccer in the U.S has continued with Luis Suarez following Messi. Joining the former Barcelona stars in MLS is ex-Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who has signed with Los Angeles FC, and there are games you cannot afford to miss.
After Inter Miami’s opener, MLS have scheduled the next 11 opening matches to take place on February 24, with three more the following day and the Vancouver Whitecaps starting on March 2. Real Salt Lake will have just two days off before playing in St. Louis on February 24.
Players to follow in MLS 2024
MLS has become an attractive league in the international transfer market and every year, the door opens with more top players making the move. Messi has proved to be a magnet for his former Barca colleagues for Inter Miami after Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba reunited with him in Florida.
And along with Suarez, these will be the players to follow in MLS in 2024:
Luis Suarez: The Uruguayan forward joined Inter Miami in January 2024 after racking up 26 goals and 17 assists in 53 appearances in all competitions for Brazilian outfit Gremio.
Juan Camilo ‘Cucho’ Hernández: The Colombian striker is playing his second full MLS season, where he has already won the MLS Cup 2023 Most Valuable Player award and tasted success as champion with Columbus Crew.
Emil Forsberg: Signed as a Designated Player, New York Red Bulls announced the signing of the Swedish midfielder, who joins the club after scoring 71 goals and registering 68 assists in 324 games for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.
Hugo Lloris: After 447 games played and 151 clean sheets for Tottenham Hotspur, the veteran French goalkeeper arrives as a brand new addition to LAFC.
Pedro de la Vega: The 22-year-old Argentine midfielder is the new Seattle Sounders’ Franchise Player. He arrives from Argentinian club Lanus, where he registered 17 goals and 30 assists in 126 games, in addition to playing at youth level for the Albiceleste.
Gabriel Pec: Also 22, the Brazilian joined LA Galaxy and comes from Vasco da Gama, where he contributed 26 goals and 14 assists in 178 games.
Facundo Torres: The Uruguayan hopes to surpass his impressive form from last season, where he was handed a new contract after establishing himself as an undisputed player for Orlando City.
10 games to watch in the 2024 MLS season
Of course, Messi’s battles against clubs like the Galaxy are among those that fans have marked on the calendar, along with others that the league recommends to its followers, in addition to important dates.
Inter Miami vs Real Salt Lake
Date: Feb. 21 | 8:00 pm ET
Stadium: DRV PNK
Columbus Crew vs Atlanta United
Date: Feb. 24 | 2:00 pm ET
Stadium: Lower.com Field
LA Galaxy vs Inter Miami CF
Date: Feb. 25 | 8:30 pm ET
Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
Inter Miami vs Orlando City
Date: March 2 | 4:30 pm ET
Stadium: DRV PNK
San Jose Earthquakes vs LA Galaxy
Date: March 2 | 10:30 pm ET
Stadium: PayPal Park
Philadelphia Union vs Seattle Sounders
Date: March 9 | 7:30 pm ET
Stadium: Subaru Park
LAFC vs Sporting Kansas City
Date: March 9 | 10:30 pm ET
Stadium: BMO
New England Revolution vs Cincinnati
Date: March 17 | 2:00 pm ET
Stadium: Gillette
New York Red Bulls vs Inter Miami CF
Date: March 23 | 2:00 pm ET
Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Portland Timbers vs Philadelphia Union
Date: March 23 | 10:30 pm ET
Stadium: Providence Park
Important Dates in the 2024 MLS Calendar
February 21: 2024 MLS Season Kickoff
May 11 – 18: Rivalry Week
July 24: MLS All-Star Game 2024 at Lower.com Field – Columbus, Ohio.
July 26: Leagues Cup 2024 Kickoff
August 25: Leagues Cup 2024 Final
October 19: Decision Day (Last day of regular season)
December 7: MLS Cup 2024 presented by Audi
The MLS Awards
At the end of the season, players and clubs are awarded for their achievements during the season, starting with the tournament’s top scorer who wins the MLS Golden Boot, the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Award, and the most coveted trophy that only two clubs will compete for, the MLS Cup.
In the last five years, different clubs and players have won these individual awards and trophies at the end of the year. Among them, Latin American players who have been decisive for their clubs. Last season’s Golden Boot was won by LAFC’s Gabonese striker, Denis Bouanga, who scored 20 goals to secure the award.
MLS attendance
MLS and its clubs continue to grow by establishing world-class stadiums and training facilities, investing more than $9 billion and putting the fan experience at the center of the action. In 2023, MLS achieved average match attendance of 22,111 fans and total attendance of 10,900,804 fans.
On the road to the 2025 Club World Cup
Starting in February, 10 MLS clubs will embark on their quest for a berth in the world’s biggest club competition, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup to be held in the United States. To do so, they will have to be champions of the Concacaf Champions Cup 2024, a 27-club international tournament featuring the best in the Concacaf region.
Eight MLS clubs – FC Cincinnati, Houston Dynamo FC, Nashville SC, New England Revolution, Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Union, St. Louis CITY SC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC – will begin their Concacaf Champions Cup 2024 journey by playing in the first round. After playing in home and away matches during February, the winner of the aggregate score of each first-round matchup advances to the Round of 16.
Columbus Crew, as winners of MLS Cup 2023, and Inter Miami CF, as champions of the inaugural Leagues Cup 2023, qualified directly for the Round of 16, which will begin in early March.
