The 29th campaign of the Major League Soccer MLS is set to commence on Wednesday, February 21, and the level of excitement leading up to the first game is unprecedented. Inter Miami will engage in a match against Real Salt Lake at DRV PNK Stadium, serving as the kickoff for Lionel Messi’s inaugural complete season in the United States. Enthusiasts eagerly await the opportunity to witness the Argentinian superstar in action, making it a must-watch for every fan.
Luis Suarez joined Messi as the top names in football to play football in the United States for the 2024 campaign. Hugo Lloris, the former custodian for Tottenham, has joined the former Barcelona players in the Major League Soccer (MLS). There are matches you simply must not miss.
Following Inter Miami’s debut game, the main opening fixtures in Major League Soccer (MLS) are slated for February 24. Three more games are scheduled for the next day, and the Vancouver Whitecaps will kick off on March 2. Before playing in St. Louis on February 24, Real Salt Lake will only have two days off.
Watch out Players for MLS 2024
More elite players are choosing to join the MLS each year as it has grown in popularity as a destination for international transfers. After getting back together with Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets in Florida, Messi has shown to be a magnet for his old Barcelona teammates at Inter Miami.
In addition to Suarez, the following players in the MLS in 2024 are expected to be notable:
Luis Suarez: After making 53 appearances across all competitions for Brazilian team Gremio, the Uruguayan attacker signed with Inter Miami in January 2024. He had previously scored 26 goals and provided 17 assists.
Juan Camilo ‘Cucho’ Hernández: The Colombian striker is in his second full season in Major League Soccer. He has already tasted victory with the Columbus Crew and won the MLS Cup 2023 Most Valuable Player title.
Emil Forsberg: The Swedish midfielder, who joins the New York Red Bulls as a designated player, has 324 Bundesliga games under his belt with RB Leipzig. He has scored 71 goals and provided 68 assists.
Hugo Lloris: The seasoned French goalkeeper joins LAFC after 447 games played and 151 clean sheets for Tottenham Hotspur.
Pedro de la Vega: The 22-year-old midfielder from Argentina is the newest franchise player for the Seattle Sounders. He comes from the Argentine club Lanus, where he played youth for the Albiceleste and finished with 17 goals and 30 assists in 126 games.
Gabriel Pec: A 22-year-old Brazilian who played 178 games for Vasco da Gama, where he provided 26 goals and 14 assists, just joined LA Galaxy.
Facundo Torres: The Uruguayan is looking to build on his stellar showing from the previous campaign, when he was awarded a new deal by Orlando City for being their most valuable player.
Top 10 MLS matches to watch in 2024
Naturally, supporters have circled Messi’s matches against teams like the Galaxy, as well as matches the league suggests to its supporters, significant dates, and others.
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
The 2024 MLS Calendar’s Important Dates
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
Awards is the MLS
Players and teams are recognised for their season-long accomplishments at the end of play. The highest scorer in the competition receives the MLS Golden Boot, the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Award, and the MLS Cup—the most sought-after trophy for which only two clubs will contend.
Various teams and players have taken home these year-end individual awards and trophies during the past five years. Players from Latin America who have been crucial to their teams are among them. The Gabonese striker for LAFC, Denis Bouanga, scored 20 goals to win the Golden Boot the previous season.
Attendance at MLS
By building top-notch stadiums and training centres, investing over $9 billion, and emphasising the fan experience, Major League Soccer (MLS) and its clubs are able to maintain their upward trajectory. MLS attracted 10,900,804 spectators overall and 22,111 fans per match on average in 2023.
Journey towards the 2025 Club World Cup
Ten Major League Soccer clubs will begin their journey in February in an attempt to secure a spot in the largest club competition in the world, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which will take place in the United States. They must win the Concacaf Champions Cup 2024, an international competition involving 27 clubs and the finest teams in the Concacaf area, in order to do this.
Eight Major League Soccer (MLS) teams—FC Cincinnati, Houston Dynamo FC, Nashville SC, New England Revolution, Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Union, St. Louis CITY SC, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC—will participate in the first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup 2024. The first-round matchup’s winner progresses to the Round of 16, having competed in both home and away games throughout February.
The MLS Cup 2023 winners Columbus Crew and the inaugural Leagues Cup 2023 winners Inter Miami CF have advanced straight to the Round of 16, which is scheduled to start in early March.
How to watch MLS 2024 Live ?
Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass: You can stream every MLS game through Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass, which is an add-on to the regular Apple TV+ service. Additionally, select soccer games may be included in the basic Apple TV+ plan.
FOX and FS1: FOX and FS1 broadcast approximately one MLS game per week. These channels are accessible through popular streaming services such as YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, or fuboTV.
Local FOX Stations: If you have an antenna in a good reception area, you can watch MLS games broadcast on your local FOX stations for free. You can check the Federal Communications Commission TV reception maps to determine which stations are available in your area.
By these options, you can access MLS games through various streaming services or traditional broadcast channels, providing flexibility and convenience in watching your favorite soccer matches.
