The 30th MLS season starts on Saturday a few kilometers from the end of the 29th League campaign. THE The Galaxy won the MLS Cup A shade more than two months ago, but its Rival Lafc will raise the curtain on 2025 when they welcome Minnesota United on Saturday afternoon.
He marks the start of a season which will include many new impact signatures (the record for transfer costs out of the league has been broken twice), a new club (welcome, San Diego FC!), Some arrivals of The USMNT looking for a path to the top of Mauricio the pocket depth board (hello, Brandon Vázquez and Luca de la Torre) and a large shiny projector on Lionel Messi and everything that his inter Miami does along the way (at icy temperatures or otherwise).
A new season is an excuse for making our annual predictions on the right, so we interviewed AthleticsFootball screenwriters Paul Tenio, Pablo Maurer, Jeff Rueter and Felipe Cardenas for their insight on a number of subjects. Who will win everything? Who will be terrible? Who will surprise? Who deserves your attention?
We have covered everything below to take you the rest of the path to first kick the
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Predictions: winner of the MLS Cup, winner of the supporters shield (best record), recipient of the wooden spoon (worse record)
Adoro::
- MLS Cup – Inter Miami: Messi and Co. prioritizes the CONCACAF champions cut and the playoffs, and win one of these two trophies.
- Shield supporters – FC Cincinnati: Losing Lucho Acosta hurts, but the addition of Evander and Kévin Denkey should put an already strong team above this season.
- Wooden spoon – Houston Dynamo: Toronto looks rough, and it seems that it is a year of tear, but I really don’t like sales that Dynamo has made this offseason and the replacement value of the returning players. Houston will be in trouble if they do not add talent.
Cardenas::
- MLS Cup – Inter Miami: Messi does not do to have To win an MLS Cup title. His heritage as (no doubt) the best player of all time is already cemented. But I find it hard to believe that he will not win at least one while he plays in the United States
- Shield supporters – FC Cincinnati: Miami will be better than they were during their record season in 2024. They could repeat as champions of the supporters shield. I think Cincinnati is moving away with it, however (in a tight race).
- Wooden spoon – Nashville SC: It looks like Nashville oscillates slightly above non-all of MLS. They have no stars and you need these players in this league. The first full season of BJ Callaghan will be difficult that will reset the club’s strategy.
There should be a lot to make Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez celebrate this season in MLS. (Images Manual Velasquez / Getty)
Moorish::
- MLS Cup – Inter Miami: The ambition gives you a long way in MLS, and Miami, at this stage, is late. If they remain healthy, Messi & Co. will finally raise his first significant trophy (with Apologies to the league cup.)
- Shield supporters – FC Cincinnati: Acosta’s shock transfer made the headlines, but, in balance, this team is only improving. Very observable, highly competitive and this year, they will win the shield.
- Wooden spoon – San Diego FC: Some splashing signatures, yes, but also a whole waste of unanswered questions. MLS had some aberrant values, but at the end of the day, life is difficult as an expansion team. Do not hesitate to record it in the locker room, Mikey Varas. “They don’t believe in us” is a MLS tradition at this stage.
Ruyard::
- MLS CUP – SEATTLE SOUNDERS: The most complete MLS team is better built to compete on all fronts (well, in addition to Club World Cup). They tinkered with the unrivaled depth and MLS us among a list of privileged age players.
- Shield supporters – FC Cincinnati: Navigated in an expert way which could have been a critical Acosta sub -int and improved along the way. It helps not to need to worry about the club World Cup.
- Wooden spoon – Toronto FC: Lorenzo Insigne is already the worst signature of the history of the MLS given his inflated salary and his lack of impact, and I do not see room for a late rebound. A franchise without rudder who needs time to dig up the errors of Bill Manning and John Herdman – but the hiring of Robin Fraser was a step in the right direction.
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Who will be the most splashing summer signature?
Adoro: Antoine Griezmann at Lafc. This has been subjected to a while and I do not think that the LAFC keeps an open place for good.
Cardenas: I agree with Paul. Griezmann in MLS is inevitable. It is a passionate fan of the NFL (with a Podcast from the NFL in Spanish) who recently headed for the Super Bowl in New Orleans. He seems to be impatiently waiting for life in the United States, especially in Los Angeles as for Kevin de Bruyne, are you asking? The Belgian seems intended for Saudi Arabia.
Could Antoine Griezmann go to MLS this summer? (Florencia Tan Jun / Getty Images)
Moorish: Gio Reyna has … elsewhere than the Fire of Chicago. This can feel wacky, but Reyna just needs minutes. Dortmund’s asked price has probably decreased considerably in the past year, which has put it within reach of the MLS team. That Reyna would like to return to the United States is an entirely different story. Few would blame him.
Ruyard: If Norwich City fails to gain a promotion, Josh Sargent could be available for costs similar to this Atlanta paid Middlesbrough for Emmanuel Latte (more than $ 20 million). St. Louis City expressed his interest and play during the summer (if he remains in good health) could strengthen his case for the 2026 World Cup.
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Ruyard: Messi helps Miami to reach the conference final, where a nearby defeat provokes Miami an even more lucrative package which finally brings him back for one more year.
Moorish: Messi will make the double, winning the MVP of the League and also its gold boot. Not that the famous competitive Argentinian needs additional motivation, but His ownership in Miami – And the fact that it could be his last year by playing in the league – can simply give him the additional boost he needs. Take hot, I know.
Cardenas: Messi’s figures in 2025 will not be spectacular. He will slow down a little and Miami will carefully monitor his physical shape in the club World Cup. He will always have a season of MVP caliber, but he will not repeat himself as a winner of the price.
Adoro: I could see a scenario in which Messi announces an extension of a six -month contract which allows it to open the new stadium, takes it at the end of the 2026 World Cup … and that’s it.
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Moorish: The earthquakes of San Jose, winners of the 2024 wooden spoon, will do the after-season in 2025. Will never underestimate the power of the greatest trainer of American male football who fights for his heritage (the Adding Chisho Arango does not hurt either). The quakes will not set fire to the league, but they will do enough to do the playoffs.
Adoro: I am Pablo’s prediction. Never bet against Bruce Arena. I learned this lesson when he went to New England.
Luciano Acosta won his objectives and assists in Dallas for 2025 (Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
Ruyard: With Eric Quill on the touchline and Acosta pulling the strings, FC Dallas jumps in fifth row from the Western Conference in their most entertaining season since the apogee of Mauro Díaz and Fabián Castillo.
Cardenas: During the last season of Wilfried Nancy in MLS, the Columbus crew will miss the playoffs. The absence of Cucho Hernández will regress the attack on the crew and, in the summer, Nancy will travel abroad to start the next chapter of his coach career.
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Over / Under: 0.5 MLS Clubs leaves the group phase of the World Cup
(Inter Miami is in a group with Porto, Palmeiras and Al Ahly; Les Sounders de Seattle are grouped with Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid and Botafogo)
Ruyard: Under, but I’m sure the two clubs will appreciate the additional allowance money for their attempts.
Moorish: Below. MLS always wants to prove her “league of choice”, but he still has a long way to go. It will be fun to look anyway.
Adoro: Yeah, I’m also going to take the under this one.
Cardenas: Miami could scratch, but if the Sounders leave group B, well, the United States could win the 2026 World Cup. And we know that it does not happen. Below.
(Top Photo: Kevork Djanseze / Getty Images)