Raise your hand if you realized that the 2026 MLS season is only a week away! The offseason has absolutely flown by, and this weekend will kick off the busiest and most important season in the history of the sport in North America. The 2026 season will consist of two halves, split by the FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada over the summer. The eyes of the world will be on this continent, giving MLS a rare chance to push into the cultural consciousness.
Ahead of a pivotal season, we’re looking at five teams who should be among the favorites to win MLS Cup at the end of the year.
1. Inter Miami
Key players: Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, Tadeo Allende, Germán Berterame, Dayne St. Clair, Micael
Miami was historically good last season. They scored 20 goals during the playoffs alone, the most-ever in an MLS postseason, and bagged 101 goals in total, an MLS record. Of course, Lionel Messi was at the center of it all, rightfully winning the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award. But his supporting cast was stellar, with the midseason addition of Rodrigo De Paul adding extra bite and Tadeo Allende going on a tear, scoring nine goals in the playoffs.
The scary part is that Miami got better over the winter. They added Dayne St. Clair, the reigning goalkeeper of the year, in free agency, giving them a rock-solid shot stopper at the back, something they’ve lacked for the last several years. The addition of defender Micael will also help solidify their defense, as well as ramping up their distribution from the back.
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