Last season's champions, the LA Galaxy, will not be defending their crown after struggling through much of the 2025 regular season. Only a win on the final day of the regular season saw them avoid becoming the first team in MLS history to win the title and then finish last in their conference the following year.

Replacing knockout play with a format similar to split tables in other leagues would give cold-weather markets a few more home games in warm-weather months.

With more than 30,000 players, 2025 MLS NEXT Fest kicks off on December 4 and will mark the largest youth soccer scouting and talent identification event in the United States. MLS NEXT Fest is the premier winter showcase event in North American youth soccer and returns to Mesa,

A former teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr addressed the comparison between the Saudi Pro League and Lionel Messi's MLS, blasting the North American competition.

Real Salt Lake fans will need to bundle up for a major MLS calendar change starting in 2027. The big picture: The season, which now runs February to October with playoffs until December, will instead start in July,