MLS is back, and the 2026 season is shaping up to be absolutely massive. It's been over two months since Lionel Messi and Inter Miami lifted the MLS Cup, and fans have been anxiously waiting through the long winter break.
This season marks the league's 30th anniversary, but there's a twist. The campaign will pause mid-summer to make way for the FIFA World Cup. That makes this year even more unique than usual.
All 30 teams have been busy during the offseason, making moves to improve their squads. Let's break down what each club has been doing and what they need to accomplish to call 2026 a success.
Eastern Conference Teams Making Big Moves
Atlanta United brought back the man who started it all. Tata Martino returns to the Five Stripes after they finished dead last in 2025. The bar for success couldn't be lower - literally anywhere but 29th place would be an improvement.
Martino added some interesting pieces, including 36-year-old Argentine goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos and veteran winger Fafà Picault. He's mixing experience with youth, bringing in young Argentine defenders Tomás Jacob and Elías Baez. If Atlanta can just make the playoffs, it'll be considered a massive turnaround.
Inter Miami isn't sitting on their laurels after winning the championship. They went out and signed German Berterame from Monterrey as their big offseason addition. The 27-year-old Mexican international scored 31 goals in Liga MX and gives Miami another dangerous weapon up front.
Miami's goal is crystal clear: win the Concacaf Champions Cup. Co-owner Jorge Mas said it explicitly - they need that continental trophy to qualify for the Club World Cup. With Messi, Suarez, and now Berterame, they've got the firepower to do it.
Charlotte FC made some quiet but smart moves. Their biggest signing is USMNT midfielder Luca De la Torre, who impressed with San Diego last year. Charlotte has made the playoffs twice in a row but keeps falling in the first round. This year needs to be different.
Cincinnati is looking to dethrone Miami after finishing second in the East last year. They lost Luca Orellano to Monterrey but brought in Bryan Ramirez from Ecuador. With Kévin Denkey (16 goals) and Evander (18 goals, 16 assists) returning, their attack should be even more dangerous if those two can build better chemistry.
Columbus is in transition after losing manager Wilfried Nancy to Celtic. New coach Henrik Rydström comes in from Sweden, where he won titles with Malmö. The big question is whether he can replicate Nancy's success. The Crew added some attacking talent but lost veteran midfielder Darlington Nagbe to retirement.
DC United are basically starting from scratch. They were terrible in 2025 with just five wins all season. New managing director Erkut Sogut (yes, Mesut Özil's agent) completely overhauled the roster. They brought in MLS veterans like goalkeeper Sean Johnson and forward Tai Baribo, plus spent a club-record $7 million on Romanian striker Louis Munteanu.
Western Conference Shakeups and Surprises
LAFC is dealing with a coaching change after Steve Cherundolo left. Assistant Marc Dos Santos takes over a talented squad featuring Son Heung-Min and Denis Bouanga. They added Canada midfielder Stephen Eustáquio on loan from Porto, but he's only here until June 30. The question is whether they'll make that move permanent after the World Cup.
The LA Galaxy are trying to bounce back from a disaster 2025 when they missed the playoffs as defending champions. Making matters worse, star midfielder Riqui Puig is out for another season with ACL complications. They revamped the defense with Jakob Glesnes and Justin Haak, and brought in striker João Klauss to provide a target man.
Minnesota United made the biggest splash by signing James Rodríguez. The 34-year-old Colombian star is on a short-term deal through the World Cup. It's a low-risk, high-reward move that could pay off big if he stays healthy. Minnesota lost Dayne St. Clair and Robin Lod in free agency but brought in Drake Callender as their new goalkeeper.
San Diego is trying to prove last year wasn't a fluke. They topped the Western Conference in their debut season, but Hirving "Chucky" Lozano is now out of the picture after a falling out with the club. Lewis Morgan was signed to help replace Lozano's production. If San Diego can stay competitive at the top of the West, they'll prove they're here to stay.
Real Salt Lake added some serious firepower up front. Morgan Guilavogui from Lens in France is their new DP striker. At 6-foot-2, he gives them a completely different attacking option. RSL only scored 38 goals last season - only Austin had fewer in the West. The additions of Guilavogui and playmaker Juan Manuel Sanabria should fix that problem.
Seattle's biggest move was actually an exit. Obed Vargas transferred to Atlético Madrid in one of the most significant moves in MLS history for a young player. They brought in Hassani Dotson to help fill that void. If Seattle can stay healthy - particularly Jordan Morris, who was limited to eight starts last year - they're championship contenders.
From a betting perspective, Inter Miami and LAFC look like the favorites entering the season. Miami's loaded roster and clear continental ambitions make them a solid pick for multiple trophies. Cincinnati and Seattle also offer value as teams with championship potential that might fly under the radar.
Teams like Atlanta and DC United are total wildcards. Both finished near the bottom last year but made major changes. If their new pieces click quickly, they could surprise people. On the flip side, defending champion Galaxy and perennial contender Portland both have serious questions to answer.
The 2026 MLS season promises drama, surprises, and plenty of storylines to follow. With 30 teams all making moves and chasing glory, it's going to be one wild ride.
