Exactly 10 weeks after last season’s title game in Fort Lauderdale, Major League Soccer kicked off its 2026 campaign with a frenetic opening weekend across the continent. Matchday 1 delivered 46 goals and marquee moments, highlighted by LAFC’s 3-0 victory over defending champions Inter Miami in front of 75,673 fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Young talent and tactical resets also stole headlines: Red Bull New York’s historically young starting XI impressed, while a number of established and emerging MLS players pushed their World Cup cases. This roundup separates verified facts from early-season noise and flags what to monitor next.
Key takeaways
- League-wide scoring surged: 46 goals across opening weekend, an average of 3.07 goals per match, slightly above the 2025 season average of 3.0 per game.
- LAFC 3, Inter Miami 0 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum drew 75,673 spectators, the second-largest single-game attendance in MLS history.
- RBNY generated an estimated 4.5 xG in a 2-1 win at Orlando City while fielding MLS’s first-ever starting XI to include three players aged 17 or younger.
- D.C. United signed Tai Baribo in a reported $4 million-plus move and beat Philadelphia 1-0 on opening day, marking D.C.’s first win over Philly since 2021.
- Cincinnati’s Miles Robinson was a standout in a 2-0 win over Atlanta; FC Cincinnati lost Evander to a hamstring injury just 13 minutes into the match.
- San Diego FC thumped CF Montréal 5-0, while Nashville SC routed New England 4-1 and Sam Surridge opened the season with a two-goal start to the Golden Boot race.
- Discipline and durability questions emerged: Tomás Avilés received a red card in his Montréal debut (his fifth in 64 MLS regular-season appearances), and Jordan Morris suffered an early injury for Seattle.
Background
MLS opening weekends have become cultural moments as much as sporting events, offering an early signal of tactical trends, roster construction and fitness across a packed calendar. The 2026 kickoff arrived with additional heat because the FIFA World Cup is scheduled for this summer, and many MLS players will use domestic form to press their national-team cases. Meanwhile, recent years have seen both rising parity and concentrated star power — a dynamic that produced last season’s championship and sets the stage for this campaign.
Clubs also arrive at week one with different objectives: while some aim to defend trophies, others are rebuilding around youth or new leadership. Notably, LAFC’s roster decisions and tactical approach continue to position them as title contenders, whereas teams such as New York Red Bulls signal a deliberate pivot to youth development under a new coach. These competing plans help explain the uneven results and flashes of brilliance across Matchday 1.
Main event
The headline match in Los Angeles was emphatic. LAFC beat Inter Miami 3-0 at the Coliseum, combining lethal transition play with disciplined defending. Despite having only about 34.5% of possession, LAFC generated six big chances to Miami’s one and protected their penalty area effectively on the evening. The attendance of 75,673 set an opening-day record for the club and registered as the league’s second-largest gate, underlining the fixture’s global pull.
Marc Dos Santos singled out his team’s defensive compactness and collective willingness to “suffer together,” noting crisp positioning and timely challenges inside the box as decisive elements. Lionel Messi — arguably not at his sharpest in the contest — still commanded attention, but Miami’s lack of familiar midfield partners and defensive cohesion made it difficult for them to impose their usual tempo. LAFC’s fluid counters, led by Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga, did most of the damage.
Elsewhere, Michael Bradley’s Red Bulls adopted an aggressive, energetic approach in Florida. RBNY produced roughly 4.5 xG in a 2-1 win over Orlando while starting an unprecedented trio of 17-or-younger players. Julian Hall and Adri Mehmeti stood out in the first half, with Cade Cowell contributing a goal-creating assist and multiple successful dribbles. Bradley praised the youngsters’ composure while admitting that inefficient finishing made the match tighter than it needed to be.
In a striking transfer subplot, Tai Baribo — who helped Philadelphia win the 2025 Supporters’ Shield — moved to D.C. United in a deal reported at more than $4 million. Baribo scored the only goal in D.C.’s 1-0 victory over his former club and celebrated against the team he left, a predictable emotional moment after a winter of contract disagreement and relocation. D.C. held on despite a straight red card to newcomer Ezekiel Alladoh after the hour mark.
Other notable match narratives included FC Cincinnati’s defensive masterclass by Miles Robinson in a 2-0 win over Atlanta (despite Evander’s early hamstring injury), Jack McGlynn’s creative influence in Houston’s 2-1 comeback over Chicago, Petar Musa’s brace and late winner for FC Dallas in a 3-2 win at Toronto, and Marcel Hartel’s opener as St. Louis drew 1-1 with Charlotte in coach Yoann Damet’s debut. Portland edged Columbus 3-2 in a chaotic game defined by turnovers, San Diego routed Montréal 5-0, Nashville demolished New England 4-1, and Seattle closed Matchday 1 with a 2-0 victory over Colorado amid injury interruptions.
Analysis & implications
LAFC’s result underlines the viability of a low-possession, high-efficiency game plan when personnel execute transitions sharply. Son and Bouanga remain elite counter threats, and LAFC’s defensive organization limited Inter Miami’s typical patterns. Miami’s adjustment to life without Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba — both influential in controlling tempo and cover — is a genuine concern for a team attempting to defend its title.
Red Bull New York’s youth project is more than a public-relations angle; starting three players aged 17 or younger in an MLS opening match signals a structural commitment to academy integration. If the young players sustain that level of performance, RBNY could be competitive while developing assets for the long term. That approach carries short-term finishing risk, but high xG generation suggests the underlying process is sound.
Tai Baribo’s move and immediate impact for D.C. United highlights how single transfer windows can reshape eastern-conference dynamics. For Philadelphia, losing a forward who contributed in 2025 will require tactical and personnel rebalancing. D.C.’s grit in the match — and its ability to hold a lead with ten men late — provides an early proof point for René Weiler’s rebuild, though consistency across March’s tougher road tests will be more revealing.
On the international front, several MLS players used Matchday 1 to stake claims for 2026 World Cup consideration. Miles Robinson’s defensive display, Jack McGlynn’s creative pass that unlocked Houston’s attack, and Petar Musa’s finishing all create momentum with national-team staffs watching. Conversely, injuries (Evander, Jordan Morris) and disciplinary issues (Tomás Avilés’ red card) complicate selection conversations and squad planning for clubs balancing domestic and continental competitions.
| Metric | Matchday 1 | 2025 Average |
|---|---|---|
| Total goals | 46 | — |
| Goals per game | 3.07 | 3.00 |
| Largest reported attendance (single game) | 75,673 (LAFC vs Miami) | — |
Those figures give context to the weekend: scoring ticked up slightly, and the LAFC–Miami crowd reinforced the commercial and sporting value of marquee matchups. Early xG extremes (RBNY vs Orlando) show why results can understate performance quality; teams creating clear high-quality chances may not convert but are often playing the right way.
Reactions & quotes
Coaches and players offered concise assessments after the matches, reflecting both satisfaction and caution.
“The way we defended the box was excellent — we followed runners and limited their one-twos inside the 18.”
Marc Dos Santos, LAFC head coach (postmatch)
Dos Santos framed the victory as a collective defensive effort that neutralized Miami’s usual potency in the final third.
“I was really proud of the way they played, really proud of the way they competed.”
Michael Bradley, New York Red Bulls head coach
Bradley highlighted his young starters’ composure while acknowledging that finishing will be a focus as the season progresses.
“He played at a very, very high level tonight… you have to anticipate and time your steps against attackers like Latte Lath.”
Pat Noonan, FC Cincinnati head coach
Noonan praised Miles Robinson’s anticipation and timing after Cincy kept a clean sheet against Atlanta.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the reported transfer fee for Tai Baribo exceeds $4 million remains partially undisclosed; publicly confirmed figures vary by source.
- Speculation that Lionel Messi will seek immediate tactical revenge in future meetings is opinion rather than a verifiable fact.
- FC Cincinnati’s expected matchup with Tigres UANL in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 is likely but subject to the tournament draw and team qualification outcomes.
Bottom line
Matchday 1 offered a mix of affirmation and surprise: LAFC reinforced their status among early title favorites with a dominant, efficient performance, while RBNY’s youth movement provided an early-season storyline that could reshape expectations for the franchise. Individual displays — both positive (Miles Robinson, Petar Musa) and concerning (injuries, red cards) — will influence team plans as weeks progress.
As the calendar moves toward March and the World Cup summer, managers will balance form, fitness and roster experiments. Early indicators from this opening weekend are valuable but not definitive; sustained trends will emerge only after teams navigate tougher March schedules and international call-ups. For now, the 2026 MLS season has begun with entertainment, tactical variety and fresh questions to follow.