On Thursday, Major League Soccer released the schedule for the 2025 season. Lionel Messi will kick off with Inter Miami, while Marco Reus will start the title defense mission with Los Angeles Galaxy against the new San Diego team.
With the kick-off weekend officially billed as “MLS is Back Weekend”, Major League Soccer will start the new season on February 22 and 23, 2025. For Marco Reus, who moved from Borussia Dortmund to Los Angeles last summer, it will be his first full season in North America – and as the defending champion.
The 35-year-old won the MLS title with L.A. Galaxy just over two weeks ago thanks to a 2-1 victory in the final against the New York Red Bulls, coached by German Sandro Schwarz. But that’s not the only reason why the start of the new season will be a special one: the reigning champions will host the newly founded team from San Diego in their first game of the season.
San Diego FC, with former Mainz player Marcus Ingvartsen and Mexican Hirving Lozano among others, will celebrate their MLS premiere against Reus and Co. The game will take place during the night of February 24 in German time. Last season, Galaxy remained unbeaten in their own stadium.
Break in June due to Club World Cup
But Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will kick off the new season with a home game against New York City FC on February 22. Last season, Miami (against Atlanta United), where German defender Julian Gressel also plays alongside the Argentinian world champion, was knocked out in the first round of the MLS playoffs. However, Miami will play their first competitive game just a few days earlier in the CONCACAF Champions Cup against Kansas City.
The MLS regular season runs until mid-October, with all 30 teams playing on the last matchday during the night of October 19 in Germany. However, the MLS takes a break of almost ten days in the summer due to the Club World Cup and the Gold Cup. The All-Star Game is also scheduled for July 23, while the rematch of the Gold Cup final between Galaxy and the Red Bulls will take place on May 10 in New Jersey. Schwarz’s side open the season with a trip to Cincinnati.
