MLS 2025 predictions: Messi and Inter Miami’s outlook, top newcomers and more

The 2025 MLS season kicks off this week. We convened a panel of writers to discuss what they’re most looking forward to this year. Seeing more really good soccer in 2025. Over the last few years, it feels like the quality of the average coach in MLS has noticeably increased. Only a handful of MLS teams are still holding on to the “let’s play a 4-2-3-1 and defend in a mid-block” era with both hands. Pretty much every team has a distinct, observable style. JW.

The rich getting richer. While not in line with my typical rooting interests, MLS has needed a super team or two to emerge to give fans someone to root against. Now, there are more ways than ever for teams that want to spend big to do so. Sure enough, we go into the year with tons of interest (and a fair amount of opposition to) heavy-hitters such as Inter Miami, LAFC and the defending champion LA Galaxy. JA.

Atlanta United being good again. When they first came into the league, everything about this club felt like the future of MLS. Exciting football. Big-name signings who weren’t ageing European stars. Sell-out crowds at an incredible stadium. And yet at some point Atlanta lost their way. This year, though, they have spent $30m on top-end talent and have a proven MLS winner for a head coach. Atlanta United matter again. GR.

It’s all about the next weird moment. MLS’s unpredictability is a big part of what makes it a compelling league to watch, on a season-long, week-to-week and even play-to-play basis. There is less variance now than there was before, sure, but the league still retains that special bit of wackiness that can only come about when the quality isn’t the best in the world and payrolls are capped. I want goals scored off unexpected body parts, major upsets in the playoffs, and the addition of some new cult heroes to the lore. AA.

(They can get up to five: MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, Club World Cup, Leagues Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup). Two? Two. This Inter Miami squad should be among the favorites for all of these, save the Club World Cup where getting out of the group would be quite the feat. But with fine margins separating the domestic and continental favorites (and with a bit of PTSD from watching Miami flail in knockout tournaments last season), I’m limiting myself to the Shield and MLS Cup here. JL.

One. Given the huge teams at the Club World Cup, the slog of the MLS season for a team reliant on veteran players (with considerable injury histories) and the unknown of how Javier Mascherano will lead a senior team after having only coached Argentina youth squads in the past, I’m only envisioning one trophy lift. Put me down for Miami to top América in the Champions Cup final of Concacaf’s dreams. JA.

Just one. Maybe I’ve watched too much of Manchester City lose their battle against their own mortality this season, but Lionel Messi and co. are another year older. And they’ll face a gruelling schedule with the (pointless) Club World Cup smack bang in the middle. Can Messi stay injury free? Will Luis Suárez’s knees hold out? I have concerns over their ability to win multiple trophies, but they will win MLS Cup. GR.

In a perfect world where nobody gets injured, conditions are flawless, and every new signing acclimatises in short order, I think Miami get three of these five trophies. In the real world, I’m going to be the designated hater here and say zero. I just have too many questions about the ability of an inexperienced coach like Javier Mascherano to make all the right adjustments at the right times to win the Shield, like Tata Martino did masterfully last season. Meanwhile, the health of the big four is far from a guarantee, and I still don’t trust this team defensively even with some new additions. AA.

Speed. Really, this trend defined last offseason for the eventual MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy, when they added two blazing wingers in Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil. With that in mind, it wasn’t a shock to see Atlanta United load up on speed this winter, adding Emmanuel Latte Lath and Miguel Almirón. MLS is getting faster, and Atlanta will benefit from getting ahead of the curve, much like the Galaxy did in 2024. JL.

Ambition. While it would be great to see every MLS team in the US Open Cup, the new system that sees some teams play Leagues Cup and others in the historic cup competition will give more teams more to play for. It may make for stranger rosters in league matches as the fixtures start to stack up but ultimately will make things exciting for longer in more MLS cities. JA.

‘Cash-for-player’ trades. The new transfer mechanism that has already facilitated intra-league deals for Luciano Acosta, Evander, Dejan Joveljić and Jack McGlynn, but the impact could be even greater in the summer window when clubs and GMs have had more time to figure out what and who they want. MLS has needed something like this rule for a long time. GR.

The end of expansion. The addition of San Diego FC brings the league to an even 30 teams, and for the first time in a generation there does not seem to be a push to add any more. That means 2025 can fairly be seen as the beginning of a new era – onw in which won’t be a Seattle Sounders or Atlanta United walking through the door to shake up the way things are done upon introduction. Any innovations from here on must come from within (or via takeover). AA.