With the 2026 Major League Soccer season kicking off this weekend, we surveyed USA TODAY Network's team of soccer experts for their predictions on how the new season will shake out.
Can Lionel Messi lead Inter Miami to consecutive league championships, thus becoming the first repeat MLS Cup winner since the Los Angeles Galaxy did it in 2011-12? Which teams are the top contenders to displace Miami's station atop the league? Who will win league MVP honors? Which player will score the most goals and claim the Golden Boot?
MLS 2026: 10 storylines to follow
Here's how we see the 2026 MLS season unfolding:
MLS Cup: Los Angeles FC over Nashville SC
