Major League Soccer (MLS) has announced that its 2024 season will kick off on Feb. 21 with a standalone match featuring Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi. The 2024 season will be the longest in MLS history, spanning more than nine months. The season will begin with a match between Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake in South Florida, marking the earliest start to an MLS season in the league’s 29-year history.
Inter Miami will have a busy preseason as they prepare for the upcoming season. Their preseason tour will take them to El Salvador, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, and Japan, with their final friendly match scheduled against Newell’s Old Boys on February 15 in Fort Lauderdale. The team’s busy preseason schedule, which includes six international friendlies, will be crucial in preparing the team for a successful 2024 season.
The announcement of the season schedule has generated excitement among fans and players alike. Messi, who recently spoke at an event in Fort Lauderdale, expressed his confidence in the upcoming season, stating, “Next year will be much better. We’re going to keep on having fun, keep on winning titles.”
The MLS 2024 season will also feature a highly anticipated match between LA Galaxy and LAFC at the Rose Bowl on July 4. The league is expecting another record-breaking crowd, following the success of the previous year’s match at the iconic stadium.
Additionally, the Leagues Cup, featuring teams from MLS and Liga MX, will begin shortly after the conclusion of the Copa América final in Miami. The defending champions, Inter Miami and Lionel Messi, will be looking to retain their title as they compete against teams from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
The MLS regular season will conclude with Decision Day on Oct. 19, followed by the playoffs and culminating in MLS Cup on Dec. 7.
Overall, the 2024 MLS season promises to be an action-packed and thrilling period for fans and players, with numerous standout matches and events to look forward to.