The best matchups of MLS is Back weekend

Last week, we previewed Concacaf Champions Cup, which is officially underway for MLS clubs following San Diego FC's 4-1 rout of Pumas UNAM in Leg 1 of their Round One series last week.

Now, it's time to take a look at the upcoming start of the 2026 MLS regular season, which gets going on Feb. 21 with a jam-packed weekend slate. Here are some of the best non-Seattle Sounders related matchups I'll be keeping an eye on when the season kicks off in less than two weeks (!).

LAFC vs. Inter Miami

Saturday, 6:30 pm PT | Apple TV

Let's start with the obvious – a cross-conference clash between the two odds-on Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup favorites, according to pretty much all the pundits and oddsmakers.

On one side you've got a Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami club that just won MLS Cup and which has somehow assembled an even more loaded roster than they had last year, even with the losses of Barca Boys Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. On the other, you've got an LAFC opposition that made a high-profile superstar addition of their own last year with the arrival of Son Heung-min. The South Korea international icon lit the league on fire following his summertime arrival, forming a truly terrifying duo with running mate Denis Bouanga.

Aside from all the star power on the field, it's a real chance for both teams to start off the season with a statement result. For LAFC, they can show the rest of the league that they're just as much a force to be reckoned with as their South Florida adversaries. For Inter Miami, a victory would serve as an early warning that they might just be in a class of their own this year. Either way, it's the marquee matchup of the weekend, as the schedule-makers intended.

FC Cincinnati vs. Atlanta United

Saturday, 1:45 pm PT | Apple TV

Every year, we hear about how the upcoming season will mark the return of Atlanta United to their MLS Cup-winning glory days. It hasn't happened yet, but with the return of head coach Tata Martino, a lot of the offseason talk around the Five Stripes has centered around a seemingly imminent resurgence in 2026.

What I find fascinating about this is that we'll actually get a real barometer on Martino's coaching chops, for better or for worse. He's achieved legendary status for his stints with Barcelona, Atlanta and the Mexico and Argentina national teams, among a lot of other successful stops. But you have to imagine that taking over this Atlanta side, which almost Wooden Spooned last year, will be his toughest challenge yet. He's tasked with turning around a defense that was among the league's worst last year, and has a trio of attacking DPs that never looked comfortable playing together in Miguel Almiron, Emmanuel Latte Lath and Aleksei Miranchuk. Fixing all that is a true test of tactical accumen, even for the best of coaches. If Martino pulls it off, he'll fully cement himself as one of the greatest in MLS history.

This matchup with Cincy, a regular upper-tier team in the East for the last few years, provides a good first test in determining whether 2026 is finally the year that "Atlanta United are back".

Portland Timbers vs. Columbus Crew

Saturday, 7:30 pm PT| Apple TV

Seattle's arch-rivals kept Phil Neville and had a relatively quiet offseason, aside from a pretty big trade to bring in Cole Bassett from the Colorado Rapids, reportedly for up to $3.7 million, plus a sell-on percentage. They only made two other moves of consequence, signing right back Brandon Bye in free agency and Australian center back Alex Bonetig on a transfer from Western Sydney Wanderers. This feels like a make-or-break year for Neville to get the Timbers back into genuine contention, otherwise they might be looking for a new coach for next year. The pressure will be on from the jump.

Columbus are adapting to a new coach in Henrik Rydström, who replaces the departed Wilfried Nancy. Say what you will about Nancy's abbreviated and disasterous tenure at Celtic – he had rightfully staked a claim as one of the best coaches in MLS and it's no guarantee that Rydström will get them playing at the same level. This match gives them a chance to show they're set to remain a legitmate power in the East.

LA Galaxy vs. New York City FC

Sunday, 4 pm PT | Apple TV

Like Atlanta, we'll be hearing a lot of debates and takes regarding whether the LA Galaxy can regain their former glory after their debacle of a 2025 campaign. Riqui Puig's injury setback obviously throws a wrench in those plans, but there's a lot to like about the additions of Jakob Glesnes and Justin Haak to address their defensive deficincies. If they meaningfully improve on that side of the ball, it would go a long way in allowing them to withstand the loss of Puig better this year than they did last year.

NYCFC don't have a world-beating offense on paper, but they've got some talented attackers with guys like Nico Fernandez and the ageless Maxi Moralez, so we should get a decent look at how LA's new-look defense is functioning so far. That has wide-ranging implications for the rest of the West.

San Diego FC vs. CF Montréal

Saturday, 7:30 pm PT| Apple TV

With respect to their Canadian counterparts, the source of the intrigue for this one is San Diego, who heavily exceeded expectations in their Concacaf Champions Cup opener against Pumas. Taking on a Liga MX side with a huge fitness advantage, SDFC took a 4-1 win and kept the bleeding to a minimum in the return leg to advance to the Round of 16. It's only one game, but they did not look like a team that's about to get hit by a second-year regression after their magical expansion season of 2025.

CF Montréal was one of the worst teams in MLS last season and are projected to be the same this year. If San Diego come out and put on a show in front of their home crowd, it'll just be further evidence that they're not going anywhere in 2026, no matter what happens to them in CCC.