MLS is back: LAFC – Inter Miami

So here we are again.
New MLS season, new energy and the same ambitions as last year. Last season we delivered analysis round after round, hit the match shots well, were early on trends and showed that Major League Soccer deserves far more attention than it usually gets in Norway. Now it's 2026, and we're picking up right where we left off.

And what better way to kick off a new season than with a match that oozes stars, history, prestige and global interest. LAFC vs. Inter Miami isn’t just a season opener, it’s a signal to the rest of the soccer world that MLS is serious. This is the league’s new prime time slot, Walmart Saturday Showdown on Apple TV, and it’s all set for a show.

The setting is almost absurd:
A 102-year-old stadium in the middle of Los Angeles, an expected crowd of well over 60,000, and two of the most high-profile players modern club football has to offer – Son Heung-min and Lionel Messi on the same pitch, on the same night. It’s a rare occurrence, even outside of the MLS context.

Inter Miami come as reigning MLS Cup champions, full of confidence and with a new team around Messi after the winter changes. LAFC, on the other hand, come with continuity, a home crowd behind them, a game in hand and a hunger to show that they are still the ones who set the standard in the league over time.

This feels like more than just Round 1.
It feels like a bit of a crossroads. A game MLS will use to showcase its product, its players, and why this league is becoming increasingly relevant internationally, especially in a World Cup year.

In short:
The season is on.
We're on.
And we couldn't have had a better start than this.

LAFC – stars, structure and full throttle from the start

LAFC enters its ninth MLS season with a squad that looks ready to be assembled in February. They are coming off a convincing 6-1 win away to Real España in the Concacaf Champions Cup, and that game is more important than many people think: pace, duel strength and decision-making often come a little earlier for teams that have already had “counting minutes” in their legs.

Most of the spotlight is naturally on Son Heung-min, who has had a flying start to his LAFC career. The end of the 2025 season was brutally effective: 12 goals and 4 assists in 13 games, and a goal point almost every time he was involved in the game. Together with Denis Bouanga, LAFC has one of the league's most feared transition attacks, and it is precisely in these phases that they are deadly.

In addition, this is the first MLS game with Marc Dos Santos as head coach. After five years as an assistant, he knows the club, the structure and the culture inside and out. That often gives a sense of security early in the season, less experimentation, more focus on what already works.
With a packed Coliseum behind them, 3,252 in place and a game that will likely alternate between high pressure and quick transitions, there is little doubt that LAFC will attack this game, not feel ahead.

Inter Miami – the champions, Messi and the new machinery

Inter Miami travel to California as reigning MLS Cup champions, but also with a team in flux. Two iconic players are gone, and the winter has been about building more dynamism and more physicality around Messi – without losing the creativity that made them so dangerous last year.

The big talk has been Messi's physical condition after a hamstring injury in preseason. But coach Javier Mascherano has been clear: Messi has been training hard, responding well and is available. That doesn't necessarily mean 90 minutes at a high pace - but it does mean LAFC will have to deal with him from the start.

With the newcomers around him – especially in the central and wide positions – Inter Miami seem to want more control in the matches. Mascherano himself has pointed out the importance of taking away LAFC's transition game and instead using longer attacks, lots of ball and pressure towards the back lines. That game plan often involves both finishing, crosses and corners.

Miami also has several tournaments in mind for 2026, but this is still a game they know the entire league is watching. Performance here sets the tone.

Conclusion: stars, pace – and a match picture that points towards Miami pressure

This has all the ingredients: stars, history, expectations and two teams that will make their mark early. LAFC has the home field advantage and form, but Inter Miami has the quality and experience to resist – and periods where they will dominate with the ball.

I expect a match where LAFC are dangerous in their moves, but where Inter Miami measures the match to a greater extent, establishes plays and presses LAFC lower at times. That is also where the play value I like best lies.

Bet suggestions

Main game:
MLS LAFC - Inter Miami at 03:30: Inter Miami - over 3.5 corners (1.55)

Alternative games:

MLS LAFC - Inter Miami at 03:30: Over 2.5 goals + BTTS (1.70)

MLS LAFC - Inter Miami at 03:30: Son scores anytime (2.15)

MLS LAFC - Inter Miami at 03:30: Messi scores + over 0.5 assists (9.62)

Where can you watch MLS in Norway?

Major League Soccer has grown rapidly in popularity in recent years – also among Norwegian football fans. Many people ask us where the games can actually be watched, and the answer is simple:

All MLS matches are shown on Apple TV via the MLS Season Pass.

What is the MLS Season Pass?

The MLS Season Pass provides:

• access to all MLS matches
• no blackout restrictions
• same solution no matter which team you follow
• availability on mobile, TV, tablet and PC

Apple has brought the entire league together on one platform, making it easier than ever to follow MLS – week after week.

Why do we cover MLS so extensively?

At 90minutefamily, we cover MLS more comprehensively than any other Norwegian media outlet. We publish analysis for every round, follow teams, players and trends closely – and know that many people want both insight and access.

We do this easily:

• We deliver the analyses
• Apple TV delivers the games
• Simple and neat.