New York: Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will kick off the inaugural match at its new Miami Freedom Park stadium on April 4, hosting Austin as part of the 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) schedule unveiled Thursday.

The 2026 MLS regular season will begin on February 21, with each team playing 34 matches before the season concludes on November 7. The league will observe a break for the FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the United States from May 25 to July 16, resuming just ahead of the World Cup final on July 19.

Season opener highlights

MLS will feature 13 matches on opening day, starting with Charlotte at St. Louis. Messi’s Inter Miami will visit Son Heung-min’s Los Angeles FC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on the same day.

In March, Inter Miami will travel to Orlando, D.C. United, Charlotte, and New York City before making its home debut at the 25,000-seat Miami Freedom Park stadium in April.

World Cup Break and Post-Break Action

The league will resume during the World Cup pause with matches on July 16, including Toronto at Montreal, Vancouver at Chicago, Kansas City at St. Louis, and Portland at Seattle. Later that day, Atlanta will face Nashville, while LAFC takes on the Los Angeles Galaxy.

MLS all-star game

Charlotte will host the MLS All-Star Game on July 29. After the regular season concludes, MLS will pause during the November FIFA window before the playoffs begin.

History maker

Messi and his great rival Ronaldo will both appear at their sixth World Cup if they take part in next year's tournament.

They will surpass greats like Germany's Lothar Mattheus, who appeared in five.

Defending champion Argentina has already secured its place.

Messi fulfilled his career-long ambition by leading Argentina to the title in Qatar in 2022.

Ronaldo, who has won the European Championship and two Nations League titles with Portugal, is still to add a World Cup to a trophy haul that includes five Champions Leagues and league titles in England, Spain and Italy.

Though he is nearing the end of his career and has left top-flight European soccer behind to play in Saudi Arabia, he has continued to further embellish his remarkable career.