2025 MLS Season Preview

2025 MLS Season Preview

With this 2025 MLS season starting today, we here at Vendetta are gearing up to covering America’s top professional league (for the time being, at least) more than we ever have before!

That coverage begins with our 2025 MLS season preview, where we will quickly go through our favorite to win the MLS Cup, darkhorse teams to watch, players to watch, things like that.

We hope you enjoy and are as excited for the 2025 MLS season as we are! Without further ado, let’s hop into it.

We are so back. 🎉

Watch opening weekend with #MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV: https://t.co/Pau6rQAX5s pic.twitter.com/NtayXlq301

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 20, 2025

MLS Cup Favorite:

While the MLS Supporter’s Shield is a nice thing to win, let’s be real. The main prize is the MLS Cup. And, while this might seem lazy, we have to go with Inter Miami to come out on top this season.

Let’s face it, a team with the GOAT Lionel Messi, along with a supporting cast of Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and an exciting young coach in Javier Mascherano is hard to beat. They broke the single-season points record last year in the regular season, and you would be foolish to bet against the South Beach side.

Besides Inter Miami, the LA Galaxy are looking to repeat after winning last year’s MLS Cup, while the Columbus Crew, LAFC and FC Cincinnati are other teams that could easily end up on top this year.

Dark Horse Teams To Watch:

Atlanta United will be dangerous this year. We are really excited to see this team in action this year, especially after resigning club legend Miguel Almirón after his stint in the Premier League with Newcastle United.

On top of this, Atlanta United’s new head coach, Ronny Deila, knows a thing or two about winning an MLS Cup. He led New York City to the pinnacle of American soccer in 2021 and is looking to repeat with a city that embraces soccer just as much as they embrace the NFL. Expect this Atlanta team to challenge.

The Seattle Sounders are another team that you should watch out for as dark horses. After signing players with USMNT experience in Paul Arriola and Jesús Ferreira, this Sounders team is looking good, especially considering they still have Jordan Morris up top, Albert Rusnák in midfield and Stefan Frei in goal. Always expect the Sounders to be good.

Orlando City, New York City, the Philadelphia Union, and Real Salt Lake are other teams to keep eyes on.

Neymar To Rejoin Boyhood Club In Brazil

2025 MVP Prediction:

While 2023 winner Luciano Acosta and 2024 winner Messi were considered for this, we predict his replacement at FC Cincinnati will win it. That’s right, we are predicting that Evander will be the 2025 MLS MVP.

The 26-year-old Brazilian is new in Cincinnati, but he is not new in the MLS. He joined the Portland Timbers in 2023 and has been an absolute revelation since moving to America. His transfer to FC Cincinnati could be what he needs to move to the next level, and that is what we are predicting.

Evander will be the 2025 MLS MVP.

Other players to watch are Acosta and Messi, both former winners as we mentioned.

Key Transfers To Be Aware Of:

Acosta’s move from FC Cincinnati to FC Dallas and Evander’s $12 million move from Portland to Cincinnati were massive, but there are other transfers you should be aware of.

When looking at other intra-MLS transfers Dejan Joveljić moved from the LA Galaxy to Sporting Kansas City, Jack McGlynn joined the Houston Dynamo from the Philadelphia Union, Leonardo Campana moved on from Inter Miami and headed northeast to sign with the New England Revolution, exciting young center back Jalen Neal moved from the LA Galaxy to CF Montreal and the former Barcelona product Ilie Sánchez signed with Austin FC on a free transfer after spending last year with LAFC.

As we mentioned earlier, Almirón has returned to the league, rejoining former side Atlanta United. American striker Brandon Vazquez is also returning to the MLS, joining Austin FC after a brief stint in Liga MX.

In terms of new signings to the league, Wilfried Zaha‘s transfer to Charlotte FC, Mexican star Hirving “Chucky” Lozano‘s move to San Diego FC, and his new teammate, American midfielder Luca de la Torre, who is returning to his hometown in Southern California, are all players to keep an eye on as well.

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Storylines To Watch:

San Diego FC is getting ready for its inaugural MLS season. After signing Lozano and de la Torre on loan, there is already a lot to be excited about. Former interim USMNT head coach Mikey Varas will be the club’s first manager, and it will be exciting to see how the Southern California side fairs in its maiden MLS voyage.

Speaking of USMNT, how could we not bring up former USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter signing with the Chicago Fire? After coaching players like Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson and Weston McKennie for five years, Berhalter is making his return to the MLS and is hoping to take a typically dismal Fire side back to the top of the MLS. This is definitely a storyline you should keep an eye on.

We hope you are as excited as we are for the 2025 MLS season! Let us know what you think about our preview in the comments below. Are there any teams we gave too much credit, not enough credit or completely forgot about? What are you guys looking forward to most this year? Let us know below!

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