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Lionel-Messi(C)Getty Images
Alex Labidou

LA Galaxy vs New York Red Bulls and top five MLS matches to watch in 2025 MLS season

MLS released its 2025 schedule and there will be plenty of intrigue around the league's 30th season

Well, that was quick. Just 12 days after the LA Galaxy hoisted the MLS Cup against the New York Red Bulls, the 2025 regular season - well, at least the schedule- is already upon us.

The season kicks off with plenty of must-watch moments. Lionel Messi makes his highly anticipated return on Feb. 22 with Javier Mascherano-led Inter Miami. The league's 30th anniversary celebrations will highlight marquee matchups, including an April 6 rematch of the league's inaugural game between the San Jose Earthquakes and D.C. United.

On July 12, the first two MLS Cup finalists, the LA Galaxy and D.C. United, will clash at Dignity Health Sports Park. This is a pivotal campaign for the North American top flight, with the World Cup less than two years out, MLS will be hoping to gain some traction from the world's biggest sporting even being held in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

While the offseason is just beginning, with teams aiming to retool for the next campaign, here is an early look at the can't miss matches of 2025.

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  • Alonso Martinez NYCFC 2024USA Today Images

    Feb. 22: Inter Miami vs. NYCFC

    Lionel Messi and Co. will look to rebound from their postseason early exit as they host New York City FC in their home opener - the final year at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale prior to the move to their new home in Miami proper.

    Managers will likely be the focus of this matchup, as it will be Mascherano's first game as coach for Miami. NYCFC have yet to hire their manager after parting ways with Nick Cushing. With an ambitious ownership group, NYCFC might also have some significant changes to their squad as well.

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  • Varas San Diego FCSan Diego FC

    March 1: San Diego FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes

    There will be justifiably interest in San Diego's first game as an MLS franchise when it travels to Carson to face the defending champions in the Galaxy. Yet, the team's first home game at Snap Dragon stadium will be equally as important - if not, more so.

    San Diego is notorious for fans not always buying in quickly. For example, it took the Padres a major rebrand and marketing push to turn things around, going from the 12th most-attended team in the National League at 26,457 per game in 2011 with arguably one of the best ballparks in baseball to 41,118 this season - third in NL.

    With the MLS club not situated downtown, will the fans show out and be a consistent presence?

  • Bruce Arena, New England RevolutionImagn

    April 6: San Jose Earthquakes vs. D.C. United

    It’s fitting that on a night celebrating MLS’s first match, a manager with ties to that history - Bruce Arena, who coached D.C. United's first game in 1996 - is now on the opposite sideline, leading San Jose.

    Arena, the winningest coach in the league's history, is expected to bring mass changes to the Quakes, a team that was the worst in MLS last season.

    D.C.'s Christian Benteke raised his game with an MVP-level campaign in 2024, but his team missed the postseason on Deadline Day. Will the team get the Belgian some help this season? So far all has been quiet in the nation's capital.

  • Emil Forsberg New York Red Bulls MLS Playoffs 2024IMGAN

    May 10: New York Red Bulls vs. LA Galaxy

    The 2024 MLS finalist will meet each other for the first time since the MLS Cup final. Similar to the Galaxy, New York could lose several pieces of its young core, with star left back John Tolkin looking set to move abroad.

    Could disappointing Designated Player Dante Vanzeir join Tolkin on the way out of New Jersey? Regardless of who will be on the roster, New York will have a point to prove when these two sides meet at the Sports Illustrated Stadium.

  • Griezmann Atletico Madrid Slovan BratislavaGetty

    May 18: LA Galaxy vs. LAFC

    This is the first 2025 edition of the El Trafico and there are already a lot of roster questions for both squads: Will Antoine Griezmann be a member of LAFC by then? Will Gabriel Pec still be a player for the Galaxy?

    Time will tell, but this matchup never disappoints and LA will add some fuel to the fire by being the champs and hosting the match.