🔁 MLS Season Reset: Groups to look out for within the second half of the season

After an prolonged hiatus in the course of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Main League Soccer is again!

So, in case you want a fast refresher, listed here are the golf equipment you need to look out for because the 2026 MLS season will get again underway.

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Minnesota vs. Vancouver on July 25 at 8:30pm ET. Watch dwell on 

The convention leaders

Coming off a franchise-best common season and a visit to 2025 MLS Cup, have picked up proper the place they left off.

The Whitecaps went into the World Cup break with 32 factors from their first 14 matches, on high of a league-leading +22 aim distinction.

And if the likes of and Thomas Müller proceed their early-season kind, the Canadian membership are greater than able to replicating final season’s success.

In the meantime, over within the Jap Convention, have seemed equally impervious.

B. J. Callaghan’s aspect entered the break main the Supporters’ Protect race, one level above Vancouver. On the similar time, the membership went unbeaten at dwelling, recording six wins and a draw.

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With Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge each in high kind, might this be Nashville’s yr?

Early-season surprises

📸 Jared Lennon – 2026 Getty Photographs

Initially of the yr, nearly nobody anticipated to be one of many league’s greatest groups by means of the primary half of the season.

Nonetheless, with the addition of German star , San Jose have been totally spectacular.

The Quakes jumped out to their greatest begin in franchise historical past with eight wins from their opening 9 matches, changing into the primary MLS aspect to take action within the post-shootout period (since 2000).

It’s no marvel the membership signed head coach and sporting director Bruce Area to a contract extension in the course of the World Cup hiatus.

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Elsewhere, are additionally off to a superb however largely surprising begin.

In Gregg Berhalter’s second season on the helm, the previous head coach has helped Chicago safe 26 factors from their first 14 matches, previous to the midseason break.

Whereas Golden Boot chief has been offering the targets (13), it’s now ‘s flip to take up the goalscoring mantle, after the Polish icon joined from .

So, will Lewandowski flip an excellent workforce into an awesome one?

The playoff race

Very similar to Chicago, Orlando Metropolis enter the second half of the season with far better ambitions because of the signing of French celebrity from .

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The 2018 World Cup-winner stated farewell to Atleti again in Could, leaving because the membership’s all-time high goalscorer.

However, after shedding six of their first eight matches and parting methods with head coach Óscar Pareja, Griezmann’s new membership entered the hiatus 4 factors exterior of the playoff locations.

Naturally, Orlando can be hoping the Frenchman can ignite their assault alongside fellow designated gamers Marco Pašalić and Martín Ojeda.

Again within the West, are nonetheless settling into their sophomore season.

The 2025 enlargement membership had a rare first MLS season, ending high of the Western Convention and reaching the Convention Finals.

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This time round, nevertheless, it has not fairly been clean crusing. went into the World Cup break simply exterior the playoff positions with 17 factors from 15 video games.

Nonetheless, there’s loads of time for reigning MLS Newcomer of the 12 months and head coach Mikey Varas to safe their second-straight postseason berth.

Groups to look at

In his first top-flight teaching job, has turned Purple Bull New York into one of many league’s most fun groups.

The previous USMNT captain was named RBNY head coach forward of the 2026 season, having beforehand coached the membership’s MLS NEXT Professional aspect.

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Since then, he has led the league’s youngest roster, with a median age of 23.5, to fifth within the East (as of the hiatus).

In that point, Bradley grew to become the primary coach in MLS historical past to call a beginning XI with three gamers aged 17 or youthful. Amongst them is now-18-year-old MLS All-Star , who already has 9 targets and 4 assists this season.

Alternatively, it’s unimaginable to look away from what and firm are doing in Miami.

Earlier than guiding Argentina to the World Cup remaining, the 39-year-old had already racked up 20 aim contributions within the league this season.

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However, regardless of Messi’s brilliance, Miami have gained simply two of their first six MLS matches on the recently-opened Nu Stadium.

Fortuitously for the South Florida aspect, they’ve been near-unstoppable on the highway, amassing 22 factors from their 9 away video games earlier than the break, equalling the league report.