Soccer

2024 MLS Season Kicks Off as Inter Miami Faces Real Salt Lake

Photo of Mikayla Kaliser Mikayla KaliserFebruary 20, 2024

Tomorrow night, the 2024 MLS season will be underway as the reigning MLS Leagues Cup champions, Inter Miami CF, compete in the league’s season-opening game against Real Salt Lake at DRV PNK Stadium at 8:00 pm E.T.

This 2024 MLS season kicks off with fans’ undivided attention on Lionel Messi and his former FC Barcelona teammates, as the Miami franchise is the team to watch this season following the addition of Messi’s three former teammates. Inter Miami hopes to clinch the 2024 MLS Cup after the underwhelming season the team had in 2023 when they finished 9-7-18 in 14th place in the MLS Eastern Conference. 

While the Miami franchise clinched the Leagues Cup title against Nashville FC in 2023, they could not secure their spot in the MLS Playoffs in hopes of competing for the MLS Cup. 

Inter Miami will have a fresh start this season as the newest additions to the team, Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets, will start their first full regular season with Miami in tomorrow night’s season-opening game. 

Last season, Real Salt Lake ended the 2023 MLS season in 5th place in the Western Conference after finishing 14-8-12. The Salt Lake City franchise clinched a spot in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs but fell short of making it to the second round when they lost against Houston Dynamo FC in the first round of the playoffs. 

Inter Miami’s preseason friendlies did not go as anticipated, as the Miami franchise ended the preseason 1-3-3. MLS fans had high hopes for Miami’s preseason following the addition of Luis Suárez and the fact that Messi would finally receive adequate playing time following a scar tissue injury that caused him to sit out most of the 2023 MLS season. 

MLS Game 2- Columbus Crew vs Atlanta United:

This Saturday, February 24, the MLS kicks off with the second match of the season as the reigning MLS Cup champions, the Columbus Crew, face off against Atlanta United. The Columbus Crew ended the 2023 MLS season with a record of 16-9-9 and clinched the 2023 MLS Cup after defeating Los Angeles FC 2-1. 

The Crew will put up a good fight against Atlanta United as the Columbus franchise had a fantastic performance last season, and the Atlanta franchise ended the 2023 season 13-12-9 and lost in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. 

While the Columbus franchise was on a high following their victory in the MLS Cup, MLS fans could not get a glimpse into how the team might perform this coming season, as the Crew competed in one preseason friendly, and the results of the friendly are unknown. The reigning MLS Cup champions were scheduled to compete against Toronto FC in a preseason match on February 10, 2024, but Toronto FC had announced that the game’s results would not be shared. 

Even though Columbus Crew fans cannot anticipate how their team will compete this regular season, Atlanta United ended their preseason 3-1-1, giving Atlanta fans some hope entering the 2024 MLS season. Perhaps the Atlanta franchise will have an adequate chance of beating the reigning MLS Cup champions in Saturday night’s game.  

MLS Game 3- Los Angeles FC vs Seattle Sounders:

LAFC will face off against the Seattle Sounders in the MLS’ third season-opening game and second game that is taking place this Saturday. This match is one to keep an eye on, as both MLS clubs did well in the 2023 season. 

The Seattle Sounders ended the 2023 season in 2nd place in the Western Conference with a record of 14-11-9. LAFC finished right behind the Seattle franchise as they came in 3rd place in the Western Conference and ended the 2023 season with a record of 14-10-10. 

Both teams struggled in their preseason friendlies as the Sounders closed out the preseason with a record of 3-1-3, and LAFC ended with 2-1-2. 

Last season, Los Angeles FC was close to clinching their second consecutive MLS Cup, but they were just short of achieving that goal. LAFC fell to the Columbus Crew in the MLS Cup final and gave up their second chance at winning the prestigious title. The franchise had won their first MLS Cup title the year prior as they beat the Philadelphia Union in 2022. LAFC has high hopes this season following the newest addition to their franchise.

On December 30, 2023, LAFC signed a one-year contract with the legendary goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, one of the most accomplished goalkeepers in soccer history. Lloris left Tottenham Hotspurs to move to Los Angeles and compete in the MLS for the first time hoping to clinch the MLS Cup for the Los Angeles franchise.

While LAFC was just short of clinching the 2023 MLS Cup, fans are excited to see how they perform this season, and Saturday’s game against Seattle is sure to be exciting as both teams excelled last season.

This Saturday, the Sounders will showcase the newest addition to their club, Pedro de la Vega, who signed as a Young Designated Player on January 24, 2024. The 22-year-old is one of the most exciting prospects out of Argentina, and he decided to leave Club Atlético Lanús, where he secured 17 goals and 14 assists throughout five seasons. This Saturday, de la Vega will showcase his talents to the MLS, and he might just be the extra boost the Sounders need.

A Thrilling MLS Season Awaits:

This 2024 MLS season is sure to be exciting as fans are eagerly waiting to see how Inter Miami will compete with all the new additions to the franchise and how some of the league’s former best teams will compete throughout the season. Despite the addition of Messi, Suárez, Alba, and Busquets to the “Dream Team,” the fate of Inter Miami is still unknown as some new faces are competing in the league this season who can threaten the Miami franchise.

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Photo of Mikayla Kaliser Mikayla KaliserFebruary 20, 2024

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