MLS Kickoff Primer

02/24/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

The 2023 MLS Season Begins This Weekend

 

More soccer? Yes, please. In the midst of Champions League drama, SheBelieves Cup, and women’s World Cup preparations, the MLS regular season kicks off this weekend for a spring slate that will commence the 34-match sprint to the playoffs in October. It was Philadelphia and LAFC who stood tall above the league in 2022 before LAFC won the MLS Cup Final in penalty kicks (3-3, 3-0 PKs). And after a few offseason roster changes and the addition of St. Louis City SC — the 29th team and most recent expansion franchise — the odds for the 2023 MLS Cup still favor Philly and Los Angeles.

 

Top 2023 MLS Cup Odds

LAFC (+400)

Philadelphia Union (+650)

NYCFC (+800)

LA Galaxy (+1000)

Nashville SC (+1000)

 

Others: Austin FC (+1100), Seattle Sounders (+1200), NY Red Bulls (+1600), FC Dallas (+1800), Atlanta United (+1800), CF Montreal (+1800), FC Cincinnati (+2000)

 

Opening Weekend Schedule

D.C. United at Toronto FC (Sat. 7:30 pm)

LA Galaxy at LAFC (Sat. 9:30 pm)

Portland Timbers at Sporting Kansas City (Sat. 10:30 pm)

Seattle Sounders at Colorado Rapids (Sun. 8:00 pm)

Full MLS Opening Weekend Schedule

 

Let’s get kicking!

 

Additional Storylines

MLS: Which MLS Teams Are Best Built to Win the Supporters’ Shield

Washington Post: The Starting XI: What to Know About the 2023 MLS Season

 

Photo: Matthew Ashton / Getty Images