Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami to kick off 2025 MLS season against NYCFC

Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will begin the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) season with a high-profile match at home against New York City Football Club (NYCFC) on February 22, 2025. The schedule for the upcoming season was revealed on Thursday, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting campaign.

The 37-year-old Argentine superstar led Inter Miami to the best regular-season record in MLS last year, but their playoff journey was cut short with an unexpected defeat to Atlanta United in the opening round. Despite that setback, Messi and Miami are poised to start the new season with high expectations.

The opening match against NYCFC will be part of a busy stretch for Inter Miami, as it falls between their CONCACAF Champions Cup series against Kansas City, scheduled for February 18 and 25. Miami’s season will also see them face a series of key rivals, including several teams from the Western Conference, such as San Jose, Houston, and Minnesota.

A standout match for the club will take place on August 16, when they will host Western Conference opponents Dallas, Seattle, and the reigning MLS champions, Los Angeles Galaxy. This clash promises to be one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Galaxy will open the 2025 campaign at home against MLS expansion club San Diego on February 23. This marks the debut of San Diego as the 30th MLS team in the league’s 30th season, which will see each club play 34 matches, with an equal split between home and away games.

The season will also feature a nod to MLS’s historic beginnings. On April 6, DC United will visit San Jose in a rematch of the first-ever MLS game, while United will travel to the Galaxy on July 12 for a rerun of the first MLS Cup final.

The 2025 MLS All-Star Game will be hosted by Austin on July 23. In addition to the regular season, MLS will take a short break from June 15-24 for the FIFA Club World Cup and the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, both of which will be held in U.S. venues. Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders will represent MLS in the prestigious Club World Cup.

Another major event in the 2025 season will be the Leagues Cup, which will run from July 29 to August 31. The competition will feature matchups between MLS teams and clubs from Mexico’s Liga MX.