MLS Announces Schedule Update With 'Must-Watch' Saturday Matches

Major League Soccer unveiled its upcoming marquee Saturday matchups ahead of the forthcoming 2026 season.

Walmart Saturday Showdown will showcase the week's most anticipated match in an exciting match of the week format on Apple TV.

Week 1 will feature the reigning MLS Cup champions, Inter Miami, against Los Angeles FC on February 21. The match will take place at historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and kick off at 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

All eyes will be on back-to-back MLS MVP Lionel Messi, who hopes to capture a Most Valuable Player three-peat and lead the Herons to a repeat MLS Cup championship.

The 38-year-old Argentine superstar scored 29 goals in 28 league matches last season to capture the 2025 MLS Golden Boot.

LAFC supporters will be excited to follow Son Heung-min's first full season with the club following his league record $26.5 million transfer from Tottenham Hotspur.

Son has netted nine goals in 10 MLS matches since arriving from the English Premier League.

Inter Miami and LAFC will surely be a highly-anticipated affair and there are more heavyweight matches to come throughout the 2026 MLS season.

“2026 will be a historic year for both Major League Soccer and our sport, and the launch of Walmart Saturday Showdown exemplifies how we continue to create new and exciting experiences for fans through an occasion they can plan for every Saturday,” MLS executive vice president Camilo Durana said. “MLS has some of the most passionate fans and intense rivalries in all of sports, and we are committed to not only elevating some of our match weeks’ most exciting storylines, but to inspiring a sense of community that will last throughout the 2026 season and beyond.”

Initial ‘Walmart Saturday Showdown’ Matches Announced: