MLS 2024 schedule REVEALED: Lionel Messi and Inter Miami to kick off season against Real Salt Lake with El Trafico returning to the Rose Bowl on Independence Day
- Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami is among the favorites to win the MLS Cup in 2024
- The league announced the full schedule ahead of the start of the new season
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Inter Miami will kick off the new Major League Soccer season, with Lionel Messi beginning his first full campaign Stateside against Real Salt Lake on February 21.
The Wednesday night game will be a standalone fixture ahead of a full opening slate entitled: MLS is Back.
The league is entering its 29th season, with Inter Miami among the favorites to lift the MLS Cup following the arrival of Messi, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and the impending signing of Luis Suarez.
It means all eyes will be on the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and his Miami teammates as they look to build on last season’s Leagues Cup victory.
Inter Miami’s second MLS match will see Tata Martino’s side visit the LA Galaxy on Sunday, February 25.
Inter Miami will kick off the new Major League Soccer season vs. Real Salt Lake on February 21
Miami’s previous visit to LA, to face Los Angeles FC in September, saw a host of celebrities descend on the stadium, including Prince Harry, Will Ferrell, Leonardo DiCaprio, Selena Gomez, Owen Wilson, Mario Lopez and Edward Norton.
Even with Messi and Co, however, Martino’s side missed out on the playoffs, with Colombus Crew beating LAFC to claim the 2023 MLS Cup.
Los Angeles will have the chance to exact revenge on July 13, when Columbus visits California.
Nine days earlier, LAFC will take on the Galaxy in El Trafico on July 4, with the two rivals meeting at the Rose Bowl for a second consecutive season. Last season’s game set an MLS record with a crowd of 82,000 fans.
Columbus Crew beat Atlanta United, Orlando City, and FC Cincinnati before the win over LAFC
A number of other derby games will take place during Rivalry Week in May, including Columbus vs Cincinnati (May 11), Portland Timbers vs Seattle Sounders (May 12) and Orlando City vs Inter Miami (May 15).
The 2024 MLS All-Star Game, meanwhile, is slated for July 24 in Columbus, with the opponent still to be announced. Last season saw Arsenal face a team coached by Wayne Rooney.
Not long after, the second instalment of Leagues Cup will kick off, with the tournament involving LIGA MX and MLS teams running between July 26 and August 25.
The final day of regular season action – Decision Day – is scheduled for October 19, with the MLS Cup Playoffs culminating in the final on December 7.
