Son Heung-min vs Messi head-on collision! 2026 MLS Opener Big Match Made
Nov 21, 2025
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According to the 2026 season schedule announced by the MLS Secretariat on the 21st (Korea time), LA FC will play its first game against Inter Miami at the LA Memorial Coliseum on February 22 next year. Instead of the 22,000-seat BMO Stadium, the existing home stadium, it will be played at the 77,000-seat LA Memorial Coliseum, which is also the venue for the opening ceremony of the 2028 LA Olympics. It is interpreted as a measure that is conscious of the ticket power of Son Heung-min and Messi.
LA FC also started to drive the wind early on. When the schedule was announced, LA FC placed Son Heung-min and Messi at the front as they began promoting next year's opening game on social media. MLS is also excited by picking this game as its first hand among the `10 must-see games in the 2026 season.'
In MLS, a total of 30 teams will be divided into 15 Eastern and Western Conferences, and each team will play 34 games. In principle, they face each conference team, but they will also play against other conference teams in an interleague manner. LA FC and Inter Miami are in the East and West semifinals, respectively, in the ongoing MLS playoffs. If the two teams win the conference, they will face off in the final.
Son Heung-min quickly became a star after wearing his LA FC uniform in August. Expectations and concerns were mixed when wearing the LA FC uniform for the highest transfer fee ever in MLS. However, after entering MLS, he performed brilliantly in every game, and LA FC succeeded in advancing to the playoffs. Messi entered the MLS by joining Miami in 2023. Since Messi started playing, MLS has shown explosive commercial growth, realizing the power of 'Star Marketing'.
Meanwhile, MLS will enter a break period for the 2026 North-China World Cup from the end of May to July 17 next year. The All-Star Game will be held on July 30 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Messi was controversial for missing the All-Star Game last year. Whether Son Heung-min will play in the All-Star Game is also expected to attract attention.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
