2026 MLS Soccer Opening Weekend Betting Predictions

<p>Inter Miami claimed their maiden MLS Cup trophy, with Lionel Messi leading the charge with 29 goals and being named the Best Player.</p> <p>The Philadelphia Union won their second Supporters' Shield, while the Vancouver Whitecaps' Yohei Takaoka was named Best Goalkeeper after keeping 13 clean sheets.</p> <p>Other key stats for last season included:</p> <ul> <li>Biggest home wins were 7-0 (NYRB vs LA Galaxy and Vancouver vs Philadelphia)</li> <li>Biggest away win was 1-7 (Chicago beat DC United)</li> <li>Highest scoring games involved nine goals (Nashville 7-2 Chicago, and Atlanta 4-5 Columbus)</li> <li>Charlotte had the longest run with winning (nine games)</li> <li>Orlando and Nashville shared a win streak of 12 games</li> <li>LA Galaxy didn't win for 16 straight games, going on a five-game losing streak three times.</li> </ul> <p>Still, that's all in the past. With numerous personnel changes (staff and players) having occurred, the 2026 MLS season will begin, and teams will want to start in the best possible way…</p> <h2>MLS Matchweek 1 Betting Preview</h2> <p>The upcoming fixtures are scheduled to take place this coming weekend:</p> <ul> <li>St Louis vs Charlotte - Sunday, 06:30 AEDT</li> <li>Cincinnati vs Atlanta United - Sunday, 08:45 AEDT</li> <li>Orlando City vs NYRB - Sunday, 11:30 AEDT</li> <li>DC United vs Philadelphia - Sunday, 11:30 AEDT</li> <li>Vancouver vs Real Salt Lake - Sunday, 11:30 AEDT</li> <li>Austin vs Minnesota - Sunday, 12:30 AEDT</li> <li>FC Dallas vs Toronto - Sunday, 12:30 AEDT</li> <li>Houston vs Chicago - Sunday, 12:30 AEDT</li> <li>Nashville vs New England - Sunday, 12:30 AEDT</li> <li>LAFC vs Inter Miami - Sunday, 13:30 AEDT</li> <li>San Jose vs Sporting KC - Sunday, 14:30 AEDT</li> <li>Portland vs Columbus - Sunday, 14:30 AEDT</li> <li>San Diego vs Montreal - Sunday, 14:30 AEDT</li> <li>LA Galaxy vs NYCFC - Monday, 11:00 AEDT</li> <li>Seattle vs Colorado - Monday, 13:15 AEDT</li> </ul> <h2>MLS Matchweek 1 Betting Predictions</h2> <p>At Sportsbet, you can wager on the latest <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/usa/us-major-league-soccer">MLS betting odds</a> available in our dedicated <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer">soccer betting</a> section, with plenty of value to be found.</p> <p>In the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/usa/us-major-league-soccer/los-angeles-fc-v-inter-miami-cf-10084877">LAFC vs Inter Miami</a> match, we think there's value in a<strong> Miami win</strong>, which is perceived as having an outside chance. The last time they met in LA in the MLS, Miami won (Sept. 2023) 3-1. Lionel Messi didn't score that time, but with 29 goals last year, we think he's worth value as an anytime goalscorer.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/usa/us-major-league-soccer/la-galaxy-v-new-york-city-10084889">LA Galaxy vs NYCFC match odds</a> also offer potential value worth exploring. Galaxy were shocking last season, going on a 10-game winless streak to begin the campaign and setting the worst record for a defending MLS Cup champion.</p> <p>They've kept the same personnel this year and have a positive H2H record against NYCFC. Still, we think the <strong>visitors are likely to get the win</strong>, as LA's struggles will likely continue, despite improving toward the back-end of the campaign. NYCFC stumbled toward the end, but had a solid year throughout.</p> <h2>Keep Reading</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/soccer/soccer-news/most-goals-football-history">The players who've found the net more than anyone else</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/soccer/soccer-news/richest-footballers">How much are the world's wealthiest footballers actually worth?</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/soccer/soccer-news/biggest-soccer-stadiums-world">Inside the biggest soccer stadiums on the planet</a></li> </ul>