Fans bring energy and enthusiasm to the MLS matches amid challenges in the season.
The 2025 Major League Soccer season experiences unprecedented competition with 30 clubs participating in multiple tournaments, resulting in a congested schedule and significantly reduced summer friendlies. Teams face challenges balancing high-stakes matches while managing squad resources effectively. Notably, fewer opportunities for friendlies could impact team cohesion and preparation, altering historical engagement practices as clubs gear up for the postseason.
The 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) season, taking place across the United States and Canada, is officially the busiest in the league’s history. Featuring 30 clubs involved in five different competitions, the season presents unique challenges for teams and organizers alike, with a significant impact on traditional scheduling and summer friendlies.
This year, most MLS teams are participating in no more than two major competitions besides the regular league matches. However, participation levels vary significantly among clubs. Notably, Inter Miami CF, Seattle Sounders FC, and Los Angeles FC are competing simultaneously in the FIFA Club World Cup, the Concacaf Champions Cup, and the Leagues Cup — three continental and international tournaments that add pressure and congest the fixture list.
This crowded schedule means that clubs are balancing multiple high-profile competitions, resulting in stretched squad resources and scheduling complexity. It also signifies tighter calendars and less flexibility for team management and recovery times between matches.
Historically, summer months provided a window of opportunity for clubs to play friendly matches that aid in team preparation, fitness, and fan engagement. However, the 2025 season’s dense competition schedule has greatly reduced the number of summer friendlies scheduled. Only four games are planned for this particular summer — a notable decline from previous years.
This scarcity affects clubs’ ability to experiment with lineups and build cohesion, especially for teams with younger or less experienced players needing match practice before the postseason.
Premier League team Aston Villa is scheduled to play two notable friendlies in the United States. On July 30, Villa will face St. Louis CITY SC and on August 2, they will meet Nashville SC. These matches aim to foster international cooperation and provide entertainment for local fans. St. Louis, meanwhile, has struggled this season, having dismissed their coach, Olof Mellberg, after just 15 games. The team has managed only three wins in their first 21 matches, reflecting their challenging campaign so far.
Nashville SC remains competitive in domestic cup play, currently competing in the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup. Their dual pursuit of success in league matches and the cup could influence squad rotation during friendly games, especially given their ambitions for the MLS playoffs later in the year.
German club Eintracht Frankfurt is set to face the Philadelphia Union on August 2, with an additional match against Louisville City. These games form part of an internationalization effort ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by the United States. The Frankfurt-Philadelphia match also symbolizes strong city-to-city ties, as Philadelphia and Frankfurt have been sister cities since 2015.
Another unique fixture will feature D.C. United playing against the Ethiopian national team, the Walia Ibex. This marks the second consecutive season that an MLS side faces an international team. Ethiopia is currently engaged in FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers and aims to secure Group results to advance to the next stage. The match emphasizes the global connections that MLS teams are fostering through friendly matches.
In MLS club news, Los Angeles FC (LAFC) continued their strong form with a 2-0 victory over FC Dallas in their most recent match. Goals from Nathan Ordaz and Denis Bouanga helped LAFC extend their winning streak and maintain a solid position in the Western Conference, currently holding a record of 9 wins, 5 losses, and 5 draws. LAFC’s dominance at home against Dallas has now extended to six consecutive wins since May 2019, underscoring their strength in familiar surroundings.
Leading the scoring charts is Sam Surridge of Nashville SC, with 16 goals in the season. He is closely followed by Lionel Messi, who continues to show consistent scoring form, helping Nashville’s efforts in the league and cup competitions.
In recent U.S. Open Cup action, Nashville SC came from behind to defeat D.C. United in the quarterfinals, scoring five unanswered goals after initially trailing. Such performances underline the competitive nature of the league and the importance of players like Surridge and Messi in shaping season outcomes.
The 2025 MLS season represents a significant shift in the league’s landscape, marked by a packed competition schedule and limited opportunities for friendly matches. Clubs are adapting to these challenges through strategic squad management and international testing, reflecting the league’s ongoing growth and increasing global connections. As teams push toward the postseason, the impact of this congestion on player fitness, team cohesion, and overall competitive balance will remain key points of observation for the remainder of the season.
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