Euro Soccer Times - MLS 2026 Opening Weekend

There’s no doubt that the big game in MLS this weekend is the first of the league’s “Saturday Showdown” events. 

It’s set to be a weekly feature this season, highlighting one game each Saturday with increased build-up and coverage around it.

The first one of these is about as big as it gets.

It’s Los Angeles FC versus Inter Miami. Son Heung-min versus Lionel Messi. Two of the standout, celebrity-endorsed teams from the two conferences of MLS facing off on opening day.

If you’re based in Europe, though, the kick-off time is a rough one, with the game not scheduled to begin until 2.30 am in the UK, or 3.30 am CET.

Add on the 10 minutes or so it takes for any MLS game to start after the scheduled kickoff time, and it could be approaching sunrise on Sunday by the time the match finishes in Europe.

There are, though, two more Euro-friendly kick-offs in this opening weekend of MLS, but first...

MLS On Actual Apple TV

One thing to note about the international TV coverage of MLS this season is that games are now available more widely, thanks to the league’s inclusion as part of the standard Apple TV subscription.

Previously, Apple TV subscribers had to pay extra to also get the standalone MLS Season Pass, and, likewise, those new to Apple TV and signing up for MLS Season Pass would not get the rest of Apple TV bundled in.

MLS has gradually been making its games more widely available, especially locally, with full-match replays later in the week on regional linear TV channels, and internationally by making playoff games more widely available on Apple TV.

It appears to have realised an error in putting the league behind its own paywall. The inclusion of MLS with standard Apple TV makes more sense, though Apple TV still isn’t traditionally a go-to pay TV channel for soccer fans or sports fans.

St Louis City vs Charlotte FC

7.30 pm GMT, 8.30 pm CET.

The earliest kick-off in MLS this weekend, and the most convenient for European viewers on the continent, is the first game of the new season, between St Louis City and Charlotte FC.

Familiar faces

Charlotte FC has several personnel recognizable to European fans, including former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith in the head coach role, and former Manchester United and Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha on the field.

There are other former Premier League names, including Ashley Westwood and Tim Ream, while St Louis has former Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki between the posts.

Look out for

When St Louis plays well, it will often be thanks to Eduard Löwen pulling the strings from the center of the park, while his fellow German Marcel Hartel was one of the team's standout players in his first full MLS season last year, with nine goals and four assists.

Charlotte attacking midfielder Pep Biel was one of the best players in MLS in 2025 before a couple of injuries disrupted the end of his season. Look out for a potentially fruitful link-up with striker Idan Toklomati.

FC Cincinnati vs Atlanta United

This one kicks off at 9.45 pm UK time, 10.45 pm CET,  so it should be lined up ready to go once the game in St Louis has come to an end.

Familiar Faces

EFL Championship followers may recognise former Middlesbrough striker Emmanuel Latte Lath, who was an MLS record signing at the time he joined Atlanta in 2025, while they also boast the former Newcastle United winger Miguel Almirón, who is in his second stint in Atlanta, having originally moved from there to the Premier League.

Former Barcelona and Argentina manager Tata Martino is back at Atlanta as head coach.

Look Out For

The Georgian winger in Georgia, Saba Lobzhanidze, can change a game if he’s in the mood, and the same can be said of Russian attacking midfielder Aleksei Miranchuk. Both have something to prove this season, having not entirely lived up to expectations in MLS so far.

Cincinnati attacking midfielder Evander would be considered the best player in the league were it not for Messi’s presence in Miami.