What to look out for in MLS this season

30 teams vie for the first time in the league’s 30th season as the biggest Major League Soccer ever kicks off on Saturday.

Lionel Messi is among the new teams, along with new Britons in the league, and there is also a new team.

Between 2014 and 2018, Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba all played together for Barcelona.

They are currently collaborating with Inter Miami.

This will be a second full season at the club for Messi, one of football’s all-time greats, who joined midway through the 2023 season.

He is the club’s ‘ all-time ‘ top scorer with 34 goals – although they only started playing matches in 2020.

Mascherano, who last managed Argentina’s Olympics team, took charge in the off-season, replacing Gerardo Martino – who was Barca boss in 2013-14.

Last season, Suarez scored 25 goals and Messi, who had an injury-hit campaign and only played 25 times, netted 23.

After winning the MLS league at the end of the regular season, the club was unconcerned about being accepted into this summer’s Club World Cup.

However, Miami, who lost in the first round, is actually the team that won the post-season play-offs.

Cavan Sullivan, 15, has already played in three MLS games and is reportedly set to move to Manchester City in a few years.

At the age of 14, he made his MLS debut last year, signing the biggest deal in the league’s history for a youngster.

He stated to ESPN last year, “I think the Union and the City Group worked together for me.”

“I always watch Man City. They’re like every kid’s dream team. I sat down with my family and my agents to decide that this was the best way for Philadelphia and City to come together and come to terms.

Both teams have never officially announced the agreement.

A USA Under-17 international, Sullivan is also eligible for Germany.

For the first time, San Diego FC will increase the number of MLS teams to 30.

The club, founded by British-Egyptian businessman Mohamed Mansour, have an ownership group involving former Spain midfielder Juan Mata, the-winning musician Tems.

Paddy McNair, a Northern Irish international, signed for West Brom last summer and spent the first half of the season away from San Diego.

Former England Under-20 winger Alex Mighten, 22, who was on loan at Port Vale from Nottingham Forest last season, also joined the club in the summer.

Dean Smith, the ex-Aston Villa manager, is about to start his second season in charge of Charlotte FC, and he’s adding a well-known Premier League name to his team.

Wilfried Zaha, a legend at Crystal Palace, has signed from Galatasaray on a season-long loan.

Both the backroom staff and the playing staff at Atlanta United have a British vibe.

Ex-Celtic boss Ronny Deila was named as manager in December.

Elliot Parish, who played for a number of English lower league clubs and in the Scottish top flight, was appointed goalkeeping coach, while Kenny Miller, who was previously Scotland’s assistant manager, took over.

Carl Robinson, a former Wales international, is still in charge, while Brad Guzan, a former Aston Villa goalkeeper, is their captain.