It’s the final matchday before the 2026 MLS season pauses for the FIFA World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n We’ve got the Portland Timbers<\/a> hosting Walmart Saturday Showdown and the Columbus Crew<\/a> hosting Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire.<\/p>\n Then on Sunday night, there’s a can’t-miss FOX doubleheader featuring Lionel Messi<\/a> and Inter Miami CF<\/a> followed by Son Heung-Min<\/a> and LAFC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Last weekend of games before the World Cup break. \ud83c\udf7f<\/p>\n Action kicks off Saturday at 2:45pm ET on Apple TV and FOX. \ud83d\udcfa pic.twitter.com\/JU7fOFvs4I<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 21, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n The Portland Timbers<\/a> return to the friendly confines of Providence Park for the first time since a historic 6-0 win<\/a> over Sporting Kansas City<\/a> on Matchday 12.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n In that game, Kristoffer Velde<\/a> scored a banger and Kevin Kelsy<\/a> bagged a brace. Along with David Da Costa<\/a>, the trio has produced 4g\/7a across their past three matches.<\/p>\n The\u00a0San Jose Earthquakes<\/a> have been among the best stories of the 2026 season, rocketing towards the top of the league standings under legendary head coach Bruce Arena.<\/p>\n But with marquee signing Timo Werner<\/a> and homegrown midfielder Niko Tsakiris<\/a> out due to injury, San Jose will look to leading goal contributor Preston Judd<\/a> and midfielder Beau Leroux<\/a> to snap out of a four-match winless streak.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Two Eastern Conference squads looking to enter the World Cup break on a positive note meet in Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire.\u00a0<\/p>\n Former CF Montr\u00e9al<\/a> manager Laurent Courtois has taken the reins as Columbus’ interim coach after the club parted ways with<\/a>\u00a0Henrik Rydstr\u00f6m last weekend.<\/p>\n The Crew will lean on USMNT<\/a> wingback Max Arfsten<\/a>, who is trying to solidify his spot on Mauricio Pochettino’s World Cup roster. He has 4g\/4a this season, and scored the game-winner in Columbus’ midweek US Open Cup<\/a> quarterfinal victory.\u00a0<\/p>\n Atlanta United<\/a> could see the return of star midfielder Miguel Amir\u00f3n<\/a> for their final pre-World Cup match. The Paraguayan icon has been out since mid-April with a knee injury.<\/p>\n If Almir\u00f3n isn’t good to go, fellow Designated Players\u00a0Alexey Miranchuk<\/a> and Emmanuel Latte Lath<\/a> will be counted on. They’ve combined for 7g\/4a this year.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Fresh off their first win at Nu Stadium, Inter Miami will try to make it two in a row at their sparkling new home following last weekend’s 2-0 victory<\/a> over Portland.\u00a0<\/p>\n Messi has been on an absolute tear with 5g\/6a in his last four games, showing his elite quality ahead of Argentina’s World Cup title defense this summer.<\/p>\n The back-to-back Landon Donovan MLS MVP, alongside Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul<\/a>, would love nothing more than a winning send-off.<\/p>\n The Philadelphia Union<\/a> have struggled since winning the 2025 Supporters’ Shield, but are coming off a\u00a01-1 draw<\/a> against Columbus after Milan Iloski<\/a> netted a late equalizer.\u00a0<\/p>\n Central midfielder Danley Jean Jacques<\/a> was recently called up to Haiti’s World Cup squad<\/a>, and homegrown phenom Cavan Sullivan<\/a> scored his first MLS goal<\/a> against Orlando City<\/a> in mid-May.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n LAFC<\/a> have lost three straight after reaching the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup<\/a> semifinals. Can their game-changing attackers end this slump?\u00a0<\/p>\n World Cup-bound<\/a> South Korean superstar Son Heung-Min<\/a> has an MLS-best nine assists. Additionally, club legend\u00a0Denis Bouanga<\/a> and rising Venezuelan international\u00a0David Mart\u00ednez<\/a> can produce magic at a moment’s notice.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Seattle Sounders FC<\/a> are looking to rebound from a 2-0 defeat<\/a> to the LA Galaxy<\/a> last weekend, which snapped their 22-match unbeaten streak at home.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Paul Rothrock<\/a> has a team-high four goals, and captain Cristian Roldan<\/a> has one final chance to solidify his spot on Pochettino’s USMNT World Cup roster.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/main><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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