{"id":919817,"date":"2026-07-14T17:13:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T22:13:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/14\/matchday-16-watch-guide-what-to-know-as-mls-returns-mlssoccer-com\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T17:13:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T22:13:28","slug":"matchday-16-watch-guide-what-to-know-as-mls-returns-mlssoccer-com","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/14\/matchday-16-watch-guide-what-to-know-as-mls-returns-mlssoccer-com\/","title":{"rendered":"Matchday 16 watch guide! What to know as MLS returns | MLSSoccer.com"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer <\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Goodbye (soon), 2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/competitions\/fifa-world-cup\">FIFA World Cup<\/a>. Hello (again), 2026 MLS regular season.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>League action resumes this week following a nearly two-month pause, with <strong>six must-see games<\/strong> on Thursday and Friday night setting the stage for a thrilling second half of the season.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what to know as MLS returns with a bang before Sunday&#8217;s World Cup final.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><h3>CF Montr\u00e9al vs. Toronto FC<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>WHEN:<\/strong> Thursday, 7:30 pm ET<\/li>\n<li><strong>WATCH:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/soc.cr\/44ea1QU\" target=\"_blank\">Apple TV<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>Things get started with one of MLS&#8217;s fiercest rivalries, as Canadian Classique foes\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/cf-montreal\/\">CF Montr\u00e9al<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/toronto-fc\/\">Toronto FC<\/a> both eye a statement performance to get back into the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs picture.<\/p>\n<p>Will club-record signing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/josh-sargent\/\">Josh Sargent<\/a> step up for the visitors at Stade Saputo? Or will Montr\u00e9al striker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/daniel-rios\/\">Daniel R\u00edos<\/a> set the tone for the hosts?<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>At the 2026 World Cup, Toronto&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/richie-laryea\/\">Richie Laryea<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/jonathan-osorio\/\">Jonathan Osorio<\/a> helped fuel <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/canada\/\">Canada<\/a>&#8216;s historic run to the Round of 16.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\n                                <iframe data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xFzgb0diGDc?feature=oembed\" allowfullscreen title=\"Josh Sargent LATE MATCH WINNER for Toronto FC!\"><\/iframe>\n                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><h3>Chicago Fire FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>WHEN:<\/strong> Thursday, 8:30 pm ET<\/li>\n<li><strong>WATCH:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/soc.cr\/4y6vKHT\" target=\"_blank\">Apple TV<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>This clash took on even greater significance when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/chicago-fire-fc\/\">Chicago Fire FC<\/a> announced the arrival of legendary striker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/robert-lewandowski\/\">Robert Lewandowski<\/a> late last month.<\/p>\n<p>Should Lewandowski make his Fire debut, he could face former Bayern Munich teammate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/thomas-muller\/\">Thomas M\u00fcller<\/a>, who leads Western Conference leaders\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/vancouver-whitecaps-fc\/\">Vancouver<\/a> into Soldier Field.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>For World Cup tie-ins, Fire center back <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/mbekezeli-mbokazi\/\">Mbekezeli Mbokazi<\/a> was stellar for South Africa, while Whitecaps midfielder <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/sebastian-berhalter\">Sebastian Berhalter<\/a> played a key role with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/us-men-s-national-team\/\">United States<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote><p>\u2014 Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ChicagoFire\/status\/2071688576727667089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><h3>St. Louis CITY SC vs. Sporting Kansas City<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>WHEN:<\/strong> Thursday, 8:30 pm ET<\/li>\n<li><strong>WATCH:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tv.apple.com\/us\/sporting-event\/st-louis-city-sc-vs-sporting-kansas-city\/umc.cse.6yhrokyyi4hherqyq829as6ui?ctx_brand=tvs.sbd.7000%2Ctvs.sbd.4000\" target=\"_blank\">Apple TV<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Another rivalry takes center stage when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/st-louis-city-sc\/\">St. Louis CITY<\/a> welcome <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/sporting-kansas-city\/\">Sporting Kansas City<\/a> to Energizer Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Expect a heated battle between Midwest rivals eyeing a second-half turnaround following an offseason of change.<\/p>\n<p>Sporting KC striker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/dejan-joveljic\/\">Dejan Jovelji\u0107<\/a> hopes to score in a third straight matchup against a St. Louis side that&#8217;s led by midfielder <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/marcel-hartel\/\">Marcel Hartel<\/a>, who has a team-best five goal contributions (3g\/2a).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><h3>Seattle Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>WHEN:<\/strong> Thursday, 10:30 pm ET<\/li>\n<li><strong>WATCH:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/soc.cr\/4goYJ3w\" target=\"_blank\">Apple TV<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>Fresh off\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/competitions\/fifa-world-cup\/news\/seattle-world-cup-usmnt-moment-lives-up-to-hype\">hosting<\/a> six World Cup matches, Seattle remains in the spotlight as the site of the latest Cascadia Cup derby.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/seattle-sounders-fc\/\">Sounders<\/a> take on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/portland-timbers\/\">Timbers<\/a> in a high-stakes affair that always brings out the best in these bitter rivals.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/jesus-ferreira\">Jes\u00fas Ferreira<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/albert-rusnak\/\">Albert Rusn\u00e1k<\/a> help lead the home side, while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/kristoffer-velde\">Kristoffer Velde<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/david-da-costa\/\">David Da Costa<\/a> will look to spoil the party at Lumen Field.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><h3>Nashville SC vs. Atlanta United<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>WHEN:<\/strong> Friday, 8:10 pm ET<\/li>\n<li><strong>WATCH:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/soc.cr\/4y8tzn8\" target=\"_blank\">Apple TV<\/a>; FOX, FOX Deportes<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/nashville-sc\/\">Nashville SC<\/a> will look to pick up where they left off, leading the Supporters&#8217; Shield race with an MLS-best 33 points (10W-1L-3D record).\u00a0<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The Designated Player trio of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/hany-mukhtar\/\">Hany Mukhtar<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/sam-surridge\/\">Sam Surridge<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/cristian-espinoza\/\">Cristian Espinoza<\/a> paces Nashville, who made the 2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/competitions\/concacaf-champions-cup\/\">Concacaf Champions Cup<\/a> semifinals earlier this year.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>They&#8217;ll face an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/atlanta-united\/\">Atlanta United<\/a> side counting on top scorer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/aleksey-miranchuk\/\">Alexey Miranchuk<\/a>\u00a0and Paraguayan World Cup veteran <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/miguel-almiron\/\">Miguel Almir\u00f3n<\/a> to help push back into the playoff race.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><h3>LA Galaxy vs. LAFC<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>WHEN:<\/strong> Friday, 10:25 pm ET<\/li>\n<li><strong>WATCH:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/soc.cr\/44PbBZw\" target=\"_blank\">Apple TV<\/a>; FOX, FOX Deportes<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>El Tr\u00e1fico. Two words that have become synonymous with must-see soccer.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/la-galaxy\/\">LA Galaxy<\/a> and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/clubs\/los-angeles-football-club\/\">LAFC<\/a> always deliver on the big stage, and the World Cup vibes still lingering in the air will surely add to the intensity.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s star power galore, especially with the Black &#038; Gold&#8217;s fearsome duo of South Korean icon <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/son-heung-min\/\">Son Heung-Min<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/denis-bouanga\/\">Denis Bouanga<\/a> commanding the attack.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>For the Galaxy, legendary German playmaker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/marco-reus\/\">Marco Reus<\/a> pulls the strings alongside <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/players\/joseph-paintsil\/\">Joseph Paintsil<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><h3>Polymarket Insights<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p>MLS returns to action in Matchday 16 with a slew of thrilling matchups on Thursday and Friday.<\/p>\n<p>Who will come out on top? Which teams are favored? Is there an upset brewing?<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/polymarket-app.onelink.me\/S8ac?af_xp=referral&#038;pid=MLS50&#038;c=MLS50&#038;deep_link_sub1=MLS50&#038;af_sub1=editorial\" target=\"_blank\">Download Polymarket<\/a>:\u00a0<strong>$50 Bonus with code MLS50<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/news\/matchday-16-watch-guide-what-to-know-as-mls-returns\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a>Thomas Catt<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer Goodbye (soon), 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hello (again), 2026 MLS regular season. League action resumes this week following a nearly two-month pause, with six must-see games on Thursday and Friday night setting the stage for a thrilling second half of the season. Here&#8217;s what to know as MLS returns with a bang before Sunday&#8217;s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":919818,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[119564,2005,451],"tags":[119563,5442],"class_list":["post-919817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-matchday","category-soccer","category-watch","tag-matchday","tag-watch"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/919817","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=919817"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/919817\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/919818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=919817"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=919817"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=919817"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}