It's Tuesday, MLS action returns for 2026 and it's time for ESPN's Power Rankings.
Who looks stronger in the first days of 2026? Who's up for a long year? Our editors studied the action of the first day to prepare this week's order. Let's dive in.
– Messi tracker: Goals, assists, key moments in 2026 for Miami and Argentina
– Can African players make an impact in MLS like they have in the NWSL?
– Messi struggles in MLS opener against LAFC, will that affect his World Cup hopes?
LAFC, already looking like title favorites before the season began, dominated Inter Miami with a 3-0 victory. Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-Min were certainly involved, but goals from attackers David Martínez and Nathan Ordaz will only make fans more hopeful at this early stage.
That attack looks pretty good! Offseason addition Warren Madrigal had a goal and two assists in a 4-1 win over the Revolution, and the Costa Rican international wasn't even the big-name signing. It was Cristian Espinoza, who also had a nice debut.
After the controversial decision to freeze designated player Hirving Lozano out of the team, all SDFC did to start the year was beat Pumas in the Concacaf Champions Cup and defeat Montreal 5-0 on Saturday. That match was more one-sided than expected due to the sending off, but five goals from five different scorers always impresses. Maybe they really are better off without Chucky?
The Whitecaps claimed a 1-0 home win over RSL thanks to a goal from AZ Jackson. Jackson arrived in the winter to help cover for the Caps, moving two wide attackers. It's a great opening performance and an important victory heading into the second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup against Cartaginés this week.
Losing Evander in the first 15 minutes of the game wasn't ideal, but FCC still managed to overcome the loss and win 2-0 over Atlanta United. Without the Brazilian star, the defense took a step forward, completely outplaying the Five Stripes, and Gerardo Valenzuela created three chances in his absence. Still, the FCC hopes it will return soon.
The Sounders overcame an early injury to Jordan Morris and a disrupted first half in which a goal was called back after a video review for a 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids to open their season. No one wants Morris to get hurt, but Paul Rothrock immediately stepped in in his absence and scored the second goal of the night.
This was not the start to the season the defending champions were looking for. The Herons fell 3-0 to LAFC at the Coliseum, and Lionel Messi's frustration with the referees spilled into the tunnel, making headlines afterwards. The real story could be how Miami's defensive woes from last season continued and the recovery time forward Germán Berterame might need. That being said, this team will still put up plenty of points.
Red Bulls coach Michael Bradley turned heads before his debut as first-team coach by starting a 17-year-old forward, a 16-year-old midfielder (Adri Mehmeti) and a 17-year-old defender (Matthew Dos Santos) away at Orlando City.
That striker, Julian Hall, scored twice in a 2-1 win in which the Red Bulls dominated and posted a 4.64 xG thanks to a fun first half. It's very early, but why not choose to believe?
The Timbers opened the season with a 3-2 home win over the Crew. There were some nervous moments (and some confusion at the back) but they won all three points thanks to Ariel Lassiter's late goal. Colombian Diego Chará made his 400th start for the Timbers in midfield and reached 90.
It's an auspicious MLS debut for Guilherme, who scored both Dynamo goals in a 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire. His offseason teammate Mateusz Bogusz had three shots, but manager Ben Olsen expects him to be more involved as the season progresses.
The defending Supporters' Shield winners traveled to the Concacaf Champions Cup in the Caribbean (which they won convincingly), but a 1-0 loss to DC United was not the start to 2026 they were hoping for. Seeing former striker Tai Baribo score the winning goal only made Union and their fans suffer more. Ezekiel Alladoh had a good debut in CCC, but was then expelled in this one for an obscene gesture and language.
1:11
DC United vs. Philadelphia Union: Match Highlights
Watch highlights from the DC United vs. Philadelphia Union, 02/21/2026
NYCFC needed some luck on penalties to find an equalizer in a 1-1 draw against the Galaxy, but Nico Fernandez did well to convert from the spot as the visitors overcame an early deficit. It was a deserved point and the Pigeons created more chances after conceding in the second minute.
An improbable brace from center Daniel Munie helped San Jose open the season with a 3-0 victory over Sporting KC. It's a good start, but the Quakes will climb even further up the standings if they can do so against teams with more established rosters than a transitioning SKC.
The Loons were able to earn a point on the road with a 2-2 draw at Austin FC, showing some signs that they could adapt under new coach Cameron Knowles while maintaining the identity built over the last few seasons. That could all change, of course, when winter addition James Rodriguez is up and running.
St. Louis opened the scoring thanks to a collective play capped by Marcel Hartel, but had to settle for a 1-1 tie after conceding 13 minutes later. Yoann Damet will be glad that many of the game's principles were on display, as St. Louis created scoring opportunities but couldn't convert enough.
Charlotte got off to a slow start, but got a goal from Pep Biel to earn a point in a 1-1 tie. The real hero, however, was goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina. The Croatian made 10 saves to help secure the point. Charlotte only had two ties all of last season, but this time it could be starting a new trend.
As Petar Musa is, so is FC Dallas, and on Saturday he scored a pair of goals in a 3-2 win over Toronto. It was a back-and-forth game and for FCD to continue winning, they will have to strengthen their defense. As long as the Croatian forward is fit, FC Dallas will earn points.
Offseason signing João Klauss got things underway for the 2026 season with a goal in the second minute, but the Galaxy were unable to maintain the lead. Carlos Garcés was sent off, conceding a penalty with the foul that earned him his second yellow, and they tied 1-1 with NYCFC. The Galaxy need to turn the page quickly with the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup series against Sporting San Miguelito on Tuesday.
1:09
LA Galaxy vs. New York City FC – Match Summary
LA Galaxy vs. New York City FC – Match Summary
The Crew got off to a good start in Portland with a goal from Wessam Abou Ali and also enjoyed a great goal from Diego Rossi, but they couldn't get anything out of the game, losing 3-2 after Lassiter lunged for a ball in the box that no one could clear. It will take more effort to match the heights of past seasons.
It was a fantastic start to the season for DC, with new signing Tai Baribo scoring a goal in a 1-0 win over Philadelphia Union. However, last season was so difficult that it's hard to put a DC much higher than 20 until we see some consistency.
After controlling the first half, the Fire could not handle Dynamo attacker Guilherme, who scored twice and the hosts beat the Fire by a score of 2-1. The first 45 minutes will give you something to build on.
Unlike last season, the goals were there for Austin in the 2-2 draw with Minnesota United, but conceding a couple of headers when that was certainly part of the tactical talk heading into a match with the Loons will leave Nico Estevez frustrated.
A trip to Vancouver is a tall order for the first game of the season, but RSL couldn't rise to the occasion. The Caps looked sharper in a 1-0 game in which the home team took the three points.
The Lions didn't really answer the bell as the New York Red Bulls launched wave after wave of attack. It wasn't until too late that Orlando was able to score in a 2-1 home loss to open the campaign.
At this point, it's hard to know if Atlanta United wants a new era or the old one with Tata Martino back on the bench. In any case, the performance was not good enough in the 2-0 defeat against FC Cincinnati.
Things are still falling into place for TFC with Josh Sargent soon arriving to lead the line, but a 3-2 loss to FC Dallas showed how far they have to go.
The Rapids closed out the MLS weekend by traveling to Seattle and falling 2-0. The first half of the game lacked momentum due to several video reviews, but the Rapids didn't offer much to get excited about with three shots on goal in the loss, none of them that dangerous.
The Revs had no answer to Nashville SC's dominant attack, falling 4-1 on the road in Marko Mitrovic's coaching debut. Leonardo Campana did link up with Carles Gil, but more of that will be needed in addition to the obvious improvements in defense.
This is a team that is still coming together, and it showed in a 3-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes. Raphael Wicky has his work cut out for him, even as more bodies arrive.
Tomás Avilés' red card in the 50th minute of Montreal's match against San Diego FC certainly didn't make things easier, but the Quebec team was already trailing 2-0 at that point en route to a 5-0 rout. It could be a long season.
