News Summary
The Major League Soccer season is set to be the most competitive yet, with 30 teams participating in five competitions alongside the regular season. Teams must navigate a congested schedule, leading to a decline in summer friendlies. Notable matchups include Aston Villa against St. Louis CITY SC and Nashville SC. Additionally, international friendly matches involving Eintracht Frankfurt and D.C. United further showcase the club’s expansion. Amid this, individual performances shine, such as Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge leading in goals and LAFC consolidating their strong standing in the Western Conference.
St. Louis – The 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) season is shaping up to be the most crowded in league history, with a total of 30 clubs competing across five different competitions in addition to the regular season. This unprecedented situation presents unique challenges for teams as they balance multiple match schedules.
Most MLS clubs will engage in a maximum of two competitions, but several high-profile teams, including Inter Miami CF, Seattle Sounders FC, and Los Angeles FC, will participate in the FIFA Club World Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup, and Leagues Cup. The increased match congestion has significantly impacted the number of traditional summer friendlies, leading to only four scheduled games this summer.
Among the limited friendlies, Premier League side Aston Villa will face St. Louis CITY SC on July 30 and Nashville SC on August 2, 2025. St. Louis CITY SC faces significant challenges this season, having recently terminated head coach Olof Mellberg after just 15 games, where the team managed only three wins in their first 21 matches.
Nashville SC, on the other hand, is actively competing in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals and is also focused on success in the MLS playoffs. Due to their commitments, Nashville SC may choose to rotate their squad during the friendly matches against Aston Villa.
Eintracht Frankfurt is also set to participate in friendly matches, particularly against the Philadelphia Union on August 2. This encounter is part of Frankfurt’s internationalization initiative ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. Additionally, Frankfurt will face Louisville City, further highlighting their efforts to expand their presence in international football.
The friendly match between Frankfurt and the Union represents the cooperative relationship between the two cities, which have been sister cities since 2015. Furthermore, D.C. United will challenge the Ethiopian national team, the Walia Ibex, marking the second consecutive year an MLS team has played against an international side. The Ethiopian team is currently engaged in FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, striving for crucial points in their group to advance to the tournament.
In the MLS, Los Angeles FC recently enjoyed a successful week, recording their second consecutive victory by defeating FC Dallas 2-0. Goals from Nathan Ordaz and Denis Bouanga contributed to LAFC’s impressive performance, which has them currently holding a record of 9-5-5 and sitting sixth in the Western Conference standings. This victory continues LAFC’s dominant home streak against FC Dallas, extending to six wins since May 2019.
In terms of individual performances, Sam Surridge of Nashville SC is leading the league with 16 goals this season, closely followed by superstar Lionel Messi, who has been consistently finding the back of the net. Nashville SC recently showcased their resilience by overcoming a deficit to defeat D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals, scoring five unanswered goals after initially trailing.
The combination of crowded schedules, competitive matches, and limited friendlies creates a uniquely challenging environment for teams in the 2025 MLS season. Clubs are tasked with managing their players effectively while facing tough opponents across multiple competitions.
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Additional Resources
- MLS Match: St. Louis vs. Sporting Kansas City
- LAFC vs. FC Dallas Recap
- Match Center: D.C. United vs. LA Galaxy
- Lionel Messi and MLS Goal-Scoring Records
- Charlotte FC Extends Loan for Pep Biel
- Wikipedia: Major League Soccer
- Google Search: 2025 MLS season
- Google Scholar: Major League Soccer
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Major League Soccer
- Google News: 2025 MLS news
Author: STAFF HERE CLEVELAND WRITER
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