MLS Preseason Rankings: What They Really Tell Us
Every winter, MLS preseason rankings kick off passionate debates among fans, pundits, and analysts. They try to forecast who will soar and who might struggle in the upcoming season. While these rankings are fun and insightful, they’re often based on potential rather than performance, and many elements can shift once the regular season begins.
2026 Favorites & Key Stats
As the MLS 2026 season approaches, bookmakers and analysts have already given us a sense of who the early favorites are:
-
Inter Miami CF enter the year as the top betting favorite to win the MLS Cup, with odds around +400 thanks to back-to-back MVP and Golden Boot performances from Lionel Messi and their championship pedigree from 2025. Some pundits doubt their chances after losing key architects, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to retirement and Luis Suarez possibly losing his starting spot to more youthful players. At Atlantic Soccer Company, we believe Inter Miami's recent additions of German Berterame, 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair, defenders Sergio Reguilon, Facundo Mura, and Micael makes us believe Miami and Messi will hit new heights.
-
Los Angeles FC (LAFC) sit close behind at roughly +550 to +600, buoyed by the addition of Son Heung-min and a potent attack that also includes Denis Bouanga. We saw glimpses of their brilliance in the second half of the last season, can they continue this trend for a full calendar year?
-
Vancouver Whitecaps led by Thomas Muller and 2025 debutants San Diego FC round out the next tier of contenders with longer, but still competitive, and exciting title odds.
These ladder odds roughly align with many power rankings that see Inter Miami and LAFC at the top heading into the season.
Stars to Watch in 2026
Part of why Miami and LAFC are preseason favorites is the sheer individual talent expected to influence the season:
-
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) — Messi has already been historic in MLS — 29 goals and 19 assists in 28 games last year and could chase new records in 2026.
-
Son Heung-min (LAFC) — In his first MLS stretch, Son hit 9 goals and 3 assists in just 10 games, showing he can immediately impact the league.
-
Denis Bouanga (LAFC) — Bouanga, one of MLS’s most consistent attackers, led the Western Conference in goals in 2025 and enters this season poised for another big campaign.
-
Other standouts like Evander (FC Cincinnati) and Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC) also feature in top star rankings for 2026.
Atlantic Soccer Company's Preseason Rankings :
EAST:
- Inter Miami CF
- FC Cincinnati
- Atlanta United
- Orlando City SC
- Columbus Crew
- Philadelphia Union
- Charlotte FC
- New York Red Bulls
- Chicago Fire FC
- Nashville SC
- New York City FC
- New England Revolution
- D.C. United
- Toronto FC
- CF Montréal
WEST:
- LAFC
- Vancouver Whitecaps
- San Diego FC
- Seattle Sounders FC
- Minnesota United FC
- Real Salt Lake
- Austin FC
- San Jose Earthquakes
- LA Galaxy
- Houston Dynamo FC
- Colorado Rapids
- Portland Timbers
- FC Dallas
- St. Louis City SC
- Sporting Kansas City
Why Rankings Matter — but Don’t Guarantee Outcomes
Rankings are typically based on last season’s results, offseason movements, roster depth, coaching changes, and expectations around star players. High preseason rankings can reflect momentum and public perception, but MLS’s unique salary cap structure, midseason tournaments, and international call-ups (including the 2026 World Cup) make the league notoriously unpredictable.
For fans, these early power rankings fuel optimism and debate, which team will rise, which star will shine, and who might surprise? But the real stories begin once the whistle blows on Opening Weekend.
Key matches to watch on Opening Weekend:
Atlanta visits Cincinnati @ 4:30 PM 2/21
LAFC hosts Inter Miami @ 9:30 PM 2/21
Columbus heads to Portland @ 10:30 PM 2/21
