Countdown to the start of the MLS season

With the MLS (Major League Soccer) regular season set to kick off in just over a month, a
host of teams in North America and Canada will battle it out in order to crown themselves as
champions – a season on from championship wins for Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati, and
the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. 

Kicking off on February 21. until October as part of the MLS regular season this year, the
franchise also features a playoff period from October to December – with the above-
mentioned, Cincinnati looking to defend their Supporters’ Shield, while Columbus Cup look
to land a second consecutive victory in the MLS Cup. 

Featuring 15 teams in the Eastern Conference and a further 14 teams in the Western
Conference, betting availability on the MLS regular season is already available across many
sportsbooks, with the Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami FC opening as impressive +350 betting
favorites to land the MLS Cup this season. And with the season spanning across two coasts,
as well as multiple cities in the United States and Canada, punters in Louisana can use
sportsbook promos to bet on the upcoming MLS season which kicks off as early as
February 21. – as punters are encouraged to get their bets in early to land early off-season
odds. 

Early betting favorites in the United States to land the MLS Cup this season amid the
backing of former Manchester United and Real Madrid winger, David Beckland, and led by
Argentine star and FIFA World Cup winner, Lionel Messi, Inter Miami FC look to be one of
the more promising teams to keep an eye on for bettors and punters. 

With the addition of former FC Barcelona teammates, Jordi Alba and his Spanish
counterpart, Sergio Busquets to Inter Miami FC, up top, the above-mentioned former Paris
Saint Germain wide-man, Messi will be joined this season by former Blaugrana teammate,
former Liverpool striker, Luis Suarez as part of an eye-catching frontline for the Gerardo
Martion-led side. 

Also tipped to have a decent season in the Western Conference, Los Angeles FC will look to
veteran Italian center half and serial victor – UEFA EURO 2020 victor, Giorgio Chiellini to
lead the Californian side to a Conference victory, and potentially an MLS Cup victory. 

Furthermore, further down the field, former Arsenal starlet and Real Sociedad forward,
Carlos Vera leads the line once again for Los Angeles FC – while also in the state of
California, former Manchester United striker and Mexican forward, Javier ‘Chicharito’
Hernandez leads the LA Galaxy to a massive and important regular season for them. 

In ‘The Great White North’ – Toronto FC can look to their expanding side and particularly
experienced wide players in the hope of success this term, as Italian winger and former
Napoli favorite, Lorenzo Insigne joins his compatriot and fellow European Championships
winner, Federico Bernardeschi in search of a Conference win for the Canadian side. 

In last season’s MLS Cup finale, Columbus Crew landed their first championship victory
since a 2020 victory – scoring twice before half time through goals from both Juan
Hernandez and Yaw Yeboah enough to beat out the West coast Conference side, despite a
late fightback through a goal from Denis Bouanga – who has hit scintillating form since the
Frenchman’s move from Ligue 1 side, Saint Etienne. 

Netting 25 times last season, Bouanga landed the MLS Golden Boot victory ahead of
Columbus Crew finisher Cucho Hernandez, as well as other notable names including the
likes of Georgis Giakoumakis, as well as former Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Crystal Palace
striker, Christian Benteke. 

And following their MLS Cup finalist appearance last year, the above-mentioned Los Angeles
FC are current second betting favorites at +800 behind Inter Miami FC to win the MLS Cup,
with French shot-stopper, former Spurs goalkeeper and FIFA World Cup winner, Hugo Lloris
joining the Californian club for two seasons at least for the Western Conference side. 

With the MLS regular season kicking off in the coming month, the shocking move of the
above-mentioned serial winner, Messi from his Paris side to Inter Miami, as well as the
recent acquisition of Uruguayan striker, Suarez has only helped almost tenfold in terms of
immediate popularity for not just MLS but football – or soccer in North America as a whole.

Comparisons with Messi’s stunning arrival to ‘The Sunshine State’ have already been made
with the above-mentioned former England national team captain, Beckham’s massive arrival
at LA Galaxy in the mid-2000s from La Liga giants Real Madrid – as well as the late Brazilian
icon, Pele’s period with the now-defunct New York Cosmos back in the mid-1970s. 

Appearing in nine separate MLS Cup finals since their inception, the LA Galaxy have been
on a baron run without a finale victory since their 2014 triumph, however, a victory this year –
although unlikely according to punters, would see them extend their record number of Cup
wins to six victories total, two more ahead of closest rivals, DC United.