The two favorites to capture MLS Cup in 2026 won’t have to wait until December’s league final to stake a claim as the team to beat.

Not long after winning his first Major League Soccer championship, Lionel Messi commences his repeat effort with Inter Miami on Saturday at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum against the clear second choice to take it all 10 months from now, Son Heung-min’s Los Angeles Football Club,

Forgoing a home opener in the cauldron that comes with playing in front of 22,000 supporters at BMO Stadium, the showcase at the Coliseum, a first for LAFC, is expected to draw more than 70,000 spectators.

For a reloaded Miami squad, the intention out of the gate is obvious: Win everything. Messi remains an insatiable competitor, and this offseason brought several high-value teammates to his side. That new group – including a third designated player, Mexican forward Germán Berterame, and 2025 MLS goalkeeper of the year Dayne St. Clair – will seek to become the only opponent not to lose to LAFC on opening day.

With the Black & Gold previously led by coaches Bob Bradley and Steve Cherundolo, the chore of maintaining LAFC’s 8-0-0 streak to mark the start of the MLS calendar (and winning everything it can) now falls to former assistant Marc Dos Santos, whose team, bolstered by several newcomers as well, must limit the best footballer of all time and his talented friends to earn three points this weekend.

Facing minimal resistance throughout Tuesday’s 6-1 video-game style drubbing of Real España in Honduras, not much was revealed about the trajectory of Dos Santos’s inaugural season. As impressive as Leg 1 of the Round of 16 CONCACAF Cup series appeared to be, a definitive performance and result against the reigning MLS champs Saturday would go a long way toward letting fans know that LAFC soccer ops has again meshed a supremely competitive squad with the right head coach to lead them.

What’s tactically different with Dos Santos?

Moving from Bradley to Cherundolo there was a downshift: possession to transition and caution to the wind to just caution. Dos Santos intends to operate more in Bradley’s direction. Acquiring speedy wingers and letting midfielders operate as attackers is likely to service Sonny, Denis Bouanga (and whatever third option is in the mix) in space or direct from distance.

If opponents sit back in a low block, playmakers up the middle will be leaned on to solve that riddle.

LAFC will want to play with the ball much more than recent years while relying on a purposeful counterpress to stymie counterattacks from going the other way against its 4-2-3-1 formation.

Will Denis Bouanga extend his MLS scoring streak?

Not only will the winger continue his record regular-season run with 20 or more goals to a fourth consecutive year, but will he have company?

At this point, it’s difficult to discuss Bouanga without factoring Sonny into the equation. A hat trick Tuesday moved Bouanga’s LAFC-leading goal tally to 104 in all competitions. If Dos Santos does remove the rev limiter on LAFC’s engine, then Bouanga should be in line to challenge his career-high 24 goals last year and surpass 30 in all competitions for the third time.

Now about having company: No MLS team has featured a pair of 20-goal scorers in the same season. That said, no MLS team had Bouanga and Son operating together for a full year either.

Was the loan for Stephen Eustáquio a big deal?

First impression from LAFC supporters after his debut Tuesday: dix months isn’t long enough.

Eustaquio won’t be a wrecking ball at the rear of LAFC’s midfield like Igor Jesus. He’s too smooth for that and they’re not the same profile. However, Eustáquio’s poise and sense of space set up just as well to stall opponent’s advances at Hugo Lloris. Where he seems to excel is in possession and moving the ball forward in a good way, like picking out the long pass over the top that settled perfectly at Son’s feet earlier in the week.

Dos Santos regards Eustáquio, on loan from FC Porto through June 30, as a “coach on the field” and noted that the Canadian national team vice-captain’s “grind to get to the highest level and play in Champions League is the kind of grind that he shows every day.” With Eustáquio playing next to Mark Delgado, LAFC should hold the upper hand in the middle of the park against most opponents.

Can Dos Santos unlock David Martínez?

Between flashes of genius and spells of not giving Cherundolo what he wanted, the gifted Venezuelan had a tough time finding his footing on the wing the past two years.

Dos Santos believes the best way to maximize Martínez’s ability to threaten opponents is on the inside, a significant adjustment that relies on the 20-year-old’s vision and ability to put the ball into space. When it comes to defending, the U-22 Initiative signing, whom Dos Santos believes grew up the way Nathan Ordaz did ahead of last year, will patrol wide areas as he tries to ramp up his minutes. When he’s on, Martínez’s presence makes LAFC nearly undefendable.

INTER MIAMI CF AT LAFC

When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

TV/Radio: Apple TV/710 AM, 980 AM, 1230 AM

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