Top Things to Watch in MLS This Week
ABC and FOX Showcase Regional Rivalries with LA vs. LA and a Charlotte vs. Atlanta Rematch
Week 6 of MLS action will see five nationally televised games highlight an incredible slate of matches.
WEEK 6 NATIONAL BROADCASTS
Saturday, April 9
Orlando City SC vs. Chicago Fire FC
1 p.m. ET, Univision / TUDN / Twitter - English Audio
Inter Miami CF vs. New England Revolution
3 p.m. ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
LA Galaxy vs. Los Angeles Football Club
7:30 p.m. ET, FOX / FOX Deportes
Sunday, April 10
Charlotte FC vs. Atlanta United
1:30 p.m. ET, ABC / ESPN Deportes
Austin FC vs. Minnesota United FC
7:30 p.m. ET, FS1 / FOX Deportes
Carlos Vela and Chicharito Face Off for First Time in El Tráfico
This Saturday, Mexican stars Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and Carlos Vela headline the 13th edition of El Tráfico - the rivalry match between the LA Galaxy and the Los Angeles Football Club (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX / FOX Deportes). The Galaxy (3W-2L-0T, 9 pts.) will host an unbeaten LAFC team (4W-0L-1D, 13 pts.) in the first of two matches between the rival clubs this season. LAFC will host the second match on July 8.
Last facing off in UEFA Champions League play in 2013 and 2014, early MVP candidates and former Mexican national team teammates Javier “Chicharito” Hernández of the Galaxy and LAFC’s Carlos Vela are set to meet head-to-head for the first time in MLS play. The pair last shared the field as teammates in 2018 during the Round of 16 in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
While the two have yet to see each other in El Tráfico action, both have made their mark on the rivalry. Vela has scored eight goals in just seven matches against the LA Galaxy, while Chicharito has registered a goal and two assists in his two career El Tráfico appearances. Hernández, fresh off a brace in the club’s Week 5 win over Portland, looks to strengthen the Galaxy’s grip on the series in the first of two meetings this season.
REMATCH: The Heat Turns Up Down South as Charlotte FC Host Atlanta
Meeting for the second time in less than a month, budding rivals Charlotte FC and Atlanta United will write the second chapter of their young history at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday (1:30 p.m. ET, ABC / ESPN Deportes). Their first meeting was an instant classic, as an emotional 96th-minute goal from Atlanta United’s Jake Mulraney broke a 1-1 tie and kept Charlotte waiting for the club’s first victory. Led by Designated Player Karol Swiderski , Charlotte FC are happy to return home where the team is riding a two-game winning streak after beating FC Cincinnati in Week 4 and the New England Revolution in Week 3.
Perennial contenders Atlanta United will look to gain ground in the standings against their neighbors to the north.
Fire Look to Remain Unbeaten as they Travel to Orlando
Joining the Philadelphia Union and LAFC as one of the final three unbeaten teams in 2022, the Chicago Fire head to Orlando on Saturday (1 p.m. ET, Univision / TUDN / Twitter - English audio). The Fire have proven their defensive mettle early in the season, allowing a league-low one goal behind an MLS-best four clean sheets from 17-year-old goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina . Chicago is one of just four teams in MLS history to allow one or fewer goals through the first five games of a season and look to join 2012 Sporting Kansas City (U.S. Open Cup champions that season) and 2020 MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew as the only squads to allow one goal through its first six games.
Orlando City SC, led by forward Alexandre Pato and goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, look to shake off a two-game home skid and return to the winner’s circle. Twenty-one-year-old Facundo Torres has come on as of late, registering a goal and an assist across his past three, and he’ll look for an early statement game against the defensive stalwarts in Chicago.
Minnesota United FC Aims to Disarm Austin’s Homefield Advantage
Two of the Western Conference’s strongest starters close the weekend’s schedule at Q2 Stadium as Minnesota United FC arrive in Austin on Sunday evening (7:30 p.m. ET, FS1 / FOX Deportes). Winners of four of their past five at home, Austin FC is unbeaten at Q2 Stadium since October 24, 2021, and has scored 16 goals over that span. Austin averages 1.9 goals per game at home in contrast to .53 per game on the road. Minnesota United will look to slow Austin’s hot start and has unleashed a dynamic defense this season, allowing just four goals through five games en route to a 2-1-2 record.
Unbeaten Teams Look to Remain Unblemished
Three clubs – Chicago Fire FC, LAFC and Philadelphia Union – remain undefeated through their first five games of the season. Should the three clubs remain unblemished through Week 6, the trio would tie the MLS record for the most undefeated teams through six games, joining the 2021 triumvirate of Nashville SC, Orlando City SC and Seattle Sounders FC. The Sounders last year set the MLS record with 13 games undefeated to start the season (8-0-5).
Coastal Battle: NYCFC and Seattle Sounders FC Face Off for Champions League Final Berth
Reigning MLS Cup champions New York City FC and Valentín “Taty” Castellanos prepare to face Seattle Sounders FC and Fredy Montero in the semifinals of the region’s premier club tournament.
With both clubs vying for a spot in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Final, the pressure is mounting from the two scoring sensations in setting the tone ahead of a guaranteed MLS-vs.-Liga MX tournament final. NYCFC’s Castellanos, the 2021 MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi winner, has four goals as the second-leading scorer in the competition. However, Sounders FC’s Montero is nipping at his heels after notching three goals in Seattle’s last two CCL appearances.
Leg 1 is set for Wednesday, April 6 at Lumen Field (10 p.m. ET, FS2 / TUDN). Leg 2 takes place one week later on April 13 at Red Bull Arena, with broadcast details to be announced.
Stars of Tomorrow On Display at the 2022 Generation adidas Cup
Later this week, Generation adidas Cup, an elite youth tournament featuring MLS and professional club academies from around the globe, will make its return following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 80 professional academies from 10 countries across four continents will compete in U-17 and U-15 tournament play at the Toyota Soccer Center at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas from April 9-17.
Generation adidas Cup provides another prominent stage to showcase Major League Soccer’s player development platform, as all 28 MLS clubs will have academy representation in both the U-17 and U-15 divisions. Additionally, the academy for MLS’ 29th club, St. Louis CITY SC, will compete in the U-17 division. In 2019, the Seattle Sounders FC U-17 squad became the first MLS team to win the event since its international expansion in 2014, defeating Valencia 1-0 in the Champions Division title game.
Notable alumni of Generation adidas Cup now starring on the global stage include U.S. Men’s National Team call-ups Zack Steffen (2012 GA Cup participant, Philadelphia Union), Reggie Cannon (2015, FC Dallas), Weston McKennie (2015, FC Dallas), Jesús Ferreira (2016, FC Dallas), Gianluca Busio (2017-18, Sporting Kansas City), George Bello (2017-18, Atlanta United FC) and Ricardo Pepi (2019, FC Dallas).
Adding to the largest field in the 13-year history of the Generation adidas Cup are 23 international teams from several of the premier clubs in the global game. Represented in both the U-17 and U-15 divisions are Manchester United of the Premier League, River Plate of the Argentine Primera División, Celtic of the Scottish Premiership and Flamengo of Serie A. Ten teams from seven different Liga MX clubs will also compete against their MLS counterparts, including Club Tijuana (U-15, U-17), Cruz Azul (U-15, U-17), Tigres UANL (U-15, U-17), Club America (U-17), Club León (U-17), Monterrey (U-17) and Santos Laguna (U-17). Generation adidas Cup further strengthens the competitive collaboration between the two leagues, building on the successes of Campeones Cup, Leagues Cup and the 2021 MLS All-Star Game presented by presented by Target.
Amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Professional Referee Organization officials are helping some of their own after former MLS referee, FIFA referee, and National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee Esse Baharmast started a fundraiser to support Ukrainian soccer officials in need of assistance. Working together, the distribution of funds will be facilitated by former FIFA Women’s World Cup Final referee Kateryna Monzul.
More MLS NEXT Pro Shootouts Coming in Week Three?
Through the first two weeks of the inaugural season of MLS NEXT Pro there have been five shootouts: two in Week 1 followed by three this past weekend. New England Revolution II, Colorado Rapids 2, Whitecaps FC 2, North Texas SC and Orlando City B have all been victorious in kicks from the penalty mark. NYCFC II is the only club to have both its matches so far this season result in shootouts, falling in both.
Week 2 saw Houston Dynamo 2 become the only club to win its first two matches this season after picking up a 1-0 win over Earthquakes II on Sunday. Papa N’Doye’s header from close range (7’) was the difference maker, coming after a Marcelo Palomino free kick from the left side of the box. WATCH GOAL
Looking ahead to Week 3, on a busy Sunday with eight matches Inter Miami II will host Orlando City B in the Game of the Week. The enhanced broadcast will feature Josh Appel and Ricky Lopez-Espin on the call (5:30 p.m. ET, mlsnextpro.com).
