🖐️ things we learned from opening weekend in MLS | OneFootball

The opening weekend of the 2025 MLS season was one for the ages. We saw rivalry thrashings, bags of goals, a league debutant stunning the current champions, and plenty more.

Here are five big takeaways from the weekend that was in MLS.

MLS' big offseason signings have already raised the level

📸 Brett Davis-Imagn Images

This winter offseason felt different for MLS. The big-money signings have already raised the level on the pitch, and the league can only benefit from that.

We'll start in Atlanta, where the Five Stripes rolled out MLS-record signing Emmanuel Latte Lath for the first time, and the former Middlesbrough man bagged two goals in a win over CF Montréal.

Meanwhile, in Cincinnati, Kévin Denkey made his first start in front of the faithful at TQL Stadium and scored the winner in a narrow victory over the Red Bulls. The Togolese striker's move to Cincinnati from Belgium was the MLS-record transfer until Latte Lath signed for Atlanta United.

Elsewhere in the league, Chucky Lozano bagged on his debut for MLS newcomers San Diego FC.

One thing you can say for the 2025 season is the offseason investment is already paying off for a number of teams.

The San Jose Earthquakes have put the rest of the league on alert

📸 John Hefti-Imagn Images

Don't look now, but Bruce Arena's San Jose Earthquakes look like a true force to be reckoned with.

The Quakes kicked off their season with an emphatic 4-0 win over Real Salt Lake to usher in a new era in the Bay Area.

What's more, neither of San Jose major striker signings from the winter, Chicho Arango or Josef Martínez, got on the scoresheet. It was the supporting cast who put on a show.

Last season finished bottom of the league with just six wins in 34 games, but credit must be given to the club's decision makers for pulling off a seemingly revolutionary offseason.

How great was it to see PayPal Park truly rocking for the first time in what feels like ages?

Vancouver have become Portland's bogey team

📸 Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Around MLS it is no secret, Providence Park is one of the toughest places to go play in all of the league with the hostile atmosphere Portland Timbers fans create — but not for the Vancouver Whitecaps apparently.

The Canadian club ran out 4-1 winners in Portland Sunday afternoon after Timbers defender Kamal Miller was sent off in the opening 15 minutes. Some may remember that the Whitecaps won 5-0 in Portland in the Wildcard match last season to end the Timbers' campaign.

In the last 180 minutes of action dating back to last season for the Timbers, they've lost 9-1 to their rivals from the north at home.

Winter signing Jayden Nelson excelled for Vancouver on the day, ripping the Timbers rearguard to shreds on a regular basis throughout the 90 minutes.

Phil Neville and co. must be absolutely sick of the sight of the Whitecaps.

Inter Miami have too much clutch factor to be kept down for long

📸 Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Inter Miami may have played 67 minutes of their season opener against NYCFC with 10 men after Toto Avilés was sent off early in the first-half, but that didn't seem to slow them down.

NYCFC took a lead into stoppage-time, but Messi and his mates continued to push for a leveler, and they found one thanks to a slick assist from the great man, and even more stylish finish from youngster Telasco Segovia.

Questions can be raised over how the visitors from the Bronx managed their narrow lead in the dying minutes, but you must point how just how clutch Inter Miami is when they need to be — and not just Messi.

If the Herons are getting stoppage-time equalizers from 21-year-old newcomers, they could be even more unstoppable than we saw last season when they strolled to a regular season points total.

League debuts don’t get any better than San Diego’s

📸 Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

Expansion teams often require a season or two of teething before they really get their feet under them in MLS, but San Diego have made the best possible start to their inaugural campaign.

When the fixtures were announced in December and San Diego was dealt an opening day trip to reigning champions LA Galaxy, the warning signs for a hiding were certainly there.

However, Mikey Varas' side traveled north to the home of their new California rivals and put on a show, lead by star wingers Anders Dreyer and Chucky Lozano.

With a 2-0 win on the road, San Diego has officially announced themselves as the new kids on the block, and they don't appear to be keen on being pushovers in their debut campaign.