GOAL takes a look at key storylines and trends heading into the Matchday 7 of the 2025 MLS season
Matchday 7 of the MLS season is here, and teams are on the hunt for three points. Inter Miami sit atop the Supporters' Shield heading into the weekend, as the take on Toronto FC in Sunday Night Soccer on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+ – with Javier Mascherano's side looking to extend their lead.
In a race to keep up with Messi and Co. in the East, two of the Conference's finest – Orlando City and Philadelphia Union – play Saturday, with each club looking to stay in the race with the reigning regular-season champions.
In the Western Conference, two storylines take centerstage this weekend. Sporting Kansas City will play rivals St. Louis CITY SC in their first match without Peter Vermes as manager since his appointment in 2009. And the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake are searching for identities as they clash in Utah. Both franchises are off to poor starts to the 2025 campaign, but an in-form player on each side could be the key.
GOAL dives into all that and more in The Kickoff, a weekly preview of MLS Matchdays.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportThe race to keep pace with Miami
Philadelphia host Orlando on Saturday in a clash between two of the Eastern Conference's best teams. The Union are coming off of a valiant performance against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in which they fell, 2-1. However, striker Tai Baribo has emerged as an early frontrunner for MLS MVP this season as he leads the league in scoring in the race for the Golden Boot.
Meanwhile, teen prodigy Cavan Sullivan looks for an opportunity with the first-team as Philly becomes one of the biggest storylines this season.
Orlando are unbeaten in their last three matches and are coming off of two straight wins. Attacker Martin Ojeda is a man in-form, with four goals and three assists on the season, while striker Luis Muriel seems to finally be finding his footing in MLS after joining from Serie A side Atalanta in 2024. The Colombian has three goals and three assists in six appearances.
Philly sit second in the East on 12 points, while Orlando are in a four-way tie at 10 points, sitting seventh in the standings. The winner of the match will move up the table as they look to keep pace with Miami.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportCan LA or RSL end slumps?
It has been six weeks to forget for reigning champions LA Galaxy. The 2024 MLS Cup winners have yet to win, and are sitting on just two points through six matches.
Without Riqui Puig and Joseph Paintsil available due to injury, they've been struggling with linking all areas of the pitch – but a bright spot has emerged. MLS veteran Christian Ramirez has found his shooting boots in recent weeks after an offseason transfer away from the Columbus Crew. The 34-year-old has three goals, and will look to add to that tally in Utah this weekend.
RSL, meanwhile, are looking to figure themselves out. They have yet to replace star striker Chicho Arango, and their attack has been left hanging. However, U.S. international Diego Luna is their X-factor heading into the match. The 21-year-old has one goal and two assists to start the season, and at home, he could use a big game to really get his season underway – and Saturday presents that opportunity.
LA sit 13th and RSL 11th in the West, as both look to find a sense of attacking identity in the search for victory on Matchday 7.
Getty Images SportPost-Vermes era begins
For the first time since their rebrand to Sporting Kansas City in 2009, the club will be without Peter Vermes on the touchline, as the veteran coach was fired earlier this week. The club host rivals St. Louis CITY SC this weekend in what is expected to be a heated derby.
Three points will be on the minds of Sporting, of course, but more than anything they're looking for a statement performance that shows they can compete without their longtime manager.
After brining in $4M man Dejan Joveljic earlier this offseason, along with new DP midfielder Manu Garcia, Sporting will look to climb the Western Conference table. Sporting sit last in the West on just one point through six games with a minus-6 goal-differential.
Can they prove they can succeed without Vermes? Or will their rivals overpower them at home?
Getty Images SportWhat's trending?
+ The San Jose Earthquakes host D.C. United on Sunday, in a rematch of the first MLS game on April 6, 1996 – part of the league's celebration of its 30th anniversary. The Earthquakes will hold a halftime ceremony with legends returning to PayPal park to mark the occasion.
+ With a goal or an assist on Sunday, Inter Miami star Lionel Messi will become the club's all-time leading goal contributor for the , passing Gonzalo Higuain. He's currently tied with his former Argentine compatriot with 43 goal-contributions.
+ With a win against Nashville SC on Saturday, Charlotte FC would become the fifth-fastest MLS franchise to achieve 100 regular season points at home, excluding the shootout era. The club would reach the milestone in their 55th match.