The MLS Secondary Transfer Window closed Wednesday night, as teams rushed to complete moves before Matchday 24 this weekend.<\/p>\n
With summertime signings settling in and the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs race beginning in earnest, here are the biggest games on deck.<\/p>\n
WHEN:\u00a0Saturday, 7:30 pm ET\u00a0 Lionel Messi<\/a> called time on his legendary international career earlier this week, bidding farewell<\/a> to his beloved Argentine national team with an emotional letter shared on social media.<\/p>\n The 2022 FIFA World Cup<\/a> champion is still full steam ahead at club level, though, and is determined to help Inter Miami CF<\/a> contend for a second straight MLS Cup presented by Audi title.<\/p>\n The back-to-back Landon Donovan MLS MVP has a league-high 28 goal contributions (18g\/10a) this year to lead the Golden Boot presented by Audi race, and is fresh off a historic 4g\/1a performance<\/a> in last weekend’s 7-1 home rout<\/a> of CF Montr\u00e9al<\/a>.<\/p>\n Atlanta United<\/a> stand opposite Messi & Co., and the visitors could see star striker Breel Embolo<\/a> debut.<\/p>\n The Swiss international was acquired<\/a> last month from French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais for one of the largest transfer fees in MLS history (reportedly around $18 million).<\/p>\n Embolo, who competed at the 2026 World Cup, will look to link up with Paraguayan star Miguel Almir\u00f3n<\/a> and spark a road upset.<\/p>\n WHEN: Saturday, 9:30 pm ET\u00a0 The Walmart Saturday Showdown spotlight heads to Los Angeles, where the Galaxy<\/a> hope midseason roster reinforcements can lead them into the playoff places.<\/p>\n FC Barcelona alum Sergi Roberto<\/a>, Mexican winger Chucky Lozano<\/a> and Japanese forward Ky\u014dgo Furuhashi<\/a> are the headliners for the six-time MLS Cup champions, who have just one win in eight games since the World Cup break.<\/p>\n That trio joins up with Marco Reus<\/a> and Joseph Paintsil<\/a>, who have combined for 9g\/12a and are counted on to provide a spark.<\/p>\n New England<\/a> provide a tough test, as they enter the weekend sixth in the Supporters’ Shield race and continue to stack results under first-year head coach Marko Mitrovi\u0107.<\/p>\n Club captain Carles Gil<\/a> is their main man, providing a team-high 16 goal contributions (8g\/8a) while earning his fifth MLS All-Star nod earlier this summer.<\/p>\n The Revs are also boosted by a summer signing, with Jack Harrison<\/a> chipping in six assists through five games upon his return to MLS. The former New York City FC<\/a> standout lines up opposite homegrown winger Peyton Miller<\/a>.<\/p>\n WHEN: Saturday, 10:30 pm ET\u00a0 One season removed from making the MLS Cup final, Vancouver<\/a> are proving their 2025 success was no fluke.<\/p>\n The Whitecaps have a four-point lead atop the Western Conference standings, sitting above Houston Dynamo FC<\/a> with a game in hand.<\/p>\n Thomas M\u00fcller<\/a> remains the star attraction. But the Whitecaps are all about the collective and are flourishing in head coach Jesper S\u00f8rensen’s attack-minded system.<\/p>\n Now, Vancouver encounter a St. Louis CITY<\/a> team that’s riding a 12-game unbeaten streak (eight wins, four draws) and arguably “won” the summer transfer market.<\/p>\n The Midwestern club reinforced their attack with Danish international Carlo Holse<\/a>, Brazilian striker Rafael Navarro<\/a> and USMNT<\/a> striker Damion Downs<\/a> \u2013 not skipping a beat after seeing fan favorites Marcel Hartel<\/a> and Eduard L\u00f6wen<\/a> leave the club.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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