Major League Soccer is finally back. Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami visits Son Heung-min’s Los Angeles FC at the LA Memorial Coliseum this Saturday, Feb. 21, in the 2026 MLS season opener. Landon Donovan made a bold prediction that might not convince everyone.
LAFC started its 2026 season on the right foot by defeating Real Espana 6-1 on Tuesday in the first leg of the round of 32 of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Inter Miami, meanwhile, had a busy preseason but has not played any official matches. Messi’s team faced Alianza Lima, Atletico Nacional, and Barcelona SC. In this last match, the Argentine star was left injured.
Ahead of the start of this new season, Donovan joined the predictions for 2026, and surprisingly left out Inter Miami and Messi, the reigning champions.
Not Inter Miami, Landon Donovan Names Surprise Contender In 2026 MLS Title Predictions
In a segment on Unfiltered Soccer, Donovan predicted that LAFC and Philadelphia Union would compete for the MLS Cup this season.
Regarding the champion, he sided with Son’s Los Angeles FC, whom he also picked as the winners of the 2026 MLS Supporters’ Shield.
Not only did he leave out Inter Miami, but he also left out Messi. Donovan predicted that San Diego FC’s Anders Dreyer will be the season MVP.
That said, the USMNT legend gave Miami some credit, predicting they will be champions of the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.