Where Messi, Lloris, other MLS stars will open 2024 season

MLS has announced the fixture list for its 29th annual season, with games beginning in late February and running through mid-December.

Where will the league's biggest stars open their 2024 seasons? Here's a breakdown of who is playing where.  

Inter Miami (Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets): Inter Miami will kick off its 2024 season against Real Salt Lake at Fort Lauderdale's DRV PNK Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 21. The Wednesday standalone match will serve as MLS' official opening because the rest of the league won't play until the weekend.

Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake don't have much MLS history because they compete in different conferences. They haven't met in MLS play since 2020.

While many expect Miami to dominate this match at home, it's worth remembering Salt Lake finished fifth in the Western Conference last season and easily qualified for the playoffs — something Miami couldn't do. The Utah-based squad is no pushover and will relish the opportunity to spoil Miami's opening weekend.

Los Angeles FC (Denis Bouanga, Hugo Lloris, Kellyn Acosta): The Black and Gold will open their season against their West Coast rivals, the Seattle Sounders, on Feb. 24. One point separated the sides in 2023, with Seattle finishing second in the West and LAFC finishing third, but it was LAFC that had the edge in head-to-head competition. It won two and drew one of its three matches against the Sounders in 2023.

All eyes will be on newly signed World Cup-winning goalkeeper Lloris for this one. Seattle's best chance at unsettling Lloris will be through cleverly deployed set pieces — the strategy is the French goalie's biggest weakness and something all of LAFC's competitors should be mindful of in 2024.

Houston Dynamo (Hector Herrera): Houston has an unenviable task in its opening MLS match of facing Sporting Kansas City, the 2023 last season's Western Conference upsetters, at BMO Stadium on Feb. 24.

After a wild season that saw it win the U. S. Open Cup and push to the Western Conference final, Houston could challenge for the 2024 title. Mexican midfielder Herrera has been in excellent form for the Dynamo and could be a pace-setting weapon for the Texas side in 2024.

Cincinnati FC (Lucho Acosta, Brandon Vazquez): Cincinnati, last season's Eastern Conference champions, kicks off the season against Toronto, last season's Wooden Spoon winners, at home on Feb. 25. This should be an easy win for Cincinnati, which bested Toronto twice in 2023, scoring six goals. 

The Ohio club enters the 2024 season with a chip on its shoulder after winning the Supporters' Shield only to watch its biggest rival — Columbus — lift the MLS Cup. Coach Pat Noonan will undoubtedly be relentless in his pursuit of perfection in 2024.