MLS schedule release: Union begin season at Orlando; will host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in May

The Major League Soccer season concluded just two weeks ago with the MLS Cup but it’s never too early to start thinking about next season, especially for a Union team that endured a disappointing campaign and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Thursday marked one of the key dates for the 2025 season, as the league released its complete schedule. While the Union still have several critical questions to answer — Who will replace longtime manager Jim Curtin? Where will the goals come from with Julián Carranza gone? — the team now has answers on who and when they will be playing next season. Here are some takeaways from the Union’s 2025 schedule:

» READ MORE: Ernst Tanner wants to overhaul the Union’s roster. Jack Elliott is the first player to go.

The Union will open up the season in the sunshine at Orlando City on Feb. 22. Next comes the home opener on March 1 against FC Cincinnati at Subaru Park, which figures to be a chippy affair, given the teams' recent history. The Union will then head up north to take on New England (March 8), followed by back-to-back home games against Nashville (March 16) and St. Louis (March 22). The month wraps up with a highly anticipated clash with Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and the rest of Inter Miami on March 29.

April’s four-game slate is highlighted by a trip to Citi Field to play New York City FC (April 12) and a clash at Subaru Park with Colonial Cup rival D.C. United (April 26), before the Union embark on a busy May that features seven games, including home dates with the MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy (May 14), and Messi’s Miami (May 24).

The Union will visit Chicago (June 25) and Columbus (June 29) in June before locking horns with the New York Red Bulls on July 12 at Subaru Park. The annual Leagues Cup tournament that features teams from MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX will begin July 29 and run through Aug. 31. The full schedule for the Leagues Cup will be released in the new year.

In August, the Union will visit the Red Bulls (Aug. 16) and FC Cincinnati (Aug. 30) in what should be a pair of spirited affairs, before a seemingly manageable stretch of games vs. New England (Sept. 20), at D.C. United (Sept. 27), a home finale vs. NYCFC (Oct. 4), and a season finale at Charlotte (Oct. 18).

While the schedule release is exciting, it’s hard to know what the Union’s lineup will look like on Feb. 22 at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando. In addition to needing to hire a new manager, the Union need to bring in reinforcements, given that they have moved on from stalwart defender Jack Elliott. The team did agree to bring back captain Alejandro Bedoya for another season and recently signed right back Olivier Mbaizo to a multiyear contract extension.