The USA, Canada and Mexico have been in focus all around the world over the past five weeks as the 23rd FIFA World Cup has dominated our screens, our conversations and, in some cases, our dreams!
But on Sunday it was all over as Spain beat Argentina in a dramatic final and now, here at SBOTOP we turn our attention to domestic football; and where better to start than with Major League Soccer in the circumstances. Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi has been rather busy but for many Major League Soccer players the seven-week recess ended last Thursday as Matchday 16 saw ten teams back in action.
Top club Nashville extended their lead at the summit of the Eastern Conference MLS League table thanks to a 1-0 win over Atlanta United on Friday night as Shak Mohammed scored a 79th-minute winner. The Coyotes, founded ten years ago, won the US Open Cup last season and finished sixth in the Eastern Conference; and under the leadership of former USA interim boss BJ Callaghan are on target for a best season yet. Ghanaian star Mohammed scored his second goal in his five games for Nashville, heading in a cross from Alex Muyl and the 22-year-old attacking midfielder is a player to keep your eye on.
Nashville keeper Brian Schwake was in fine form again, making five strong saves to record his seventh clean sheet of the campaign and extend the Coyotes’ winning run to four, and their lead over Inter Miami at the top to five points. Miguel Almiron returned from World Cup action with Paraguay to start for Atlanta, but he couldn’t end his team’s four-match winless streak and they remain 14th in the Eastern Conference.
In other MLS 2026 news, and over in the Western Conference, Seattle Sounders took a 5-1 hammering from neighbours Portland Timbers. 21-year-old Venezuelan striker Kevin Kelsy scored twice and assisted once while Kamal Miller, Cole Bassett and Alexander Aravena also got on the scoresheet as the Sounders were blown away by a three-goal blitz in seven second-half minutes.
This four-goal loss was the worst result Seattle have suffered in half a century of battling the Timbers and that will really hurt, as well as being the first time the Sounders have conceded five at home since they joined the MLS back in 2009; and they will be keen to bounce back quickly. Sitting sixth in the league they are in decent shape while this will be a huge boost to the Timbers, 11th in the Western Conference and one win away from a play-off place.
Elsewhere, the clash between Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps was rescheduled due to poor air quality brought on by wildfires. But there’s a full set of fixtures on Thursday when Inter Miami, currently second will host Chicago Fire who sit in third. The MLS 2026 betting odds rate the Herons as favourites; but it’s a competitive league and there’s a long way to go.
Son shines too brightly for Galaxy
The Los Angeles Derby went the way of Los Angeles FC who climbed up to third place in the Western Conference thanks to a comprehensive 3-0 win over Galaxy as Son Heung-min scored his first goal for the Black and Golds this season, and his tenth in 24 games since arriving in LA. It took him 45 shots and 13 games this season to get off the mark and Son’s goal will certainly have cheered him up after South Korea’s disappointing World Cup campaign.
LAFC sit in third place in the Western Conference, where they finished up last term, and Son endeared himself to the fans in his first derby appearance: “I just wanted to be part of it,” he said in his post-match press conference, “and I just wanted to win here, the derby is always really special. Being back, scoring goals and winning with a clean sheet is going to be really helpful for our confidence though the second part of the season.”
Mark Delgado opened the scoring on 26 minutes and then Gabon striker Denis Bouanga scored his seventh goal of the campaign and his seventh consecutively in the LA derby, before Son ended his scoring drought in the second half. The former Tottenham Hotspur man has cast off his World Cup blues and maybe another world star will make an appearance later this month as Lionel Messi will try to forget Argentina’s loss to Spain when he returns to action with Inter Miami.
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