A record crowd will cheer on a new-look Rapids side at Empower Field at Mile High this Saturday.
Rapids Bring New Look to Mile High
Matchday 8 will be highlighted by the Colorado Rapids and an expected record crowd as the club hosts Inter Miami CF at Empower Field at Mile High (4:30 p.m. ET).
The match will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the inaugural Rapids home match with multiple commemorative events during the week. However, on the pitch, this Rapids side is truly transformed in 2026. First-year head coach Matt Wells has instilled confidence through innovation, making the Rapids an exciting team to watch to start the season.
Colorado has become a team that wants the ball, ranking top 10 in goals scored, attempted passes, pass completion percentage, and possession. This has led to standout performances from Paxten Aaronson and Rafael Navarro, with 18-year-old Australian Lucas Herrington starring in defense.
As the club celebrates its history on Saturday against the defending champions, the new-look Rapids will be one to watch this weekend and beyond.
Super Sonny Faces Ex-Spurs Teammate on Sunday Night Soccer
LAFC’s historic start to the 2026 season has featured the consistent brilliance of none other than Son Heung-Min. That brilliance will be tested against the red-hot San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire (7 p.m. ET, MLS on Apple TV).
Son quietly leads the league in 2026 with seven assists and has added four more in Concacaf Champions Cup play. It’s early, but Son is looking like an MVP contender in his second full season with the Black and Gold. The South Korean superstar may see a familiar face on Sunday as he clashes with Earthquakes forward Timo Werner, who was Son’s teammate at Tottenham when they won the 2025 Europa League.
Led by 20-year-old Niko Tsakiris and Werner, the Quakes attack could cause issues for an LAFC defense that had been on a historic run to begin the season. San Jose ranks second in MLS with 18.67 expected goals and has scored in every game but one so far this season.
Sunday night will be must-see viewing as global superstars and high-powered offenses meet in Southern California.
A New Star in the Windy City: Mbekezeli Mbokazi
The Fire are currently tied for the longest winning streak in MLS and the star of the show has been a potential World Cup-bound defender, 20-year-old Mbekezeli Mbokazi.
Mbokazi joined Chicago in January as a U22 Initiative signing and has started every single regular season game for one of the best defenses in the league. In the Matchday 6 clean sheet against Atlanta United, Mbokazi provided a sensational goal-line clearance, just adding to his list of highlight plays to kick off his MLS career.
Now a staple in the South African national team, Mbokazi will likely be making the transition from MLS to the World Cup in June. But first for the young star, a Walmart Saturday Showdown matchup against FC Cincinnati this weekend (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS on Apple TV).
Chattanooga FC Aiming for MLS NEXT Pro History
Chattanooga FC will attempt to become the first independent MLS NEXT Pro club, and the second MLS NEXT Pro club after New York City FC II (2024), to advance to the Round of 16 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, as it hosts Atlanta United in the Round of 32 on Wednesday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. ET, broadcasted on Paramount+.
The match at Finley Stadium already represents a historic moment for the city as it marks the first time a Chattanooga team will host an MLS club in a competitive match. The winner of the match will face the winner of Charlotte FC (MLS) vs. Charlotte Independence (USL League One) in the Round of 16.
