2025 MLS Season Predictions, Picks & Best Bets

We are all set to go for the 30th season of Major League Soccer, which gets its biggest season to date underway on Friday.

To mark the anniversary, MLS will welcome its 30th franchise to the league with San Diego FC taking its place in the Western Conference.

The west is where we find the reigning champions, Los Angeles Galaxy having collected a record-extending sixth MLS Cup with victory over the New York Red Bulls in last season's final.

The Galaxy have a target on their back heading into 2025, although they are not the favorites to retain their crown on betting sites.

That honor goes to Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, who are a best-price of +400 to deliver the franchise's first MLS Cup after loading up on fresh talent in the off-season.

LAFC, LA Galaxy, FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew complete the top five in the MLS winner futures market on soccer betting sites, but what of the chances of the three Canadian franchises?

We've taken a look at how Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver might get on this year, alongside our best bets as part of our 2025 MLS season predictions.

CF Montreal season preview

MLS Cup odds: +7500 (Bet99)
Eastern Conference odds: +3300 (BetRivers)

Of the three Canadian teams, the biggest roster off-season overhaul came in Montreal with leading scorer Josef Martinez, the injury-prone Matias Coccaro and designated player Victor Wanyama all departing the Stade Saputo.

Nine new signings have arrived to reinforce Laurent Courtois's squad with Giacomo Vironi and Prince Owusu the headline additions.

There's some good young talent on the roster, including some up-and-coming homegrown stars like Nathan Saliba and Jonathan Sirois.

Montreal will hope those younger players can take the next step in their development and build on a 2024 season that ended with a penalty shootout defeat to Atlanta United in the wild card round of the playoffs.

They should be in the play-off mix once more, but it's not easy to predict this team given last season's inconsistencies and how volatile the form of young players tends to be.

Toronto FC season preview

MLS Cup odds: +7500 (Bet99)
Eastern Conference odds: +7500 (Bet99)

Robin Fraser has been tasked with rebuilding a team that finished 11th in the Eastern Conference last season, missing out on the play-offs for a fourth straight year.

It looks like being another tough campaign for TFC, who lost 2024 topscorer Prince Owusu to Montreal and have Lorenzo Insigne hanging round like a bad smell.

Fraser has made it clear Insigne isn't part of his long-term plans but the Italian, the second-highest earner in MLS, has indicated he's going nowhere.

At least things are working out with Toronto's other designated player, Federico Bernardeschi, who had a strong 2024 campaign.

Canadian international Theo Corbeanu and Ola Brynhildsen were Toronto's big off-season signings, but the team has major issues elsewhere, with an aging defense and a bland midfield lacking creativity.

Things look likely to get worse before they get better for TFC, especially if they can't get Insigne off the roster.

Vancouver Whitecaps Season Preview

MLS Cup odds: +3500 (Bet99)
Eastern Conference odds: +1400 (Bet365)

Vancouver have the shortest odds of any of the three Canadian teams on soccer betting sites to win the MLS cup, although that doesn't necessarily mean they have a realistic shot.

They've made the post-season three of the last four years, but last season ended in the same way as the 2023 campaign, with a play-off defeat to LAFC in round 1, and there are doubts over whether they can break through that glass ceiling.

Long-time head coach Vanni Sartini is out, replaced by Jesper Sorensen, and they've lost a few key players with Stuart Armstrong and Fafa Picault moving on.

A lack of depth is another concern for Vancouver, who only brought in Jayden Nelson and Emmanuel Sabbi this off-season. And yet, the ceiling is high for the Whitecaps, who are blessed to have Ryan Gauld and Brian White.

With those two leading the attack in the weaker of the two conferences, the Caps should be in the play-off race once more.

MLS Season Prediction: Cup to stay in LA

So, if we are unlikely to see a Canadian side win the MLS Cup for only the second time, who will be taking home the trophy?

Sportsbook favorites Inter Miami have all the star power and Messi is unquestionably the best player in the league, finishing with 20 goals and 16 assists last season.

Messi's fellow ex-Barcelona colleagues Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez should continue to be productive too, but it's not just about the old guard for Miami, who drafted Yannick Bright and Leo Afonso last year.

But there are reasons to go against last season's Supporter's Shield winners, who will be playing under an inexperienced coach in Javier Mascherano and are in a really competitive conference.

Atlanta United, who knocked Miami out of the play-offs, FC Cincinnati, Columbus Crew and New York Red Bulls are all expected to go well this year and will make it tough on Miami to reach the MLS Cup final.

The Western Conference should be a little more predictable and we like LAFC's chances of going far at +700 on some betting apps.

LA have been to the final two of the last three years and they are deep in several key positions, particularly in attack with France's all-time leading scorer Olivier Giroud at the tip of the spear.

Dennis Bouanga was the Western Conference's top goalscorer last season with LAFC, who have a solid midfield and defense behind their eye-catching offense.

They finished first in the west last year and don't appear to be going anywhere.

MLS Prediction 1: LAFC to win the MLS Cup (+700 BetVictor)
 

MLS Top Goalscorer Prediction: Watch out for new hot shot at +1600

Atlanta United produced two of the biggest moves of the off-season, bringing home Miguel Almiron from Newcastle United and signing striker Emmanuel Latte Lath.

Of those two, it could be the latter who has the biggest impact given his goal-scoring rate for his former club Middlesbrough.

Atlanta smashed the MLS transfer record to sign the Ivorian, who managed 11 goals in 29 games for Middlesbrough in the English second-tier this season and 29 goals from 67 appearances overall.

He had his injury problems in England, but when he gets hot, he's tough for any defense to stop.

Latte Lath is priced at +1600 with bet365, and offers some each-way value with that particular sportsbook as they are paying out on the top four places for each-way MLS top goalscorer bets.

Messi is the favorite with established and new betting sites, but he's unlikely to play every game. Luis Suarez is also high up in the market, but his age is also a concern.

Atlanta look to have put together a decent attacking roster and Latte Lath could thrive in his debut MLS season.

MLS Prediction 2: Emmanuel Latte Lath top goalscorer each-way (+1600 bet365)