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The MLS international break 2026 edition meant a quiet week on the pitch, with the FIFA window that opened on 21 September stretching through to 6 October. More than 100 MLS players were away on national team duty, and most clubs took the weekend off. Only one league match was played, but the week still delivered a coaching change at LAFC, a high-profile friendly in Los Angeles and plenty of build-up to Lionel Messi’s final game for Argentina. With Decision Day set for 7 November, every point banked before the break now looks precious.
Roldan snatches it late as Seattle’s revival rolls on
Seattle Sounders used the quiet weekend to squeeze in a Thursday night fixture at Lumen Field, and they made it count. Sporting Kansas City led at the break through André Luiz, who pounced just before half-time after a deflected clearance fell his way. Substitute Sebastian Gomez levelled six minutes after the restart with a first-time finish from a long Jordan Morris ball, and Cristian Roldan won it in the 90th minute when another Morris through ball ricocheted off him and in.
The 2-1 win was Seattle’s third straight and stretched their unbeaten run to eight. It lifted the Sounders to 10-9-8 and 38 points, good for seventh in the West, a remarkable climb for a side that had been sitting 14th not long ago. Sporting KC dropped to 6-18-3, though Luiz has now scored five goals in four games since arriving from Olympiacos in August.
LAFC hit reset with Tamarit
LAFC confirmed Xavi Tamarit as interim head coach on 1 October, days after parting ways with Marc Dos Santos. Tamarit, a 44-year-old Spaniard who had been on the staff as an assistant, will run the team through to the end of the season, with his long-term future still to be decided.
It is a sharp turn for a club that opened 2026 unbeaten in 11 across all competitions and reached the Concacaf Champions Cup semi-finals. Form fell away badly from there, with just one league win in 10, leaving a squad featuring Son Heung-min, Denis Bouanga and Hugo Lloris sixth in the West. The brief for Tamarit is simple: get back into the top four before the playoffs.
Galaxy beaten by Cruz Azul in friendly
With no league game, the LA Galaxy hosted Liga MX side Cruz Azul at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday and lost 2-1. Luka Romero and Agustín Palavecino scored first-half goals for the visitors, the latter catching goalkeeper Novak Mićović off his line from distance. Joseph Paintsil pulled one back in the 84th minute in his first outing back from injury. Coach Greg Vanney said the hit-out did its job, with no fresh injuries before the Galaxy resume against St. Louis.
Other storylines
- Messi’s last dance: Argentina confirmed Lionel Messi will make his final national team appearance against Benin at Buenos Aires’ Estadio Monumental on 6 October, after he announced his international retirement on 31 August.
- Big names on duty: Messi and Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Robert Lewandowski (Chicago), Son and Bouanga (LAFC), Hirving Lozano (Galaxy) and Andre Blake (Philadelphia) were among the MLS call-ups for the window.
- Inter Miami are still adjusting under Cristian “Kily” González, appointed in mid-September, and head into the break on a winless skid.
- St. Louis CITY have a U.S. Open Cup final against Columbus Crew to look forward to on 21 October in Columbus.
What it means
Nashville SC go into the run-in as the team to catch, sitting on 60 points and 10 clear of Vancouver Whitecaps in the Supporters’ Shield race with seven games to play. The Whitecaps still lead the West, with St. Louis and FC Dallas close behind.
Seattle’s win tightens the scrap around the Western Conference playoff line, while LAFC’s coaching switch adds another variable. In the East, Inter Miami need to rediscover their spark quickly if they want to hold a top-four spot and home advantage in round one.
The league returns properly on Saturday 10 October (US time), with a rescheduled Chicago v Vancouver clash coming first on Tuesday.
How to watch in Australia
- Apple TV: every MLS match live (see our How to Watch MLS in Australia guide)
- Daily match times in AEDT and confirmed broadcasters: USA Sports TV Guide
One email per day at 7:00pm AEDT. Tomorrow’s MLS games with confirmed AEDT times, exact broadcasters, and pick of the day. Free.
What’s next?
- Live US Sports TV Guide
- How to Watch MLS in Australia 2026
- Previous MLS Wrap — 27 September 2026
- Next MLS Wrap — 11 October 2026
Results accurate as of 4 October 2026 US time. All times AEST (AEDT from Sunday 4 October). Mac Johannson covers US sports for Australian fans.