The Columbus Crew won the 2023 MLS Cup a month ago, but the league’s following season is already in full swing.

The MLS has released the schedule for its 29th season, which begins in late February and runs through mid-December.

Where will the league’s top players begin their 2024 seasons? Here’s a list of who’s playing where. 

Inter Miami (Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets): On Wednesday, Feb. 21, Inter Miami will kick off its 2024 season against Real Salt Lake at Fort Lauderdale’s DRV PNK Stadium. Because the rest of the league does not play until the weekend, the Wednesday solitary encounter will serve as MLS’ official debut.

Because they compete in different conferences, Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake have little MLS history. They haven’t played in MLS since 2020.

While many expect Miami to dominate this match at home, keep in mind that Salt Lake finished fifth in the Western Conference last season and easily qualified for the playoffs – something Miami was unable to do. The Utah-based team is no pushover, and they will welcome the chance to ruin Miami’s opening weekend.

Los Angeles FC (Denis Bouanga, Hugo Lloris, Kellyn Acosta): On Feb. 24, the Black and Gold will face their West Coast rivals, the Seattle Sounders. In 2023, one point separated the teams, with Seattle placing second in the West and LAFC finishing third, but LAFC held the advantage in head-to-head combat. In 2023, it won two and drew one of three games versus the Sounders.

For this game, all eyes will be on freshly signed World Cup-winning goalie Hugo Lloris. Seattle’s best chance of unseating Lloris will come from well-timed set pieces — the strategy is the French goalkeeper’s worst vulnerability and one all of LAFC’s rivals should be aware of in 2024.

Houston Dynamo (Hector Herrera): Houston faces Sporting Kansas City, the Western Conference upsetters from last season, in its first MLS match on Feb. 24 at BMO Stadium.

Houston might challenge for the 2024 title after a remarkable season in which it won the US Open Cup and advanced to the Western Conference final. Herrera, a Mexican midfielder, has been in terrific form for the Dynamo and might be a game-changing weapon for the Texas team in 2024.

Cincinnati FC (Lucho Acosta, Brandon Vazquez): Cincinnati, the Eastern Conference champions from last season, opens the season at home against Toronto, the Wooden Spoon winners from the previous season, on Feb. 25. Cincinnati should cruise to victory after defeating Toronto twice in 2023, scoring six goals each time. 

The Ohio team enters the 2024 season with a sour taste in its mouth after winning the Supporters’ Shield only to have its main rival, Columbus, win the MLS Cup. Coach Pat Noonan will surely pursue perfection with zeal in 2024.