Messi coming to Utah in 2026 Real Salt Lake schedule release
Nov 21, 2025, 6:49 AM
FILE - Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, center, looks on after the first half of the friendly football match between Hong Kong Team and US Inter Miami CF at the Hong Kong Stadium in Hong Kong, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte, File)
(AP Photo/Louise Delmotte, File)
SANDY – Real Salt Lake and MLS are already looking ahead to the 2026 season, announcing next year’s schedule with a global fútbol icon, Lionel Messi, coming to Utah for the first time.
The Claret & Cobalt will host Inter Miami FC and the Argentinian star at America First Field on April 22, 2026. Messi’s expected debut in the Beehive State will come in the fourth home match of the year and eighth game overall.
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it’s about time we had the G.O.A.T. stop by our neck of the woods
Join the ticket priority waitlist tonight at 8 pm. pic.twitter.com/9EJnurL9dY
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) November 20, 2025
The club reconvenes for preseason training on Friday, January 9, 2026.
Real Salt Lake boards a plane for Portugal and the Atlantic Cup tournament eight days later. The team will play matches against Randers FC (01.22.26), Bröndby IF (01.26.26), and Mjallby (01.31.26) before returning to Utah on February 1.
Following a week of training, RSL heads to California for preseason matches against Orange County (USL, 02.06.26) and LAFC (02.14.26).
We like the look of 2026. 🔮📅
Next year’s MLS schedule is officially here: https://t.co/jr3EoixC0m pic.twitter.com/fjITDUfmhn
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 20, 2025
The MLS regular season begins in Canada against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
2026 Real Salt Lake Schedule
February
Saturday, February 21 – @ Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 5:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, February 28 vs. Seattle Sounders @ | 5:30 p.m. MT
March
Saturday, March 7 @ Atlanta United FC | 5:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, March 14 vs. Austin FC | 7:30 p.m. MT
Sunday, March 22 @ San Diego FC | 5 p.m. MT
April
Saturday, April 4 vs. Sporting Kansas City | 2:30 p.m. MT
Sunday, April 12 @ Seattle Sounders FC | 7 p.m. MT
Saturday, April 18 vs. San Diego FC | 7:30 p.m. MT
Wednesday, April 22 vs. Inter Miami FC | 7:30 p.m. MT
Sunday, April 26 @ LA Galaxy | 5 p.m. MT
May
Saturday, May 2 vs. Portland Timbers FC | 2:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, May 9 @ FC Dallas | 6:30 p.m. MT
Wednesday, May 13 vs. Houston Dynamo | 7:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, May 16 vs. Colorado Rapids | 7:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, May 23 @ Minnesota United FC | 6:30 p.m. MT
Monday, May 25, is FIFA World Cup 2026 report day
Sunday, July 19 – World Cup 2026 Final
July
Wednesday, July 22 @ Los Angeles FC | 8:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, July 25 @ Portland Timbers | 8:30 p.m. MT
Wednesday, July 29 – MLS All-Star Game
August
Saturday, August 1 @ St. Louis City FC | 6:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, August 8 Leagues Cup
Saturday, August 15 vs. Minnesota United FC | 7:30 p.m. MT
Wednesday, August 19 vs. FC Dallas | 7:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, August 22 @ Orlando City | 5:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, August 29 @ Colorado Rapids | 7:30 p.m. MT
September
Saturday, September 5 vs. Los Angeles FC | 7:30 p.m. MT
Wednesday, September 9 @ Houston Dynamo | 6:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, September 12 vs. New York City FC | 7:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, September 19 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 7:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, September 26 vs. New England Revolution | 7:30 p.m. MT
October
Saturday, October 10 @ Philadelphia Union | 5:30 p.m. MT
Wednesday, October 14 vs. San Jose Earthquakes | 7:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, October 17 @ Sporting Kansas City | 6:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, October 24 vs. St. Louis City SC | 7:30 p.m. MT
Wednesday, October 28 @ Austin FC | 6:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, October 31 @ San Jose Earthquakes | TBD
November
Saturday, November 7 vs. LA Galaxy | 5 p.m. MT
How To Watch Real Salt Lake
Apple TV subscribers will no longer need to purchase the add-on MLS Season Pass. All Major League Soccer matches will be available on the standard Apple TV subscription at no additional cost.
All Real Salt Lake English-language radio coverage for the 2026 season and beyond will be carried on various KSL radio signals. KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM) and KSL Newsradio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) are both stations under the Bonneville International umbrella.
For more Real Salt Lake coverage and analysis, subscribe to The RSL Show and follow them on Instagram.
You can find KSL Sports coverage of Real Salt Lake here.
Take us with you wherever you go.
Brian Preece is a KSLSports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
