San Diego FC host Montreal Impact in first MLS game of 2026
San Diego FC
San Diego FC will begin the 2026 MLS regular season this Saturday, February 21, against the Montreal Impact at Snapdragon Stadium.
SDFC began play in 2026 earlier than usual, as the Southern California team has already played two games in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
San Diego defeated Pumas UNAM in the Champions Cup and will now look to gain the first points of the MLS season. SDFC lost some key players this offseason, like Hirving Lozano, Luca de la Torre, and Paddy McNair.
Our next 🏠 match
🎟️: https://t.co/2ii43nYX3h pic.twitter.com/wV8bKrT4S8
— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) February 11, 2026
Mikey Varas has also gained some players like Wilson Eisner, Bryce Duke, and Lewis Morgan.
However, a big Designated Player signing is still anticipated to come later in the year.
The SDFC attack is a major concern heading into the new season now without Hirving Lozano. Anders Dreyer is expected to be the focal point of the offense, but the reliance on the Danish forward is anticipated to be even greater this season.
The striker position playing up top with Dreyer and Amahl Pellegrino is a big question mark. Marcus Ingvartsen has not been performing, and Lewis Morgan comes in with an injury history.
The hope is that Morgan will stay healthy and be able to adjust to the SDFC frontline. However, another attacker signing would be greatly beneficial to this roster.
This will be the first-ever meeting between San Diego FC and Montreal, as the Canadian team plays in the Eastern Conference.
The Impact had a lackluster 2025 campaign, finishing 28th on the MLS table. Montreal was busy in the transfer window and has signed players like Brayan Vera, Tomas Aviles, and Daniel Rios.
Rios is an intriguing signing from the Vancouver Whitecaps as he has shown potential to be a goalscoring threat in Major League Soccer.
Montreal is expected to have another underwhelming season, as this should be a very winnable game for the home side. SDFC is the heavy favorite in this match and needs to make use of that home-field advantage.
San Diego was better on the road than at Snapdragon Stadium in 2025, and the team will look to improve in Mission Valley.
SDFC is expected to control possession massively in this match and continue the style of play that has been consistent throughout the last year.
Francisco, 28, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego FC, San Diego Wave. I have covered Liga MX, MLS, Mexico National Team, USWNT, Copa América and European clubs like Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund.