Major League Soccer is abandoning its traditional Rivalry Week format for the 2026 season, instead spreading marquee matchups throughout the year. The league will launch a new Saturday Showdown series beginning February 21 with LAFC hosting Inter Miami, creating weekly appointment viewing opportunities. Camilo Durana, MLS executive vice president, explained that rivalries shouldn't be confined to a single week.

This scheduling shift aims to build consistent fan engagement rather than concentrating high-profile matches into one compact period. The league will maintain enhanced production values across Apple and MLS services for these showcase games. Apple remains MLS's exclusive streaming partner, with Sunday Night Soccer continuing as a second weekly highlight alongside the new Saturday format.

While the full Rivalry Week is gone, MLS will still feature select derby matches during the July 16-17 window after the World Cup break. The timing strategically positions these games between the World Cup semifinals and final, targeting the estimated 100 million new soccer fans expected to emerge from the tournament. This represents a significant evolution in how MLS presents its product, moving from concentrated rivalry events to a year-round calendar of must-see matches.