MLS Picks Today: Get our predictions for 04/19/2026

The 2025 MLS season is finally here and today, we will review the top MLS free picks, predictions, and the best odds from the best online sportsbooks.

We work our hardest to provide you with proper in-depth analysis, which includes the true starting lineup that goes game by game, and the starting goalkeepers for each side.

This way, when you select your online sports betting platform to bet on the upcoming regular season of Major League Soccer, along with the MLS playoffs, you will find yourself more often on the winning side rather than the losing side, with your well-thought-out and analyzed soccer predictions.

Make sure to check out our article regularly, as this is where you’ll find weekly MLS predictions.

Top MLS Picks and Free Wagering Tips

Below, you can check out our list of top MLS free picks and tips, and you can also find the best odds and where to place the bet if you like it. All odds listed above are subject to change, so make sure that you double-check them before you place the actual wager. Now, let’s elaborate on the current MLS predictions we recommended above. You can watch all the MLS action via the MLS Season Pass, which is available through AppleTV+.

Pick 1: Chicago Fire vs Inter Miami – Under 2.5 total goals @ +105

Yes, we know Inter Miami have the 3^rd best attacking record in the Eastern Conference, but hear us out. First of all, the Herons also have a defensive record with which they can be justly proud. With only five goals conceded in their first five 2025 MLS matches, coach Javier Mascherano’s players showed they have the class to stay at the top of the table. And we all remember the fascinating defensive midfielder that Mascherano was during his Barcelona years. Surely, the Herons’ new manager is taking extra steps to keep Drake Callender away from trouble.

Second of all, we’d also like to draw your attention to the fact that Chicago Fire doesn’t score goals against the Herons easily. We doubt the home side at Soldier Field will be able to react on the 13^th of April, as the visitors are performing at a very high level. Another reason to trust this MLS prediction is the fact that Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez will likely be on the bench. Both were involved in the CONCACAF Champions League games versus Los Angeles. Surely, their former teammate would want them to be fresh and ready for other, more important games.

Pick 2: Los Angeles vs San Jose Earthquakes – BTTS – Yes @ -144

As we mentioned in the previous MLS prediction we had, Los Angeles and Inter Miami had to battle it out in the CONCACAF Champions League last week. This means that coach Steven Cherundolo’s hands are tied and he’d have to rely on some of his backups in the game against the Quakes. LAFC will surely find the net at least once, as they have the home-field support at BMO Stadium behind them. Will the visitors be able to do so as well? Seeing as they scored nine goals in six official MLS games, we have no difficulty believing they will succeed!

Moreover, we should also mention that San Jose Earthquakes snapped Real Salt Lake City’s Cristian Arango this winter! The striker has added firepower to the Quakes’ attack, and we are convinced he will be among the key players to watch at BMO Stadium this week.

Pick 3: DC United vs Cincinnati – Christian Benteke to score anytime @ +150

Christian Benteke was the top DC United goalscorer last season. Moreover, he outscored the greats! The likes of Messi and Suarez fell short in the Top Goalscorer Award chase during the 2024 campaign, which is how Benteke scooped the much-desired individual award.

The Belgian goalscoring magician is doing a great job in 2025 as well, as he already bagged a couple of goals for his team. With four goals and an assist in six MLS games, the veteran player seems ready to prove our chief MLS prediction correct.

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Best MLS Picks for Outright Betting

All true fans of soccer are eager for the 2024 MLS race, as this year, we have some truly iconic players in modern soccer playing on US soil. We are talking about none other than World Cup winners Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, top goalscorer Luis Suarez, and arguably the best player to play the game – Lionel Messi. However, are those four able to drag the Herons all the way to the MLS Cup final in 2024? Find out more about it in the following MLS outright betting predictions.

Pick 1: To win the 2025 MLS Cup – Inter Miami @ +320

The key outright MLS prediction we could give you before the start of the season is that Inter Miami’s players will make things right and scoop the 2025 MLS title. During the previous campaign, the team saw little to no challenge at all. Sure, Atlanta United knocked them out but we have to mention the fact that the Herons did spend the better part of the regular season at the top of the Eastern Conference table. Winning the Supporters’ Shield was truly a long-anticipated triumph for Inter Miami and we are sure that these sensational players will do their best to make their fans happy with the MLS Cup this season.

Coach Javier Mascherano will undoubtedly leave a historic mark in Major League Soccer. He and his good friends Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Lionel Messi, and Luis Suarez will be there to beat everyone for the title.

Transfer rumors have it that Neymar is getting closer and closer to signing a deal with Inter Miami. Will MSN reunite and perform in Major League Soccer? Only time will tell, but if this turns out to be true, we believe there’ll be no one to stop the Herons in their quest to win a historic MLS Cup title. The Messi-Suarez-Neymar trio is arguably the best attacking one in history and we feel that despite their age, these players have what it takes to prove our MLS predictions correct.

Pick 3: To win the Western Conference – LA Galaxy @ +450

We have to give it to coach Greg Vanney – after a disastrous 2023 MLS campaign, he somehow managed to pick his players up from the dirt and went on to win the 2024 MLS Cup after a sensational run of games! During the regular part of the last season, the chase in the Western Conference was a true neck-and-neck fight. In the end, coach Steven Cherundolo’s Los Angeles ended up on top, but both LA clubs had 64 points to brag about.

LA Galaxy had the best attacking record, with 69 goals bagged throughout 34 league outings and their solid performances brought them the title. We are sure that with World Cup champion Marco Reus among the starters, LA Galaxy will be able to at least win the Western Conference fight. Our key MLS predictions before the start of the season anticipate a solid performance by Vanney’s players.

Inter Miami are having a tremendous pre-season. First, they managed to defeat Liga MX champions Club America via a penalty shootout. Second, they also handled Universitario. Lastly, they thrashed Sporting San Miguelito via a 1-3 score. With La Pulga among the starters, this team just can’t lose, it seems. Seeing as the Herons did tremendously well during the regular part of the 2024 season by winning the Western Conference, we have confidence in our MLS predictions.

Pick 2: To be the MLS top scorer – Lionel Messi @ +350

Despite getting knocked out by Atlanta United early into the final series, Inter Miami did show they have what it takes to battle the best. And that’s largely due to Lionel Messi’s sensational qualities. He missed a big chunk of the MLS campaign last season due to injuries but somehow still managed to outshine almost everyone in the league. He scored 21 goals and supplied teammates with a massive 12 assists.  He is the heart and soul of the Herons’ attack and we are convinced that he will have a season to remember. Messi’s big goal will surely be the title, but winning the Top Goalscorer Award will undoubtedly be a nice added bonus for the Argentine genius.

Our top MLS prediction this week indicates that the 2025 MLS race will be the Messi show, as both he and partner-in-crime Luis Suarez are now fit and ready for action. The legendary duo will blast plenty of goals in 2025.

Lionel Messi scored the last goal for Inter Miami during the 2024 Major League Soccer campaign. Moreover, he also scored the first goal for the Herons in 2025! He did that in the pre-season friendly versus Liga MX’s Club America. La Pulga helped his team get out of a sticky situation, as the Eagles really wanted to get the three points against Inter Miami. Messi seems to be in prime condition, which is a big plus in favor of our top MLS predictions.

2025 MVP Award Winner

The 2025 Major League Soccer campaign promises to be one of the most interesting editions of the competition, as this year, we have the Herons with an insanely good starting XI. Inter Miami are the huge favorites to be triumphant in MLS 2025, but we should remind ourselves that that was the case last year as well.

Messi was the recipient of the award last season, as he managed to score 21 goals in 21 games. In the meantime, he also added 11 assists. There was no other player as good as him during the 2024 MLS campaign, and we are convinced that despite his age, he still has what it takes to perform at the highest level.

1. Lionel Messi @ +150
2. Marco Reus @ +240
3. Luis Suarez @ +275
4. Hany Mukhtar @ +350
5. Olivier Giroud@ + 400
6. Denis Bouanga @ +425

These are the top favorites for the award. It comes as no surprise that international soccer legend Lionel Messi is topping the list, but what is surprising is that his former Barcelona colleague Luis Suarez ranks 3^rd. However, as we already stated, Lucian Acosta did win the 2023 Landon Donovan MVP Award so he should be among the key contenders.

2025 Top Goalscorer

Christian Benteke of DC United scooped the 2024 Major League Soccer Top Goalscorer Award. He was a force of nature in front of goal, scoring 23 goals in 30 league games. However, Inter Miami’s Messi is the big favorite to win the prestigious individual award this time.

Here are the key favorites for the Top Goalscorer Award in MLS in 2025.

1. Lionel Messi @ +350
2. Luis Suarez @ +600
3. Christian Benteke  @ + 900
4. Olivier Giroud @ +1000
5. Dejan Joveljic @ +1100
6. Denis Bouanga @ +1200

Lionel Messi is once again topping the chart, and you have to admit, La Pulga does seem like the obvious candidate for the Top Goalscorer Award at the end of the season. At the time of writing, he failed to score in the opening game against Real Salt Lake City at DRV PNK Stadium but he did manage to provide an assist. Lionel Messi is the favorite for the Top Goalscorer Award in 2025.

MLS Cup Winner

According to our top MLS outright betting predictions, Inter Miami will likely win the MLS Cup this year. We are sure that with Javier Mascherano calling the shots at DRV PNK Stadium, the Herons just can’t lose this time. However, they should keep an eye out for Western Conference’s LA Galaxy, as they managed to go all the way during the 2024 MLS campaign.

1. Inter Miami @ +220
2. LA Galaxy @ +900
3. Los Angeles @ +1100
4. Columbus Crew @ +1200
5. Philadelphia Union @ +1200
6. New York Red Bulls @ +1500

Other key favorites for the title include Los Angeles, Columbus Crew, and Philadelphia Union. It will be very interesting to see if any of those will be able to live up to the expectations.

MLS Eastern/Western Conference Winners

Inter Miami had absolutely no difficulties winning the Eastern Conference last season. They only lost a few games, which is why we believe Messi and his colleagues have what it takes to go all the way during the 2025 campaign as well.

Eastern Conference

1. Inter Miami @ +120
2. FC Cincinnati @ +250
3. Atlanta United @ +400
4. New York Red Bulls @ +450
5. Columbus Crew @ +550
6. Philadelphia Union @ +610

Mascherano and his players’ key rivals for the Eastern Conference throne will likely be Cincinnati, the Bulls, Columbus Crew, and Atlanta United. The latter signed a couple of fantastic players during the winter, which will give them a figthing chance during the 2025 MLS chase.

Western Conference

Clearly, the favorites to win the Western Conference title this year are

1. Los Angeles @ +240
2. LA Galaxy @ +290
3. Seattle Sounders @ +370
4. Portland Timbers @ +420
5. Austin @ +490
6. Houston Dynamo @ +610

Other Regular MLS Betting Markets Available

Soccer betting is the most extensive when it comes to the available markets no matter where you are in the world. You can either choose to bet before the start of a game (pre-game) or after it (in-play. Of course, the market selection of pre-game events will be a lot larger than the in-play betting markets available.

These are the most popular betting markets you can find on any sportsbook:

• First/Last Goalscorer – You are betting on the player that will score the first/last goal.
• Anytime Goalscorer – You are betting on a player that will score anytime during the match.
• Double Chance – You are betting on two of the three options in a regular three-way wager.
• Draw No Bet – You are betting on which team will win the match (the tie option is excluded).
• Correct Score – You are betting on what the final result of the match will be.
• 1st Half Winner – You are betting on who will win the first half or if it will be a tie.
• Both Teams to Score – You are betting if both clubs will score during the match.
• Total Goals – You are betting on if the total goals scored by both clubs will be over or under the listed number.
• Moneyline – You are betting on which team will win the match, or if it will end in a tie.
• Over/Under – You are betting on the total amount of goals that will be scored in the game.

Top Bookmakers to Place MLS Bets With

DraftKings

DraftKings is one of the top bookies in the US and they are available in many US states, either via online, mobile, or retail Sportsbooks. Their platform is easy to navigate and they have plenty of useful betting features to offer customers. Their welcome offer is a deposit bonus of up to $1,000 and DK provides many bonuses for existing customers, as well.

BetRivers

BetRivers provides one of the most popular online wagering platforms and has a modern design. You can find what you are looking for in seconds and they have an amazing new customer bonus – of up to $250 with a Betrivers bonus code. They also offer many promos for their regular customers and provide a number of special features.

Caesars

Caesars Sportsbook is quickly becoming one of the top names in sports betting in the US, although they are a UK-born bookie. They are offering an exclusive welcome bonus of up to $1,250 on Caesars + 1000 Tier Credits. Their odds are competitive, especially for top league events and they provide straightforward access on their platform.

Popular Questions Regarding the Top MLS Picks

When will the MLS future markets close?

Each bookmaker sets a date for when each future betting market will close, so you will have to check with the bookie to see the date. For example, on the DraftKings platform, you can see the date and time the market will close next to the name of the selection/event.

Is betting on the MLS legal in the USA?

Yes, it is. Many states already legalized sports betting and some are on their way. After you check to see if sports betting is legal in your state, you should focus on finding a licensed sportsbook, as well. Even if betting is legal in a state, only wagering on licensed sportsbooks is allowed.

Is it free to register an online bookmaker account?

Yes, it is. You don’t even have to pay to download the app or verify your account. All the betting features available are also free to use for verified customers.

Do I have to verify my identity and address to place wagers?

Yes, you do. Some bookies require you to verify your payment method, as well.

How can I watch MLS games?

After entering a 10-year streaming partnership with Apple, MLS will now be broadcast exclusively on Apple TV+’s new MLS Season Pass app.