The opening weekend of the 2026 American soccer season delivered a double dose of excitement, with both Major League Soccer and MLS NEXT Pro kicking off in style. Fans were treated to standout debuts, breakout performances, and a healthy serving of drama as San Jose Earthquakes and St Louis CITY2 each claimed impressive victories in their respective leagues.
In San Jose, all eyes were on Timo Werner, the former German international and UEFA Champions League winner, as he made his much-anticipated MLS debut for the Earthquakes. Werner, who signed with San Jose in the offseason, wasted little time making an impact. Entering the match in the 61st minute, he injected fresh energy into the Quakes’ attack and, just shy of 20 minutes later, delivered a pinpoint assist to Ousseni Bouda. Bouda’s strike sealed a 2-0 win over visiting Atlanta United, sending the Earthquakes to their second straight victory to open the 2026 campaign.
“Werner caught up to a pass down the right side of the pitch and fed it to Bouda, who got just enough of it for his first goal of the season and a 2-0 lead,” reported Field Level Media. This assist capped a debut that will surely have Quakes fans buzzing about what’s to come from their new star forward.
The match itself was a tale of dominance for San Jose, particularly in the first half. The Quakes pressed high and dictated play, racking up a 13-8 edge in total shots and putting six on target compared to Atlanta’s single effort on goal. Their persistence paid off in the 24th minute, when Jamar Ricketts intercepted a wayward Atlanta pass and darted into the box. His cross found Preston Judd, whose deft flicked header beat Atlanta keeper Lucas Hoyos for a 1-0 lead. For Judd, it was already his second goal of the young season, underlining his growing importance to the Quakes’ frontline.
Atlanta United, meanwhile, struggled to find any rhythm. Outside of a few half-chances, they rarely threatened San Jose’s goalkeeper Daniel, who was only called into action once—making a late save on Miguel Almiron in the 89th minute. With this result, Atlanta slumped to an 0-2-0 record to start the year, still in search of their first goal and first points under the returning Tata Martino, the coach who led them to MLS Cup glory back in 2018.
The second half saw a flurry of action, with San Jose seemingly doubling their lead in the 70th minute when Niko Tsakiris tapped in a Ricketts cross. However, celebrations were cut short as the goal was ruled out for offside. Not to be denied, the Quakes kept up the pressure, and Bouda’s insurance goal—courtesy of Werner’s first MLS assist—finally put the match to bed.
“It sent the Earthquakes (2-0-0, 6 points) to their second win in as many matches to begin the 2026 MLS season,” Field Level Media noted, highlighting the team’s strong start.
On the other side of the country, St Louis CITY2 made a statement in their MLS NEXT Pro opener, dispatching cross-state rivals Sporting KC II with an emphatic 4-0 victory at Energizer Park. The match showcased a new generation of CITY2 talent, as seven of the starting eleven made their first career MLS NEXT Pro starts. The youthful lineup wasted no time settling in, with Evan Carlock opening the scoring just 14 minutes in. Carlock’s goal—his first as a professional—came off a slick assist from Palmer Ault, who also notched his first professional helper.
St Louis doubled their advantage in the 34th minute, as Patrick McDonald found the back of the net for his first CITY2 goal, assisted by Riley Lynch and Alex Jundt. The team’s relentless attack continued in the second half. Defender Kyle Hiebert, a CITY2 mainstay, made it 3-0 in the 53rd minute, finishing off a move orchestrated by Cooper Forcellini and Carlock. For Hiebert, it was his fifth career goal for the club—a testament to his consistency and knack for getting forward from the back line.
The scoring was wrapped up in the 74th minute by none other than Forcellini, who netted his first professional goal after a clever setup from Ault and Jack Wagoner. It was a night of firsts all around: Forcellini also recorded his first professional assist, and both Jundt and Wagoner picked up their first assists as well. Substitutes Jemone Barclay and Yu Ota made their CITY2 debuts, adding to the sense of a new era dawning for the club.
“Seven of the 11 CITY2 starters tonight made their first career MLS NEXT Pro starts, including Owen Jorgensen, Zack Lillington, Jack Wagoner, Alex Jundt, Cooper Forcellini, Palmer Ault, and Sidney Paris,” according to the official match report. The team’s blend of fresh faces and experienced leaders paid immediate dividends, as they dominated the stat sheet with 19 total shots (nine on target) while limiting Sporting KC II to just six shots and three on frame. It was a comprehensive performance, capped by a clean sheet—the third time in CITY2’s brief history that they have opened the season without conceding, echoing similar feats in 2022 and 2025.
The weather at Energizer Park was a mild 61 degrees and cloudy, but the mood among the St Louis faithful was anything but gray. The win sets the stage for their next clash, a Sunday showdown with Minnesota United FC 2 on March 8, where CITY2 will look to build on their early momentum.
For Atlanta United and Sporting KC II, the weekend’s results leave plenty of questions. Atlanta, in particular, will be desperate to find their scoring touch and secure a result for coach Martino, whose return has yet to yield the spark fans hoped for. Sporting KC II, meanwhile, will have to regroup quickly after being outplayed in every department by a hungry St Louis side.
Back in San Jose, the focus will be on maintaining their perfect start and integrating Werner even further into the squad. His debut assist already hints at a fruitful partnership with Bouda and Judd, and with the Quakes firing on all cylinders, the Western Conference may have a new contender on its hands.
As the 2026 season unfolds, both the MLS and MLS NEXT Pro landscapes are already shifting. New stars are emerging, established veterans are making their mark in fresh surroundings, and fans can look forward to plenty more twists and turns. For now, though, San Jose and St Louis can savor opening weekends that went exactly to plan—and then some.