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MLS Cup Championship Odds with Expert Betting Predictions

by Spencer Toth - 2/17/2026

MLS Cup championship odds and expert predictions Lionel Messi Inter Miami

The new MLS season is days away, as Lionel Messi and Inter Miami look to defend their title after a historic season. As the North American soccer league continues to grow in popularity, the race for MLS Cup is now as hot as ever. Messi and company are coming in as the odds-on favorites at +430, but the race is still wide-open as more than half the league has +3300 odds or shorter. A flurry of off-season signings will throw another wrench in the mix, but there are definitely some loose lines we can take advantage of before kickoff this weekend. The single-elimination playoff format will save plenty of drama for the closing months of the year, but there is still lots of upside in locking these picks in now. Here are the four strongest MLS best bets, with one longshot worth a small sprinkle. 

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Inter Miami: +430

I was all over Inter Miami last year at +300, and you can bet that I am even more thrilled to be getting +430 odds this season. Inter Miami made it look easy en route to the franchise’s first MLS Cup last year, capping it off with a 3-0 win over Vancouver in the Finals. Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba both retired, but the return of Luis Suarez alongside Messi ensures that Miami remains at the top of the table. While Busquets and Alba were undoubtedly great leaders in the locker room, it was not as if they were the best players on the pitch. Messi and Suarez still have lots to give, but the aging legs of Busquets and Alba are no longer in the fold, which will actually make Miami better. Dayne St. Clair is expected to lead Canada at the World Cup between the sticks, and there aren’t many better backups than Rocco Rios Novo. Sergio Regulion is a serious upgrade at left back, while Rodrigo De Paul will establish himself in the midfield after his midseason transfer last year. Injuries could always derail Miami, but this is a deep squad with plenty of top-end talent, including still the best player in the world up front. 

San Diego FC: +1300

LAFC and Vancouver are the top dogs out west, but all the value lies with San Diego FC at +1300. San Diego FC finished on top of the Western Conference last year, with 63 points in 34 games. The club is still looking to solidify its identity heading into its second season in the league, but there is no denying the talent up and down this roster. Andres Dryer led the way with 23 goals last season, and the talented winger/striker is back in San Diego this year. He also led the way with an astonishing 20 assists, as his linkup play with Hirving Lozano started to blossom in the second half of the year. Scoring depth has been a concern for San Diego, but the reality is that a few healthy options up top, coupled with a solid defense, is enough to go on a deep run. They were relatively quiet in the offseason in terms of signings, but this is still the squad to beat in the West until proven otherwise. 

Columbus Crew: +1700

Columbus only made the playoffs by one point last season, but they are set to get back to winning ways this year. This is a franchise with a deep history of winning, as it has remained competitive over the last decade. Diego Rossi led the way last year with 16 goals and 6 assists, while the arrival of Daniel Gazdag will give them another option up front. Gazdag was limited due to injury last season, but his partnership with Rossi up front will determine how far this team can go. In the midfield, Darlington Nagbe is back for another season at the No. 6 position, as he is the heart and soul of this squad. If Columbus’s defensive signings pan out as they hope, this is one of the few teams in the East that can give Miami a run for its money. 

LA Galaxy +1800

LA Galaxy had a disastrous season last year, putting up one of the worst displays from a defending champion in recent memory. They finished 11 points out of a playoff spot after going winless in the first 16 games of the season. In the second half of the season, LA strung together wins, but it wasn’t enough to overcome their horrendous start to the campaign. The Galaxy can blame Riqui Puig’s injury for their early struggles, but he is now expected to miss the entire season this year too after another injury setback, leaving them shorthanded again. However, all hope is not lost. Marco Reus had a fantastic second half of the season after arriving in Los Angeles, and the scoring depth up and down this roster is apparent. Gabriel Pec can find himself under scrutiny due to his temper, but his passion for the game has become contagious for his teammates. Losing Puig for another year hurts the Galaxy, but this is a team with a strong defense that has had an entire offseason to plan around Puig’s absence. They should be closer to the odds of their cross-city rivals and the Whitecaps, making this +1800 price one that may not be available for long. 

Toronto FC: +5000

Toronto FC has been dwelling near the bottom of the standings for the last few seasons, but there is now reason for optimism north of the border. TFC’s incredible run of an MLS-record eight straight draws wasn’t enough to make the playoffs, but they showed that they will also not be easily beaten. Luke Gavran is starting to generate interest in the goal, and another strong defensive showing from TFC could get them into the playoffs. This is a squad with deep pockets that has spent its cash poorly in the past, but can now move on from Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi this year. Josh Sargent has been linked with the club for the last few months, and signing the championship striker would go a long way in boosting their goal tally. Their 44 goals allowed were the third-fewest in the Eastern Conference last year, and they allowed the fewest goals per game across the final 25 matches of the season. If their offense can show signs of life, their steady defensive line will allow them to win more often than not. When taking a +5000 prop, making the playoffs with the dream still alive is all we can ask for, and I certainly think Toronto is capable of doing that much. 

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