By James NaltonMessi Miami stadiumAll eyes were on Inter Miami once again this week as the high-profile franchise opened its new stadium in the city.Since joining MLS in 2020, Inter Miami have played their home games 30 miles away in the city of Fort Lauderdale.The plan was always to build a stadium in Miami, and on Saturday, a new ground, next to Miami International Airport, opened its doors for Messi and co. for an MLS match for the first time.Of course, this being a big occasion, Messi got himself on the scoresheet, but though he was the scorer of his team’s first goal at the stadium, the first goal at the stadium was scored by Guilherme Biro via a pin-point header for opponents Austin FC.The Texas team also spoiled the party by earning a 2-2 draw on the night, meaning Inter Miami didn’t open their new billion-dollar home with a win.But there were plenty of positives, including some fans’ use of public transport to get to the ground, Luis Suárez getting on the scoresheet too, an entertaining game full of chances, and getting to celebrate a Messi goal, which, let’s face it, is what most of those in attendance will have turned out to see.It’s the start of a new chapter for this franchise that is never far away from the headlines. Those are mostly thanks to Messi, but on this occasion, they are thanks to Messi and a new stadium. MLS’s Miami team is now finally playing in downtown Miami.Son lights up Los Angeles as Bouanga nets hat-trickLos Angeles FC continued to show they are the best team in MLS at the start of the 2026 season, and though Son Heung-min didn’t manage to get on the scoresheet, he was instrumental in their latest win.He assisted four of his team’s five first-half goals against Orlando City in LA on Saturday night — all five if you include his cross that resulted in the David Brekalo own goal to open the scoring — and finished the game with the highest FotMob rating despite not finding the net himself.For more graphics like this, check out @fotmobapp on InstagramFellow outstanding attacker Denis Bouanga was a regular recipient of Son’s passes, scoring a hat-trick in eight minutes in that first-half flurry as LAFC maintained their place at the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings.LAFC are also yet to concede a goal in MLS this season, looking solid as well as setting the pace, and though their start to the season has been strong, this was their most convincing win so far, marking them out as the team to beat.They will hope to continue this form on the continent when they face Cruz Azul in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup this week.Tsakiris shines as Earthquakes rumble onSon and Bouanga were unsurprisingly the two highest-rated players this week, but the next in line takes us to another early standout performer in the Western Conference, San Jose Earthquakes.Having finished outside the top ten in their conference in four of the past five seasons, and having had the embarrassment of receiving the Wooden Spoon in 2018 and 2024, there has been little for Earthquakes fans to celebrate since they lifted the Supporters’ Shield back in 2012.This season has seen them start in 2012 form, though, and their 12 points from five games equals the pace of that successful season.This weekend, they were up against one of the other challengers at the top of the Western Conference, San Diego FC, securing a 3-0 win that showed there is some substance to their early-season form and that they can mix it with the best.Nico Tsakiris stood out, scoring a brace made up of an outstanding opener and one from the penalty spot, while striker Preston Judd also notched a goal and an assist.Goalkeeper Daniel is quietly among the best goalkeepers in the league, and 22-year-old San Josean Beau Leroux has emerged as a standout performer in midfield. That’s before you even get to the impact that new high-profile signing, Timo Werner, can have on this team.Bruce Arena’s side are worth keeping an eye on this season.Pre-World Cup drama in Canada as Sargent alerts PochettinoCo-host Canada (and Mexico, for that matter) has gone under the radar somewhat in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup, with much of the focus being on the issues surrounding the United States’ suitability to host the tournament.But this World Cup will kick off in Mexico, while Canadian cities Toronto and Vancouver will also host matches up to the Last 16 stage.Both of those Canadian host cities are home to MLS teams, and both witnessed great drama in their matches that bookended Matchweek 6.Toronto opened the round with an eventful game at home to Colorado Rapids. There were five goals in the game, but before any of them were scored, there were two red cards, one for each team.This opened up the game, with Colorado scoring two in three minutes before Toronto mounted a comeback. It was started by Canadian international Richie Laryea and finished off by American striker Josh Sargent, with a calamitous Rapids own goal and another sending off for the visitors to accompany it all.Sargent is pushing for a late inclusion in Mauricio Pochettino’s United States World Cup squad, and goals like the header that won this game in dramatic fashion in the 85th minute will make the US boss sit up and take note.It was another USMNT hopeful who won the game for the Whitecaps in Vancouver to close off this Matchweek. Sebastian Berhalter struck the second of two goals in added time, the other a Thomas Müller penalty, to bring the Whitecaps back from 2-1 down to win 3-2 against Phil Neville’s Portland Timbers.These Canadian cities will be hoping for similar excitement when they host World Cup matches in the summer, but for now, their MLS teams are giving them some soccer to enjoy.(Cover Image from IMAGO)You can follow every match from MLS with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including player ratings. Download the free app here.