Who is playing in MLS Rivalry Week? Teams, fixtures, schedule

It’s back. Every year MLS Rivalry Week brings together some of the league’s best teams for derby matches against their closest rivals.

This year is no different and fans will be treated to a quartet of the biggest rivalries in MLS played across eight action-packed days. In recent seasons we’ve seen some memorable Rivalry Week clashes and last year was no different.

This year’s games will be played from Saturday 11 May to Sunday 18 May with all the action available to view on the MLS Season Pass. There are only four Rivalry Week fixtures this year but the schedule includes some of the fiercest derby games in US soccer.

Columbus Crew - FC Cincinnati (11 May, 7:30pm ET)

First up is a battle in the East as MLS Cup winners Columbus Crew take on Supporters Shield champions FC Cincinnati. Both teams could make a claim to have been the best MLS team across 2023 but neither as quite hit those heights so far this season.

The ‘Hell is Real Derby’ is relatively new but it’s already got a real history of big moments and crucial matches. Most recently, the Crew mounted a stunning three-goal comeback victory to eliminate Cincinnati from the MLS Cup playoffs last season. Cincy will be out for revenge this weekend.

Portland Timbers - Seattle Sounders (12 May, 4:30pm ET)

This Sunday sees two of the Western Conference’s biggest under-performers going head-to-head at Providence Park. Despite their current struggles, Seattle-Portland remains a big fixture and it’s often cited as MLS’ most fiercely-contested derby. They have played each other more than a hundred times, dating back to their first NASL meeting in 1975.

A lot was expected of this talented Portland squad under new head coach Phil Neville this year but they are enduring a torrid run, winless in their last eight games and third-from-bottom in the West. They are level on points with rivals Seattle Sounders, who have failed to click in 2024.

Orlando City SC - Inter Miami (15 May, 7:30pm ET)

When these two teams met back in March it was billed as a meeting of two of the Eastern Conference’s top sides. Orlando had finished second in the Supporters Shield in 2023 and Inter Miami boast one of the finest squads to ever grace MLS. We were expecting a real battle but it turned out to be a complete whitewash.

Inter Miami ran out 5-0 winners in the Turnpike Derby, scoring all five in the first hour of action. Orlando boss Oscar Pareja has struggled to settle on his first-choice starting XI so far this season and they currently sit second-from-bottom in the East, a far cry from conference-leading Inter Miami.

Toronto FC - CF Montreal (18 May, 7:30pm ET)

Rivalry Week 2024 is rounded out with an all-Canadian affair as Toronto and Montreal battle for bragging rights at BMO Field. The Canadian Classique - sometimes referred to as the 401 Derby - has been played 60 times but recent meetings have been dominated by CF Montreal, who are on a record five-game winning streak.

However Toronto will be confident of breaking that run this time around after making an impressive start to the 2024 campaign. They currently sit third in the Eastern Conference and have won their last three games.

A key part of their success has been the form of Prince Owusu, who has proved to be the perfect focal point striker for John Herdman’s team. Owusu has scored four in the last four MLS games and will be eager to add to that tally against Toronto’s fiercest rivals.