SAN DIEGO, California — CF Montréal enters the 2026 MLS season tonight with a daunting task, facing Western Conference heavyweights San Diego FC at Snapdragon Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. EST (7:30 p.m. local time).
The match represents a clash of opposite trajectories. San Diego FC is coming off a record-breaking 2025 inaugural campaign where they set a league record for expansion victories (19) and reached the Western Conference finals. Conversely, CF Montréal is looking to erase the memory of a “historically bad” 2025 season that saw them finish near the bottom of the league standings with only 34 goals scored.
The Rebuild in Focus
Montréal Sporting Director Olivier Renard and the front office have been active in the off-season, overhaulng a roster that many analysts labelled the “least talented” in the league last year. Key additions making their competitive debut tonight include:
- Forwards: Daniel Rios and Noah Streit
- Midfielders: Wiki Carmona and Ivan Losenko
- Defenders: Brayan Vera and Thomas Aviles
The club holds a 5-8-1 all-time record in MLS season openers. This match marks the first-ever competitive meeting between the two franchises, as San Diego enters its second year in the league.
Players to Watch
San Diego FC is led by MLS Best XI midfielder Anders Dreyer, who dominated the 2025 season with 22 goals and 16 assists. Montréal’s defensive structure, anchored by newcomer Thomas Aviles, will be under immediate pressure to contain a San Diego side that averaged 1.9 goals per game last season.
Match Day Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | 21 February 2026 |
| Venue | Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego |
| Broadcast | TSN, RDS, Apple TV (MLS Season Pass) |
| Betting Odds | San Diego (-214) | Draw (+350) | Montréal (+525) |
While San Diego enters as heavy favourites with a 67% home win rate, Montréal’s revamped squad provides an element of the unknown. For the Canadian side, a result in Southern California would signal that the 2026 rebuild is ahead of schedule.