# MLS return storylines: Berhalter’s future, Son’s goal drought and what’s next for Messi?

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-16 16:07 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
Major League Soccer returns from its World Cup break with major storylines surrounding Lionel Messi, Berhalter, and Apple TV.

## Intelligence Brief
According to extensive coverage from outlets including CBS Sports, Reuters, The Guardian, The New York Times, and Front Office Sports, Major League Soccer has officially resumed following a scheduled pause for the 2026 World Cup. The league's return features the twenty-seventh edition of El Trafico highlighting the slate of matches, alongside concurrent discussions regarding Matchday sixteen, fantasy soccer updates, and individual player trajectories. Publications such as Goal.com and MLSsoccer.com outline specific storylines to watch, including Berhalter's future, Son's goal drought, Robert Lewandowski potentially transforming the Chicago Fire, and the ongoing inquiries regarding when Lionel Messi will return to Inter Miami. Coverage heavily emphasizes the broader economic and cultural impact of the World Cup on the domestic league, focusing on what commissioners and analysts term the Messi effect.


Reuters and Front Office Sports report on remarks from league leadership, including commissioner Garber, who views the current climate as a rising tide lifting multiple boats. Meanwhile, CBS Sports and The Wall Street Journal evaluate whether Major League Soccer can finally rival established domestic leagues like Major League Baseball, the NBA, and the NFL, though STLtoday.com notes that the league's exclusive streaming agreement via the Apple TV deal will likely hinder its ability to fully capture and capitalize on the World Cup's massive success. Media platforms are actively mobilizing around the league's restart, as detailed by Business Insider, Syracuse.com, and Apple itself. Apple has marked the return by introducing new Apple Maps guides, curated Apple Music playlists, and promotional free trials through Apple TV to drive streaming engagement.


Concurrently, publications like Central Oregon Daily and bolavip.com examine the unusual scheduling mechanics of the league restarting even as the World Cup final approaches, prompting questions about match sequencing and broadcast visibility. As the season picks up momentum, coverage does not yet specify the final resolutions to the player storylines or the long-term viewership metrics under the current media rights framework. Observers and fans are directed to watch guides provided by MLSsoccer.com and mainstream sports desks to track upcoming matches, international star performances, and how clubs integrate returning World Cup participants into their regular season rosters moving forward.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| CBS Sports | How Lionel Messi reaching another World Cup final with Argentina provides the ultimate boost for MLS | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1gFBVV95cUxQWGFsWlpsa3R3eWRMdmxoQUNtRnpqUXRJV2RYNHZWTlBuM2haMmh2OEE2TXJnWUgzM3k2SkI5WlNheGZ3VjNhQVZwT1pDUUxzTmxobGdCbVM4cDhtNWVLbFVDLTdObEpzeUsyaS1CSEkyOHNBTVgxeFNfYTZJSUlySF9va3J5MmE1UFJHWjZTb2J2NzVNNlQ3dUhFQzV6NnpOcTdlcFVoaVpGYnA0czNjNmpCd1dOQTNzblo4X0JXcFZjdnFMNXY5QkNEM2tHLUtsdk9kNUdR?oc=5) |
| STLtoday.com | MLS' Apple TV deal likely will hinder its boost from World Cup's big success: Media Views | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiogFBVV95cUxORFhkM0tCT0k2eVlIQm9fM1ZWLVcwR1ltZ3B4cHlUSTRnWHpRMUM4bUdINjVkVEFvdHNBWllVdUNuc21EaUVqdTRaY2QyZEV0aHVMbW9DQ2czSEE0Y09xc0RhMmZYYXB0UXIwU0xZOHNLaHVNWHl2QzY4b19wQXNyRmhkZ0xMdll2d2lxTVYwRlUydkVNX1VURlpvdy1IY09NZWc?oc=5) |
| Reuters | 'Messi effect' a dream for MLS after World Cup, says Garber | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiogFBVV95cUxNRlZpWGJwTU90My1NNS1jNURvWUh3Snc0U0pEd0lacXRmY1k0Wno0V2p0ZUdEUXVXZTItY3k5dWswbzN2WUVHNEktSEZ6YWlIUFNCcVJfbkZFV29UNkp3ajhyQ0pkQXpSTnVPR3JOVjZaemJiTmJWODk4NkoyTURuM1RHaXc4a1JGZ1VnTWh0d1FwQUFXYzBlRDhoMndWM0pxclE?oc=5) |
| Front Office Sports | MLS Commish: ‘We’ve Got a Lot of Boats’ on Soccer’s Rising Tide | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikwFBVV95cUxQZ3BJZlEwUGtNUjlpdENaWkRtdW85SE9GajAyWDFlSjBBTV9VOXM1ME15d25CcjF3cGo2VzZ3OFBjZnpYcDFqTk9zeTNXNTFSblI4SUpsNEpsM2xmN0lkTlRjM2dhTkk1MHJvR212OWxOTGUzM1o0Z0hULVlobW5tX3M2VGJoR0FyVmYzTUl1NGhCV3M?oc=5) |
| Front Office Sports | MLS Will Attempt to Seize on World Cup Momentum | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMicEFVX3lxTFBGRW9TQlJsZDExeGRyZGRFdzFSODVvNVIzV1pUcWVHUmF4Y0N4aFQtcmREVXcwem0wM0hQWkhnb3d3NGdMcnRqZ204M3otVWpoemZHMnVTLXp6RHdfVnNwTkZ6YkJpOFJXV1hzNDh0SFQ?oc=5) |
| WSJ | How Major League Soccer Can (Finally) Rival MLB, the NBA and the NFL After the 2026 World Cup | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilAFBVV95cUxQSndNSjZyOWxqaHhjZkVYRmYtUUcwSjBwbGRkZk55d0U2bWpfWjN0dThmZnBTaUttd0xpWXVxX0x3N3VBdkRIcGRGelNxTWN3UDRxX3hqZEJWR3VTOHZpVERYRE9oVlJ3cGFIa19ZaV9SOWRMUkc0TFowbXoyQ3RBLWU2NmthblJUNU1EdmdIeXhMQ1dq?oc=5) |
| Central Oregon Daily | MLS World Cup break ends. 27th edition of El Trafico highlights slate | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi8gFBVV95cUxNLWRGY1hBSzFqaTVxelZvQnZPWm1PazhPOGppQVYtNllkS2l0UGhsWnl0dnFabGlqbE1Nak84OEtZemxOWmJrampEZ0NzY2x2aDI2WlVxeTVfd1VYQlNSUlE5RGx2OVRaT2toNzVYRHVVanU5OU12akhjV0g5OEJlWGNGaUdLeG03OFhuV2R4NVpwZ1FqNmxRUUIyUUppMThSTFZvbjFDeVlfdGpaR3FwT2xIZGtaOXlGWWRmdGJPNnltSXJFaEpnZk1ELU1IdEp0eWJPOGE4MnBkTVJXeFVqbk85cnpaY3QxVEI5UDcybFVpdw?oc=5) |
| bolavip.com | Why is MLS restarting before 2026 World Cup final? List of games today, July 16 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxNclVBRFhUakF0Qk9RcWZuT2VFTzJGdDlWU0RTckppMldxYmZ1bmtiQW16ei1udmZIYXJFRHAwRnhTNTJsTHQ4VERNWXdmRFJTV21VcjRJOXRmM3R0R0JTRXhKZzVfV0tBNEpmWlYxaUJNdlFtU20tNDNxWWYtRnFyUThNVFJZQ0VPazBTOENTbFJ3dmFtWUE5MnVTcjlMQW8tdGI3NUtOSEVtUE3SAbABQVVfeXFMTmFTSGtnZ25SUWt0N2RkdXQ4eS1icXR3Q2RaODZkdTF3emZoNGpzRG9aQmVJdFhJV3ROeEpPVkhIQTNjVHp6Nmhjdy1rY2FaNEhqMDZYS1lVSmV3NlJoR2x4Y1ZoUDZGTmhYUjRQRUE1Zk8wcmZuYU1yWGM1M0tQbThGdmtMNEVYMVUxRU1MWUNJVnlEZ2lEMjlFRkcwcGNEV0lTT05yWW0) |
| Syracuse.com | MLS returns today after World Cup break; how to watch free with Apple TV trial | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiugFBVV95cUxQMTJMdlJkOW8wT0tiRUtzY0RrclhyMWQtY0lVM3V0NEpFSEl0aXNScV81NlFDOVYtLUZ5eHExZ1M1UlNkTXhWM0NsekhDUmhjZ2NjZ2hOeVN2OG4tS2hFaXg2TjBTZDNsZDlJLVUxeU5hUnpjWEpwNUh5bkY5S3pxTTZIYlZVNWp2RUNnVkRrN09rY3JGdEpwVTF3R2w3eGxKelpPak5uTmpyU2RrdnRFdkxXZEI0cWFJOFHSAc4BQVVfeXFMTWdDbzFVMTlieXFqN0pWcmNRZW9UVmh5VU9hOXU1WWNOR19TaWg2SHRDekFmZnpNMENrUjliMEZiVTNISS1ZaDNoeUlLYW9lTXloeXdTQVFUU2pwc2FfVzdiS003VXBxS01mc3Qxa1gtWGwxQ0gxWTU1bHV5dUxNN2sxOTZUSFdtRUZURGl3ZjZ3T0txdlVZV0d) |
| Business Insider | Want to stream the MLS season? This is the one app you'll need | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiekFVX3lxTE5HNFdpd0RrVkRtYnN0Y2VncjhSd25Vcm15aDZKMmM1bTdMM3lwWl8yaThMUVZkN1lZY1lxeUxUcHpFMkd4aDVHSDZSZmxNYnBtckdGQU0xYm1yX1dDVDhad3NGOWhTNGRaRXh4YTJNeGFJWV9XS0hhcFdB?oc=5) |
| 9to5Mac | Apple marks the return of MLS with new Apple Maps guides, Apple Music playlists, more | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitgFBVV95cUxPTHVTWUYteXNrNncwRHM3N0x2N0prcDRmX3Z3YTJhdmZ2RURFbkNnZ2MzSHJlUUVBdTFPNGVtN1ZjVklHWGpxYzVjblJ3STRRaXd3SXpsdEtIR2ZRYlFEVmg3Smk2Nm5IMUJhX3BCU2VPc0dCZ2NkZGE2ZjJlZzNuMHRxZzZtRGFYc3BlVWFEMGNONzFhZlZOREhfTlpCZzFYVzAwRHc5VXN6b3d0NUQ0TC1PNm9VQQ?oc=5) |
| Sounder at Heart | MLS Fantasy Week 16: Taking it From Here Edition | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikAFBVV95cUxPX28xY0V4anZ4VWlBeVEyRzBsY0dHS2dVVy1zTmJmLTN6UHEzaEgzaVFuMHc1MjdwbXhoZ1U1a3ZXVTJ3bmE3MW9ORVg4V1prQmw5VXFJcGRjRzZLd01iT012THNHZXBoblpFcXFyZ1BFNlBWQ2QwN3hZZTB5ejhaejYxTnZYQ0toWl9aZ1RjcHQ?oc=5) |
| MLSsoccer.com | Matchday 16 watch guide! What to know as MLS returns | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiigFBVV95cUxNOUIteVNzUW9JblV5d3hnNGZ5N3RMczhocWRTblVicmJQeEhmTndFSUhUWXNER04ydU5GbHZRR0t4blNaTFhfeFJtYl9aaTlyOE81RkRlQmhfd0dHVHZfRjZwMlVtM214ZXM5OGtwekJyOHlxZ2ctTzlCek5WbktMa2Y1WWJBdTNrbWc?oc=5) |
| The New York Times | MLS returns from its World Cup break: What to watch, the new stars and where the league left off | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirAFBVV95cUxNSk56R1MzUlYzY1RGNHJ1YWFoOU9YVXNMc3JWTnVfMllKSEpIYzh5U1FuUFF4M2JycjVJMXMydFMtUWlNYmppM2ZpRnRCYmx4dmZ3RUJDY01TOTI3cmdkaVZrVExUallmejJPZ2hGSlA5RElNcDl3MVU1bGJoV1g2NjZwZ0lXTUhMWE9iQ0pPSXpkZG9GMksxMEFaWFVMUXFvR05GSjk3VXdJWUhS?oc=5) |
| Goal.com | When will Lionel Messi return to Inter Miami? Can Robert Lewandowski transform Chicago Fire? Five questions as MLS returns from its World Cup break | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi5gFBVV95cUxOWHBXTVBMWHhuMTN4M2dNZWhTMXUtQTRsOWRtQmdCcFN3ZlV5d3lRdUpkMHYzU3hUU1hkWVZSWTdDcmR4V1dtanZ6UGhQZE1sY3AtRUFOQlZMX3JDaGR6MldyTXozTTV0NWRydkE4X2VlOFo1cUpKcGktZGxvVFU3ckZoeC1Wbkd1SE9MNXBySDA4QlBwQVhtUVZCU2pZWldIV1RGQkp6TWFSeGxsbEsxNG1uNENzZ1FJamxJUmVJdS1mYWtJRlNGNVljejN2YWxzMzFkWmF0UDR3bHRUeHNRYmtHWUxkdw?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-07-16/mls-return-storylines-berhalter-s-future-son-s-goal-drought-and-what-s-next-for*