LOS ANGELES — The Coachella Valley Invitational is set to feature almost half of the teams from both Major League Soccer (MLS) and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), reflecting the event’s growing popularity.
Scheduled to run from February 1 to February 22 at Indio, California’s Empire Polo Club—also the home of the famed Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals—this marks the fourth consecutive year that the expansive 1,000-acre venue has hosted preseason training and games for MLS teams. The NWSL joined the fray last season, further enhancing the event’s scope.
Kara Korber, who serves as AEG’s senior director of business development, stated that the current capacity is set at 20 teams, but there are plans to potentially expand this number if additional infrastructure becomes available.
The invitational features two primary fields with bleacher and premium seating arrangements for fans during matches. Additionally, every participating team has access to two dedicated practice fields for training or for holding behind-closed-doors games during the week.
“Among major American sports leagues, MLS is notably the only one that lacks its own dedicated preseason event. Other leagues like MLB with spring training, NFL camps and games, and the NBA summer league provide similar structures. Thus, taking the reins of this event has turned out to be a remarkable achievement,” Korber remarked.
Last year, the CVI attracted an impressive 25,000 spectators, with a limit of 5,000 fans allowed on-site for each of the seven days featuring public matches. Teams will participate in at least two matches open to spectators, alongside opportunities for additional closed games midweek that allow for strategic experimentation with player rotations and tactics.
The venue provides an intimate setting; fans can be positioned just 10 to 15 feet from the action, offering them an extraordinary view and enabling them to hear the discussions and actions on the field.
The event will once again showcase the LA Galaxy, the reigning MLS Cup champions and an AEG-owned club. Other notable teams include MLS Cup runner-up New York Red Bulls, along with conference finalists Seattle and NYCFC, in addition to the newly formed San Diego FC.
Participating MLS clubs also include Austin, Charlotte, Chicago, Kansas City, LAFC, Minnesota, Portland, Salt Lake, San Jose, and St. Louis. In terms of NWSL representation, teams such as Angel City, Bay FC, Houston, Portland, San Diego, and Seattle will also join in the action.
MLS matches are scheduled for February 1 through February 15, whereas NWSL games will take the spotlight in the final week of the event.
The Coachella Valley Invitational was initiated in 2022, initially serving as a preseason training ground for just six MLS teams without any fans present. Over the past two years, the event expanded to encompass 12 MLS teams and is set to welcome 14 in 2025; four NWSL teams participated in 2024.
“The Coachella Valley Invitational has emerged as a top-tier preseason gathering in global soccer, largely owing to AEG’s prowess in organizing top-notch events,” commented MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “With its modern facilities, professional management, and distinctive atmosphere, Coachella offers MLS clubs an excellent opportunity to gear up for the upcoming season.”