San Diego FC kicks off its second Major League Soccer season Saturday night, hosting Montreal at Snapdragon Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. matchup. The club enters 2026 as the defending Western Conference regular season champions after a historic first year — setting MLS records for wins and points by an expansion team — and advancing to the Western Conference championship game.

Head coach Mikey Varas returns a core that exceeded all expectations in 2025. Leading the way is forward Anders Dreyer, an MVP finalist who recorded 19 goals and 19 assists last season, more combined points than any player in the league except Lionel Messi. Dreyer told reporters he believes his best is still ahead.

There is one notable wrinkle heading into the opener. Starting goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega will miss Saturday's game after receiving a red card during last season's playoff exit against Vancouver, a suspension that carries over to the first match of the new campaign. In his place, 19-year-old Duran Ferree — a San Diego native — will make his first Major League Soccer start.

"He has stepped into some tough situations in games and he made big saves," said coach Varas. "Duran has showed us that he is more than a capable goalkeeper, and we really trust him."

For East County fans looking for a weekend outing, Snapdragon Stadium is about 30 minutes from Santee via Interstate 8. Montreal finished tied for the second-fewest points in MLS last season, giving San Diego a favorable draw to start the year. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday.