Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer (MLS) is an American soccer league that started in 1996. As of the current 2022 season, 28 teams play in the league. One other team plans to join in 2023. The commissioner of the league (the person in charge) is Don Garber.

Major League Soccer
Founded1996
CountryUnited States and Canada
Level on pyramid1
Most championshipsCups: LA Galaxy (5)
Shields: D.C. United, LA Galaxy (4 each)
WebsiteOfficial Site

MLS, founded in the United States, is a fully professional league with 28 teams, three of which are based in Canada. The United States Soccer Federation (USSF or U.S. Soccer), which runs soccer in that country, considers MLS to be the country's top men's league. The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), which runs soccer in Canada, considers the Canadian Premier League as its top men's league, but MLS has much greater Canadian media coverage and is seen as having a higher level of play. Referees are approved by U.S. Soccer and the CSA. In turn, both national governing bodies are members of FIFA, which governs all play between national teams and sets the rules for the sport along with the national governing bodies of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

MLS was formed in 1993 as a professional league, with play starting with 10 teams in 1996. The MLS regular season starts in late February and ends in November, with each team playing 34 games. The regular season is followed by a 14-team playoff tournament to decide the league champion.

Teams

Current

Team City Stadium Founded Joined Conference Head Coach
Atlanta United FC Atlanta, Georgia Mercedes-Benz Stadium 2014 2017 Eastern Conference Mexico Gonzalo Pineda
Austin FC Austin, Texas Q2 Stadium 2019 2021 Western Conference United States Josh Wolff
C.F. Montréal Montreal, Quebec Saputo Stadium 2010 2012 Eastern Conference France Wilfried Nancy
Charlotte FC Charlotte, North Carolina Bank of America Stadium 2019 2022 Eastern Conference Spain Miguel Ángel Ramírez
Chicago Fire FC Chicago, Illinois Soldier Field 1997 1998 Eastern Conference Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ezra Hendrickson
Colorado Rapids Commerce City, Colorado Dick's Sporting Goods Park 1995 1996 Western Conference United States Robin Fraser
Columbus Crew Columbus, Ohio Lower.com Field 1994 1996 Eastern Coference United States Caleb Porter
D.C. United Washington, D.C. Audi Field 1994 1996 Eastern Conference Argentina Hernán Losada
FC Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio TQL Stadium 2018 2019 Eastern Conference United States Pat Noonan
F.C. Dallas Frisco, Texas Toyota Stadium 1995 1996 Western Conference Spain Nico Estévez
Houston Dynamo Houston, Texas PNC Stadium 2005 2006 Western Conference Vacant
Inter Miami CF Fort Lauderdale, Florida DRV PNK Stadium 2018 2020 Eastern Conference England Phil Neville
Los Angeles FC Los Angeles, California Banc of California Stadium 2014 2018 Western Conference Vacant
Los Angeles Galaxy Carson, California Dignity Health Sports Park 1994 1996 Western Conference United States Greg Vanney
Minnesota United FC Saint Paul, Minnesota Allianz Field 2015 2017 Western Conference England Adrian Heath
Nashville SC Nashville, Tennessee Geodis Park 2017 2020 Western Conference England Gary Smith
New England Revolution Foxborough, Massachusetts Gillette Stadium 1994 1996 Eastern Conference United States Bruce Arena
New York City F.C. New York City, New York Yankee Stadium 2013 2015 Eastern Conference Norway Ronny Deila
New York Red Bulls Harrison, New Jersey Red Bull Arena 1994 1996 Eastern Conference Austria Gerhard Struber
Orlando City SC Orlando, Florida Exploria Stadium 2013 2015 Eastern Conference Colombia Óscar Pareja
Philadelphia Union Chester, Pennsylvania Subaru Park 2008 2010 Eastern Conference United States Jim Curtin
Portland Timbers Portland, Oregon Providence Park 2009 2011 Western Conference Venezuela Giovanni Savarese
Real Salt Lake Sandy, Utah Rio Tinto Stadium 2004 2005 Western Conference United States Pablo Mastroeni
San Jose Earthquakes San Jose, California PayPal Park 1994 1996 Western Conference Argentina Matías Almeyda
Seattle Sounders F.C. Seattle, Washington Lumen Field 2007 2009 Western Conference United States Brian Schmetzer
Sporting Kansas City Kansas City, Kansas Children's Mercy Park 1995 1996 Western Conference United States Peter Vermes
Toronto F.C. Toronto, Ontario BMO Field 2005 2007 Eastern Conference United States Bob Bradley
Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver, British Columbia BC Place 2009 2011 Western Conference Italy Vanni Sartini

Former teams

Team City Last Stadium Founded Joined Left MLS Dissolved Conference
Tampa Bay Mutiny Tampa, Florida Raymond James Stadium 1994 1996 2001 2002 Central Conference
Miami Fusion Fort Lauderdale, Florida Lockhart Stadium 1997 1998 2001 2002 Eastern Conference
Chivas USA Carson, California StubHub Center 2004 2005 2014 2014 Western Conference

Future teams

Team City Stadium Founded Planned to join Manager Notes
St. Louis City SC St. Louis, Missouri Centene Stadium 2019 2023 TBC

MLS Cup Winners

SeasonChampionsRunner-up
1996D.C. UnitedLos Angeles Galaxy
1997D.C. UnitedColorado Rapids
1998Chicago FireDC United
1999D.C. UnitedLos Angeles Galaxy
2000Kansas City WizardsChicago Fire
2001San Jose EarthquakesLos Angeles Galaxy
2002Los Angeles GalaxyNew England Revolution
2003San Jose EarthquakesChicago Fire
2004D.C. UnitedKansas City Wizards
2005Los Angeles GalaxyNew England Revolution
2006Houston DynamoNew England Revolution
2007Houston DynamoNew England Revolution
2008Columbus CrewNew York Red Bulls
2009Real Salt LakeLos Angeles Galaxy
2010Colorado RapidsFC Dallas
2011Los Angeles GalaxyHouston Dynamo
2012Los Angeles GalaxyHouston Dynamo
2013Sporting Kansas CityReal Salt Lake
2014Los Angeles GalaxyNew England Revolution
2015Portland TimbersColumbus Crew SC
2016Seattle Sounders FCToronto FC
2017Toronto FCSeattle Sounders FC
2018Atlanta United FCPortland Timbers
2019Seattle Sounders FCToronto FC
2020Columbus Crew SCSeattle Sounders FC
2021New York City FCPortland Timbers
  • USL Championship

References


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