Major League Soccer

professional soccer league in the USA and Canada

Major League Soccer (MLS) is an American soccer league that started in 1996. As of the current 2024 season, 29 teams play in the league. One other team plans to join in 2025. 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 29 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.

Current

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Team City Stadium Founded Joined Conference Head Coach
Atlanta United FC Atlanta, Georgia Mercedes-Benz Stadium 2014 2017 Eastern Conference   Rob Valentino (interim)
Austin FC Austin, Texas Q2 Stadium 2019 2021 Western Conference   Josh Wolff
C.F. Montréal Montreal, Quebec Saputo Stadium 2010 2012 Eastern Conference   Laurent Courtois
Charlotte FC Charlotte, North Carolina Bank of America Stadium 2019 2022 Eastern Conference   Dean Smith
Chicago Fire FC Chicago, Illinois Soldier Field 1997 1998 Eastern Conference   Frank Klopas
Colorado Rapids Commerce City, Colorado Dick's Sporting Goods Park 1995 1996 Western Conference   Chris Armas
Columbus Crew Columbus, Ohio Lower.com Field 1994 1996 Eastern Coference   Wilfried Nancy
D.C. United Washington, D.C. Audi Field 1994 1996 Eastern Conference   Troy Lesesne
FC Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio TQL Stadium 2018 2019 Eastern Conference   Pat Noonan
F.C. Dallas Frisco, Texas Toyota Stadium 1995 1996 Western Conference   Peter Luccin (interim)
Houston Dynamo Houston, Texas Shell Energy Stadium 2005 2006 Western Conference   Ben Olsen
Inter Miami CF Fort Lauderdale, Florida DRV PNK Stadium 2018 2020 Eastern Conference   Gerardo Martino
Los Angeles FC Los Angeles, California BMO Stadium 2014 2018 Western Conference   Steve Cherundolo
Los Angeles Galaxy Carson, California Dignity Health Sports Park 1994 1996 Western Conference   Greg Vanney
Minnesota United FC Saint Paul, Minnesota Allianz Field 2015 2017 Western Conference   Eric Ramsey
Nashville SC Nashville, Tennessee Geodis Park 2017 2020 Eastern Conference   B.J. Callaghan
New England Revolution Foxborough, Massachusetts Gillette Stadium 1994 1996 Eastern Conference   Caleb Porter
New York City F.C. New York City, New York Yankee Stadium 2013 2015 Eastern Conference   Nick Cushing
New York Red Bulls Harrison, New Jersey Red Bull Arena 1994 1996 Eastern Conference   Sandro Schwarz
Orlando City SC Orlando, Florida Inter&Co Stadium 2013 2015 Eastern Conference   Óscar Pareja
Philadelphia Union Chester, Pennsylvania Subaru Park 2008 2010 Eastern Conference   Jim Curtin
Portland Timbers Portland, Oregon Providence Park 2009 2011 Western Conference   Phil Neville
Real Salt Lake Sandy, Utah America First Field 2004 2005 Western Conference   Pablo Mastroeni
St. Louis City SC St. Louis, Missouri CityPark 2019 2023 Western Conference   John Hackworth (interim)
San Jose Earthquakes San Jose, California PayPal Park 1994 1996 Western Conference   Ian Russell (interim)
Seattle Sounders F.C. Seattle, Washington Lumen Field 2007 2009 Western Conference   Brian Schmetzer
Sporting Kansas City Kansas City, Kansas Children's Mercy Park 1995 1996 Western Conference   Peter Vermes
Toronto F.C. Toronto, Ontario BMO Field 2005 2007 Eastern Conference   John Herdman
Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver, British Columbia BC Place 2009 2011 Western Conference   Vanni Sartini

Former teams

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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

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Team City Stadium Founded Planned to join Manager Notes
San Diego FC San Diego, California Snapdragon Stadium 2023 2025 TBC

MLS Cup winners

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Season Champions Runner-up
1996 D.C. United Los Angeles Galaxy
1997 D.C. United Colorado Rapids
1998 Chicago Fire DC United
1999 D.C. United Los Angeles Galaxy
2000 Kansas City Wizards Chicago Fire
2001 San Jose Earthquakes Los Angeles Galaxy
2002 Los Angeles Galaxy New England Revolution
2003 San Jose Earthquakes Chicago Fire
2004 D.C. United Kansas City Wizards
2005 Los Angeles Galaxy New England Revolution
2006 Houston Dynamo New England Revolution
2007 Houston Dynamo New England Revolution
2008 Columbus Crew New York Red Bulls
2009 Real Salt Lake Los Angeles Galaxy
2010 Colorado Rapids FC Dallas
2011 Los Angeles Galaxy Houston Dynamo
2012 Los Angeles Galaxy Houston Dynamo
2013 Sporting Kansas City Real Salt Lake
2014 Los Angeles Galaxy New England Revolution
2015 Portland Timbers Columbus Crew SC
2016 Seattle Sounders FC Toronto FC
2017 Toronto FC Seattle Sounders FC
2018 Atlanta United FC Portland Timbers
2019 Seattle Sounders FC Toronto FC
2020 Columbus Crew SC Seattle Sounders FC
2021 New York City FC Portland Timbers
2022 Los Angeles FC Philadelphia Union
2023 Columbus Crew Los Angeles FC
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References

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