# Major League Soccer 1996

Die 1. Major League Soccer Saison begann am 6. April 1996 und endete mit dem Finalspiel der Play-offs, dem MLS Cup, am 20. Oktober 1996.
DC United konnte den Cup als erste Mannschaft gewinnen. Sie besiegten die LA Galaxy im Foxboro Stadium mit 3:2 nach Verlängerung. Das erste Spiel in der MLS bestritten DC United und San Jose Clash am 6. April. Die Kalifornier siegten mit 1:0. Erster Torschütze der neuen Liga war Eric Wynalda.

## Saisonverlauf
### Regular Season

| Platz | Eastern Conference | Sp | S | (so) | N | (so) | Tore | Gegentore | Tordifferenz | Punkte |
| 1 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 32 | 20 | (1) | 12 | (3) | 66 | 51 | +15 | 58 |
| 2 | D.C. United | 32 | 16 | (1) | 16 | (3) | 62 | 56 | +6 | 46 |
| 3 | NY/NJ MetroStars | 32 | 15 | (3) | 17 | (2) | 45 | 47 | −2 | 39 |
| 4 | Columbus Crew | 32 | 15 | (4) | 17 | (5) | 59 | 60 | −1 | 37 |
| 5 | New England Revolution | 32 | 15 | (6) | 17 | (2) | 43 | 56 | −13 | 33 |
| Platz | Western Conference | Sp | S | (so) | N | (so) | Tore | Gegentore | Tordifferenz | Punkte |
| 1 | LA Galaxy | 32 | 19 | (4) | 13 | (4) | 59 | 49 | +10 | 49 |
| 2 | Dallas Burn | 32 | 17 | (5) | 15 | (3) | 50 | 48 | +2 | 41 |
| 3 | Kansas City Wiz | 32 | 17 | (5) | 15 | (2) | 61 | 63 | −2 | 41 |
| 4 | San Jose Clash | 32 | 15 | (3) | 17 | (6) | 50 | 50 | 0 | 39 |
| 5 | Colorado Rapids | 32 | 11 | (2) | 21 | (4) | 44 | 59 | −15 | 29 |

### Play-offs

| Conference Halbfinale | Conference Halbfinale | Conference Halbfinale | Conference Halbfinale | Conference Halbfinale | Conference Finale | Conference Finale | Conference Finale | | MLS Cup 1996 | MLS Cup 1996 | MLS Cup 1996 |
| 1 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 2 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Columbus Crew | 0 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Columbus Crew | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 2 | | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | | | | 1 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 2 | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | 2 | D.C. United | 6 | | | | |
| 2 | D.C. United | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | D.C. United | 6 | | | | |
| 3 | NY/NJ MetroStars | 3* | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | NY/NJ MetroStars | 3* | 0 | 1 | | | | | E | D.C. United | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | W | LA Galaxy | 2 |
| 1 | LA Galaxy | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | W | LA Galaxy | 2 |
| 4 | San Jose Clash | 1 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | San Jose Clash | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | LA Galaxy | 4 | | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | | | | 1 | LA Galaxy | 4 | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | 3 | Kansas City Wiz | 2 | | | | |
| 2 | Dallas Burn | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | Kansas City Wiz | 2 | | | | |
| 3 | Kansas City Wiz | 3 | 1 | 3* | | | | | | | |

## Team-Auszeichnungen

* MLS-Cup – DC United
* U.S. Open Cup – DC United
* MLS Supporters Shield – Tampa Bay Mutiny

## Individuelle Auszeichnungen

* Wertvollster Spieler: Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay Mutiny
* Torschützenkönig: Roy Lassiter, Tampa Bay Mutiny (58)
* Goldener Schuh: Roy Lassiter, Tampa Bay Mutiny (27)
* Verteidiger des Jahres: John Doyle, San Jose Clash
* Torwart des Jahres: Mark Dodd, Dallas Burn
* Anfänger des Jahres: Steve Ralston, Tampa Bay Mutiny
* Trainer des Jahres: Thomas Rongen, Tampa Bay Mutiny
* Tor des Jahres: Eric Wynalda, San Jose Clash
1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024