Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer (MLS) is an American soccer league that started in 1996. As of the most recent 2025 season, 30 teams play in the league. The commissioner of the league (the person in charge) is Don Garber.

MLS, founded in the United States, is a fully professional league with 30 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 playoff tournament to decide the league champion. The championship game is known as the MLS Cup.

In November 2025, MLS announced that it would change to a summer-to-spring season spanning two calendar years, aligning its season with that of most European leagues, starting in July 2027. With the change, the season will start in July and take a winter break between December and February, with no league matches at all in January. The season resumes in late February and runs through April, with the MLS Cup playoffs in May. A shortened transitional season will be held from February to May 2027.

 Teams 
 Current 
 Team City Stadium Founded Joined Conference Head Coach Atlanta United FC Atlanta, Georgia Mercedes-Benz Stadium 2014 2017 Eastern Conference  Ronny Deila Austin FC Austin, Texas Q2 Stadium 2019 2021 Western Conference  Nico Estévez CF 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  Gregg Berhalter Colorado Rapids Commerce City, Colorado Dick's Sporting Goods Park 1995 1996 Western Conference  Chris Armas Columbus Crew Columbus, Ohio ScottsMiracle-Gro 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  Eric Quill Houston Dynamo Houston, Texas Shell Energy Stadium 2005 2006 Western Conference  Ben Olsen Inter Miami CF Miami, Florida Miami Freedom Park 2018 2020 Eastern Conference  Javier Mascherano 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 (Bronx) Yankee Stadium 2013 2015 Eastern Conference  Pascal Jansen New York Red Bulls  Harrison, New Jersey Sports Illustrated Stadium 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  Bradley Carnell 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 San Diego FC San Diego, California Snapdragon Stadium 2023 2025 Western Conference  Mikey Varas   Energizer Park 2019 2023 Western Conference  Olof Mellberg San Jose Earthquakes San Jose, California PayPal Park 1994 1996 Western Conference  Bruce Arena 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  Robin Fraser Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver, British Columbia BC Place 2009 2011 Western Conference  Jesper Sørensen

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

 MLS Cup winners 
SeasonChampionsRunner-up1996D.C. UnitedLA Galaxy1997D.C. UnitedColorado Rapids1998Chicago FireDC United1999D.C. UnitedLA Galaxy2000Kansas City WizardsChicago Fire2001San Jose EarthquakesLA Galaxy2002LA GalaxyNew England Revolution2003San Jose EarthquakesChicago Fire2004D.C. UnitedKansas City Wizards2005LA GalaxyNew England Revolution2006Houston DynamoNew England Revolution2007Houston DynamoNew England Revolution2008Columbus Crew  New York Red Bulls2009Real Salt LakeLA Galaxy2010Colorado RapidsFC Dallas2011LA GalaxyHouston Dynamo2012LA GalaxyHouston Dynamo2013  Sporting Kansas City  Real Salt Lake 2014  LA 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 2024  LA Galaxy  New York Red Bulls 2025  Inter Miami CF  Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Related pages
 USL Championship

 References 

 Best Players in Major league Soccer (MLS) in 2012. hub, n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2012.
 Major League Soccer.  Princeton, n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2012.
 An Overview of American Soccer History.  Dave Litterer, n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2012.
 Soccer Politics / The Politics of Football. Duke University, n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2012.


Category:Soccer in the United States
Category:Soccer in Canada
Category:Sports organizations of the United States
Category:1996 establishments in the United States
Category:Soccer leagues in the United States
Category:Soccer leagues in Canada