Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer

Founded	1996
Country	United States and Canada
Level on pyramid	1
Most championships	Cups: LA Galaxy (5) Shields: D.C. United, LA Galaxy (4 each)
Website	Official Site

Major League Soccer (MLS) is an American soccer league that started in 1996. As of the upcoming 2019 season, 24 teams will play in the league. Two more teams are planned to start play in 2020. The commissioner of the league (the person in charge) is Don Garber.

MLS, founded in the United States, is a fully professional league with 24 teams, three of which are based in Canada, and is the top soccer league in both countries. Referees are approved by the United States Soccer Federation and Canadian Soccer Association, which run the sport in the two countries. In turn, U.S. Soccer and the CSA 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 March and ends in October, with each team playing 34 games. The regular season is followed by a 12-team playoff tournament to decide the league champion.

Teams

• Atlanta United FC
• Colorado Rapids
• Columbus Crew SC
• Chicago Fire
• D.C. United
• F.C. Cincinnati
• F.C. Dallas
• Houston Dynamo
• Los Angeles FC
• Los Angeles Galaxy
• Minnesota United FC
• Montreal Impact
• New England Revolution
• New York City F.C.
• New York Red Bulls
• Orlando City S.C.
• Philadelphia Union
• Portland Timbers
• Real Salt Lake
• San Jose Earthquakes
• Seattle Sounders F.C.
• Sporting Kansas City
• Toronto F.C.
• Vancouver Whitecaps

Former teams

• Tampa Bay Mutiny (1996-2001)
• Miami Fusion (1998-2001)
• Chivas USA (2005-2014)

Future teams

• Inter Miami CF – Owned in part by former England national team star David Beckham, the team was officially announced as a new MLS member in 2018. Plans are for the team to start play in 2020 at a temporary stadium and move into a new stadium in Miami in 2021.
• Nashville SC – MLS officially awarded a franchise to Nashville, Tennessee in 2018. The team will start play at Nissan Stadium, home to the NFL's Tennessee Titans, in 2020, and open its own new stadium near downtown Nashville in 2021.
• Austin FC – MLS officially awarded a franchise to Austin, Texas in January 2019, shortly after Anthony Precourt, previously owner of Columbus Crew SC, sold the Crew to a group led by the owners of the NFL's Cleveland Browns. The team will begin play in 2021 at a new stadium being built in north Austin.

MLS Cup Winners

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

Related pages

• USL First Division

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.