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 current 2018 season, 23 teams play in the league. Two more teams have been announced, though the years they will start play have not yet been set. A third new team is expected to be announced by the end of 2018. The commissioner of the league (the person in charge) is Don Garber.
MLS, founded in the United States, is a fully professional league with 23 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[change | change source]
- Atlanta United FC
- Colorado Rapids
- Columbus Crew SC
- Chicago Fire
- D.C. United
- 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[change | change source]
- Tampa Bay Mutiny (1996-2001)
- Miami Fusion (1998-2001)
- Chivas USA (2005-2014)
Future teams[change | change source]
- Miami MLS team – 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 MLS team – MLS officially awarded a franchise to Nashville, Tennessee in 2018. The team owners are building a new stadium near downtown Nashville and expect to start MLS play once the stadium is open, either in 2019 or 2020.
MLS Cup Winners[change | change source]
| 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 |
Related pages[change | change source]
References[change | change source]
- 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.
