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 2021 season, 27 teams will play in the league. 1 team plans to start playing in 2022, and two others plan to join in 2023. The commissioner of the league (the person in charge) is Don Garber.
MLS, founded in the United States, is a fully professional league with 26 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 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.
Teams[change | change source]
Current[change | change source]
Former teams[change | change source]
| 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[change | change source]
| Team | City | Stadium | Founded | Planned to join | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte FC | Charlotte, North Carolina | Bank of America Stadium | 2019 | 2022 | |
| Sacramento Republic FC | Sacramento, California | Railyards Stadium | 2012 | 2023 | |
| St. Louis City SC | St. Louis, Missouri | St. Louis City SC stadium | 2019 | 2023 |
MLS Cup Winners[change | change source]
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. Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine Dave Litterer, n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2012.
- Soccer Politics / The Politics of Football. Duke University, n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2012.
