Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer
Country	United States and Canada
Confederation	CONCACAF
Founded	1996
Level	1
Number of teams	20
Relegation to	None
Domestic cup	U.S. Open Cup Canadian Championship
Current champions	Supporters Shield: New York Red Bulls MLS Cup: Portland Timbers (2015)
Most successful club	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 next season in 2016, there are 20 teams in the league. At least three teams will join the league in the near future. One is set to join in 2017, two more are planning to join in 2018, and a fourth will join once it builds a new stadium, which will not happen until at least 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 20 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.

2016 clubs

• Colorado Rapids
• Columbus Crew SC
• Chicago Fire
• D.C. United
• F.C. Dallas
• Houston Dynamo
• Los Angeles Galaxy
• 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

Future teams

• Atlanta United FC – will start play in 2017
• Minnesota United FC – Will replace a team of the same name that now plays in the second-level North American Soccer League. The MLS team will begin play in 2017, and will play its first season at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis before completing a new stadium in St. Paul for the 2018 season.
• Los Angeles FC – will start play in 2018. This team will replace Chivas USA, which the league folded at the end of the 2014 season.
• Miami MLS team – Owned in part by former England star David Beckham, the team plans to begin play in 2017 or later, once it can build a new stadium in Miami.

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

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.