Major League Soccer (MLS) is the top-flight professional men'ssoccer league in the United States and Canada. As of 2025[update], the league has 30 teams—27 in the United States and 3 in Canada—that are divided into theEastern andWestern conferences.[1][2] The league schedule runs from spring to fall within a single calendar year unlike European leagues, which use a fall-to-spring schedule.[3] The champion is determined by theMLS Cup and itsplayoffs, a postseason knockout tournament for the top teams in the regular season similar to those for otherNorth American sports leagues.[1] A separate trophy, theSupporters' Shield, is awarded by a fan-run organization to the team with the best record in the regular season.[4][5] MLS has anaverage attendance of over 23,000 spectators at regular season matches and reached over 11 million total in 2024—among thehighest for soccer leagues globally.[6]
The United States was awarded the right to host the1994 World Cup after it agreed to aFIFA mandate to create a new professional soccer league; the last league of its kind had been theNorth American Soccer League, which ceased operations in 1985.[7] MLS was established in 1993 and debuted with 10 teams in the1996 season, primarily played at largeAmerican football venues.[7][8] The league added its firstexpansion teams in 1998 and the firstsoccer-specific stadium opened the following year inColumbus, Ohio.[8] MLS had financial issues by the end of the decade as attendance and television ratings declined from their peak in the inaugural season;[9] two teams were folded prior to the2002 season and the league faced a potential bankruptcy.[10][11] It began expanding again in 2005 and more teams built their own soccer-specific stadiums;[12] the league reached 16 teams in 2010 and grew further to 20 teams in 2015 and 26 teams in 2020.[13][14] As of 2025[update], 22 of the league's 30 teams play in soccer-specific stadiums that range in capacity from 18,000 to 30,000 seats, while others use larger shared venues.[12]
MLS teams each play 34 matches during the regular season, which runs from February to October, primarily between opponents in the same conference.[15][16] The league adopted an unbalanced schedule with heavier emphasis on intra-conference matches in 2012 due to the growing number of teams and the impact of travel for players.[17] The top nine teams from each conference qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs, a five-round tournament which culminates in the MLS Cup final in early December.[1][18] Teams also play in other annual competitions during the season that are organized by MLS or other entities. These include theU.S. Open Cup andCanadian Championship, the respective domestic cup championships of the United States and Canada;[2] theLeagues Cup, which features MLS teams andLiga MX teams from Mexico;[1] and theCONCACAF Champions Cup, the regional championship for clubs in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.[19]
TheLA Galaxy are the most successful team in the league's history with six MLS Cup titles and four Supporters' Shields;D.C. United has four MLS Cup titles and four Supporters' Shields.[1][20] The league's all-timepoints record was set in the2024 season byInter Miami CF, who had 74 points and awinning percentage of 0.765.[21] MLS has several annual awards to recognize individual players and coaches for their accomplishments, including theLandon Donovan MVP Award for the best player in a season and theGolden Boot for the top goalscorer during the regular season.[22] The current single-season scoring record was set byCarlos Vela, who scored 34 goals during the2019 regular season forLos Angeles FC.[23] MLS teams have asalary cap with exceptions for marquee players under theDesignated Player Rule, which was introduced in 2007 and is used to sign international stars and young talents.[24][25] Teams also haveacademies to develop young players and reserve squads inMLS Next Pro, the developmental league run by MLS.[26]
^The Golden Boot column is sorted by number of goals scored, followed by the player's surname.
^The record column is sorted bypoints per game due to the changes in the number of matches played per season.
^abcdFrom 1996 to 1999, the regular season and playoffs used a35-yard shootout to decide the result of matches in lieu of draws. It was replaced by a ten-minutegolden goal overtime from 2000 to 2003 that allowed for teams to draw before the standard international rules were fully adopted at the beginning of the2004 season.[32][33]
^abcdFrom 1996 to 2004, the MLS Scoring Champion was determined through a combination of goals and assists; the top goalscorer is listed instead of the MLS Scoring Champion.[44]
^The final weeks of the 2001 regular season were cancelled following theSeptember 11 attacks; teams played only 26 or 27 matches out of their original 28-match schedule.[42]
^TheNew York Red Bulls andFC Dallas both finished with 60 points and an identical 18–10–6 record; the Red Bulls won the Supporters' Shield using the goal difference tiebreaker.[59]
^On March 12, 2020, MLS play was suspended due to theCOVID-19 pandemic and resumed in July with theMLS is Back Tournament at a neutral site within abio-secure bubble.[65] The regular season resumed in August with plans to play 23 matches; due to the cancellation of several matches for COVID-19 outbreaks, some teams played as few as 18 matches and the standings were determined bypoints per game.[66][67]
^abThe 2020 and 2021 seasons had reduced capacity at stadiums due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[68] The league's three Canadian teams were relocated to temporary venues in the United States due toborder restrictions; they returned to their home stadiums in August 2021.[69]
^Los Angeles FC and thePhiladelphia Union both finished with 67 points; the Supporters' Shield was awarded to Los Angeles FC based on the greater number of wins (21 to 19).[72]
^abMLS Communications Department, Elias Sports Bureau (February 17, 2025)."2025 Fact and Record Book". Major League Soccer. pp. 32–60. RetrievedFebruary 20, 2025.
_(cropped).jpg)
