MLS

MLS was formally introduced in Las Vegas on December 17, 1993, during the World Cup draw events. Alan Rothenberg presented its framework and logo. Establishing a national professional league was part of the United States’ commitment as host of the 1994 World Cup.⁠[1]

The San Jose ClashSan Jose EarthquakesSan Jose Earthquakes is an MLS professional soccer club in San Jose, California, with PayPal Park as its home.Open the full entry hosted Bruce Arena’s D.C. UnitedD.C. UnitedD.C. United is a professional soccer club in Washington, D.C., competing in MLS at Audi Field. An original member of the league in 1996, it won MLS Cup in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004.Open the full entry at Spartan Stadium on April 6, 1996, opening the inaugural MLS season. D.C. United went on to win the first MLS Cup.⁠[2]

Chicago FireChicago Fire FCChicago Fire FC is a professional soccer club in Major League Soccer, with its regular home at Soldier Field in Chicago.Open the full entry and Miami Fusion joined in 1998, expanding MLS from ten to twelve clubs.⁠[3]

On January 8, 2002, MLS announced the closure of Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion, returning the league to ten teams. The announcement also included the creation of Soccer United Marketing, an extension with ABC and ESPN, and incentives for soccer-specific stadium development.⁠[4]

Real Salt LakeReal Salt LakeReal Salt Lake (RSL) is a professional soccer club in Utah. It began MLS play in 2005 and plays at America First Field in Sandy.Open the full entry and Chivas USA entered MLS in 2005, returning the league to twelve teams.⁠[3]

Toronto FCToronto FCToronto FC is an MLS professional soccer club in Toronto, Ontario. It began play in 2007, plays at BMO Field and won its first MLS Cup in 2017.Open the full entry became the league’s first Canadian club in 2007.⁠[3]

MLS introduced the Designated Player Rule for the 2007 season, allowing clubs to fund individual player compensation above the applicable salary-budget charge. Each club initially received one slot and could acquire a second through a trade.⁠[5]

MLS suspended play because of COVID-19 on March 12, 2020, then scheduled the MLS is Back Tournament in Florida from July 8 to August 11. Following the withdrawal of FC DallasFC DallasFC Dallas is a professional soccer club in Texas competing in MLS, with its regular home at Toyota Stadium in Frisco.Open the full entry and Nashville, 24 clubs participated. Group-stage results counted toward regular-season standings, and the knockout-stage winner earned a place in the next Concacaf Champions League.⁠[6]

MLS and the MLS Players Association ratified a collective bargaining agreement on February 8, 2021, running through January 31, 2028. It preserved full player compensation for 2021 and extended free-agency eligibility from the 2026 season to out-of-contract players aged 24 or older with at least four years of MLS service.⁠[7]

Apple and MLS announced on November 16, 2022, that MLS Season Pass would launch on February 1, 2023, carrying the regular season, playoffs and Leagues Cup in more than 100 countries and regions. The service was presented as the start of a ten-year partnership.⁠[8]

MLS named San Diego its 30th club, scheduled to begin play in 2025.⁠[9]

U.S. Soccer finalized the 2024 U.S. Open Cup format on March 1. Eight MLS first teams entered in the round of 32, while eleven MLS NEXT Pro teams entered in the first round. MLS clubs participating in that year’s Concacaf Champions Cup and their NEXT Pro teams were excluded from the selection process.⁠[10]

Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia UnionPhiladelphia Union is a Major League Soccer club representing the Philadelphia region. It began play in 2010 and plays at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania. Keystone Sports and Entertainment owns and operates the club.Open the full entry clinched the Supporters’ Shield with a 1–0 win over New York City FCNew York City Football ClubNew York City FC (NYCFC) is a Major League Soccer club representing New York City. Awarded its franchise in 2013, it began MLS play in 2015 and won the 2021 MLS Cup.Open the full entry on October 4, 2025. The award recognizes the best regular-season record; it was Philadelphia’s second after 2020.⁠[11]

On November 13, 2025, MLS announced a switch to a summer-to-spring calendar beginning in 2027–28. The first such season is scheduled from July 2027 to May 2028, with a winter break from mid-December to early February.⁠[12]

Apple announced the same day that all MLS matches would be included with an Apple TV subscription at no additional charge from 2026. The separate MLS Season Pass subscription ended after the 2025 season.⁠[13]

Inter Miami won its first MLS Cup on December 6, 2025, beating Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver Whitecaps FCVancouver Whitecaps FC is an MLS professional soccer club in Vancouver, British Columbia, playing its home matches at BC Place.Open the full entry 3–1 in Fort Lauderdale. Lionel Messi provided two assists and received the final’s Most Valuable Player award.⁠[14]

The 2026 season has 30 clubs split evenly between Eastern and Western Conferences. Each plays 34 regular-season matches, 17 at home and 17 away. The regular season runs from February 21 to November 7. The top nine in each conference qualify for the playoffs, with MLS Cup scheduled for December 18.⁠[15]

MLS detailed its 2027 Sprint Season on March 19, 2026. From February through April, each club will play its 14 conference opponents once, with seven home and seven away matches. The top eight in each conference advance to single-elimination playoffs in May. The transition season will determine places in the 2028 Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup before the cross-year calendar begins in July 2027.⁠[16]

On August 3, 2026, MLS named Larry Berg its next commissioner, effective January 1, 2027. Don Garber will remain commissioner through 2026 and become chairman in 2027. The announcement stated that Berg would divest his LAFCLos Angeles Football ClubLos Angeles Football Club (LAFC) are a Major League Soccer club whose regular home is BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. The club won its first MLS Cup in 2022.Open the full entry ownership interest through the league’s transition process.⁠[17]

MLS: Official website: https://www.mlssoccer.com/ (opens in a new window).⁠[15]