Editing Major League Soccer (section)

==History==
{{Main|History of Major League Soccer}}

{{See also|Soccer in Canada|Soccer in the United States}}
Major League Soccer is the most recent of a series of men's premier professional national soccer leagues established in the United States and Canada. The predecessor of MLS was the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|North American Soccer League]] (NASL), which existed from 1968 until 1984.<ref name="by-the-numbers"/> The United States did not have a truly national top-flight league with [[FIFA]]-sanctioning until the creation of the NASL. The first league to have U.S. and Canadian professional clubs, the NASL struggled until the mid-1970s when the [[New York Cosmos (1970–1985)|New York Cosmos]], the league's most prominent team, signed a number of the world's best players including [[Pelé]] and [[Franz Beckenbauer]].<ref>{{cite web| title= North American Soccer League Statistics| url= http://www.nasljerseys.com/Stats/Standings.htm| publisher= nasljerseys.com| access-date= January 17, 2014| archive-date= October 15, 2014| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141015082808/http://www.nasljerseys.com/Stats/Standings.htm| url-status= live}}</ref> Pelé's arrival attracted other well-known international stars to the league including [[Johan Cruyff]], [[Gerd Müller]], [[Eusébio]], [[Bobby Moore]], and [[George Best]]. Despite dramatic increases in attendance (with some matches drawing over 70,000 fans such as [[Soccer Bowl '78]], the highest attendance to date for any club soccer championship in the United States) over-expansion, [[Early 1980s recession in the United States|the economic recession of the early 1980s]], and disputes with the players union ultimately led to the collapse of the NASL following the 1984 season, leaving the United States without a top-level soccer league until MLS.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Reed |first1=J. D. |title=It's Time for Trimming Sails in the NASL |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1980/12/01/its-time-for-trimming-sails-in-the-nasl-three-franchises-are-on-the-verge-of-going-under-as-the-league-grapples-with-the-effects-of-overexpansion-the-recession-and-union-troubles |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=October 18, 2021 |date=December 1, 1980 |archive-date=October 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018142640/https://vault.si.com/vault/1980/12/01/its-time-for-trimming-sails-in-the-nasl-three-franchises-are-on-the-verge-of-going-under-as-the-league-grapples-with-the-effects-of-overexpansion-the-recession-and-union-troubles |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-OGcs9eQW0sC&q=north%2520american%2520soccer%2520league | isbn=9781136380648 | title=Marketing and Football | date=May 23, 2012 | publisher=Routledge | access-date=July 24, 2023 | archive-date=July 24, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724233054/https://books.google.com/books?id=-OGcs9eQW0sC&q=north%2520american%2520soccer%2520league | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Establishment and shootout era===
In 1988, in exchange for FIFA awarding the right to host the [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994 World Cup]], [[U.S. Soccer Federation|U.S. Soccer]] promised to establish a Division 1 professional soccer league.<ref name="leagle.com">{{Cite web |title=FRASER v. MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER |url=http://www.leagle.com/decision/200022797FSupp2d130_1215 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222131955/http://www.leagle.com/decision/200022797FSupp2d130_1215 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> In 1993, U.S. Soccer selected Major League Professional Soccer (the precursor to MLS) as the exclusive Division 1 professional soccer league.<ref name="leagle.com" /> Major League Soccer was officially formed in February 1995 as a [[limited liability company]].<ref name="leagle.com" />

[[Tab Ramos]] was the first player signed by MLS, on January 3, 1995, and was assigned to the [[New York Red Bulls|New York/New Jersey MetroStars]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=First MLS player in league history: US soccer legend Tab Ramos |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/01/03/first-mls-player-league-history-us-soccer-legend-tab-ramos |date=January 3, 2020 |website=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=February 29, 2020 |archive-date=February 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229232819/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/01/03/first-mls-player-league-history-us-soccer-legend-tab-ramos |url-status=live }}</ref> MLS began play in [[1996 Major League Soccer season|1996]] with ten teams. The first game was held on April 6, 1996, as the [[San Jose Earthquakes|San Jose Clash]] defeated [[D.C. United]] in front of 31,000 fans at [[CEFCU Stadium|Spartan Stadium]] in San Jose in a game broadcast on ESPN.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS kicks off to festive crowd, mixed on-field reviews |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/1996/04/9/Leagues-Governing-Bodies/MLS-KICKS-OFF-TO-FESTIVE-CROWD-MIXED-ON-FIELD-REVIEWS.aspx?hl=MLS&sc=0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403003646/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/1996/04/9/Leagues-Governing-Bodies/MLS-KICKS-OFF-TO-FESTIVE-CROWD-MIXED-ON-FIELD-REVIEWS.aspx?hl=MLS&sc=0 |archive-date=April 3, 2015 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> The league had generated some buzz by managing to lure some marquee players from the 1994 World Cup to play in MLS—including U.S. stars such as [[Alexi Lalas]], [[Tony Meola]] and [[Eric Wynalda]], and foreign players such as Mexico's [[Jorge Campos]] and Colombia's [[Carlos Valderrama]].<ref>"19 Teams with 1 Goal: A Spotlight on Major League Soccer", June 10, 2014.</ref>
D.C. United won the [[MLS Cup]] in three of the league's first four seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trophy Case |url=http://www.dcunited.com/club/trophy-case |date=May 19, 2011 |website=D.C. United |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622185524/https://www.dcunited.com/club/trophy-case |archive-date=June 22, 2017 |access-date=September 20, 2014 }}</ref> The league added its first two expansion teams in [[1998 Major League Soccer season|1998]]—the [[Miami Fusion]] and the [[Chicago Fire Soccer Club|Chicago Fire]]; the Chicago Fire won its first title in its inaugural season.<ref name="Last Word On Sports">{{Cite web |title=MLS 3.0 Series: A History of MLS 1.0 |url=http://lastwordonsports.com/2014/07/25/mls-3-0-series-history-mls-1-0/ |date=July 25, 2014 |website=Last Word on Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808045941/http://lastwordonsports.com/2014/07/25/mls-3-0-series-history-mls-1-0/ |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>

After its first season, MLS suffered from a decline in attendance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Resurgence and Expansion of the MLS |url=https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/world-cup-2014/usa-soccer-and-world-cup-2014/resurgence-and-expansion-of-the-mls/ |date=November 25, 2013 |website=Soccer Politics / The Politics of Football |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209173530/https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/world-cup-2014/usa-soccer-and-world-cup-2014/resurgence-and-expansion-of-the-mls/ |archive-date=December 9, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014 }}</ref> The league's low attendance was all the more apparent in light of the fact that eight of the original ten teams played in large [[American football]] stadiums.<ref name="Last Word On Sports" />
One aspect that had alienated fans was that MLS experimented with rules deviations in its early years in an attempt to "Americanize" the sport. The league implemented the use of [[Penalty shootout (association football)|shootouts]] to resolve tie games. MLS also used a countdown clock and halves ended when the clock reached 0:00. The league realized that the rule changes had alienated some traditional soccer fans while failing to draw new American sports fans, and the shootout and countdown clock were eliminated after the [[1999 Major League Soccer season|1999 season]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Shootout banned; TV lineup changed |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/1999/11/18/wednesday_teleconference/ |magazine=Sports Illustrated |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221144053/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/1999/11/18/wednesday_teleconference/ |archive-date=February 21, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>
The league's quality was cast into doubt when the [[United States men's national soccer team|U.S. men's national team]], which was made up largely of MLS players, finished in last place out of the 32 teams at the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 World Cup]].<ref name="Last Word On Sports" />

The league lost an estimated $250&nbsp;million during its first five years, and more than $350&nbsp;million between its founding and 2004.<ref name="profit">{{Cite news |last=Holmes |first=Stanley |date=November 22, 2004 |title=Soccer: Time To Kick It Up A Notch |work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_47/b3909099.htm?campaign_id=search%20Soccer:%20Time%20To%20Kick%20It%20Up%20A%20Notch |url-status=dead |access-date=May 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628194808/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_47/b3909099.htm?campaign_id=search%20Soccer%3A%20Time%20To%20Kick%20It%20Up%20A%20Notch |archive-date=June 28, 2011}}</ref><ref name="nytimes">{{Cite news |date=November 11, 2005 |title=For M.L.S., the Sport's Future Is in the Eye of the Beholder |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/11/sports/soccer/11soccer.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220211629/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/11/sports/soccer/11soccer.html |archive-date=December 20, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS fans in several cities wait nervously for contraction decision |url=http://www.soccertimes.com/wagman/2001/dec27.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924115539/http://www.soccertimes.com/wagman/2001/dec27.htm |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS considering weight-loss program |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/s/2000/1228/977891.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211173513/http://espn.go.com/soccer/s/2000/1228/977891.html |archive-date=December 11, 2013 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>
The league's financial problems led to Commissioner [[Doug Logan]] being replaced by [[Don Garber]], a former NFL executive, in August 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mls Boots Commissioner, Turns To Nfl For Successor |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/08/04/mls-boots-commissioner-turns-to-nfl-for-successor/ |website=Chicago Tribune |date=August 4, 1999 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505072549/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-08-04/sports/9908040033_1_nfl-international-sunil-gulati-doug-logan |archive-date=May 5, 2015 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> Following decreased attendance and increased losses by late 2001, league officials planned to fold but were able to secure new financing from owners [[Lamar Hunt]], [[Philip Anschutz]], and the [[Kraft Group|Kraft family]] to take on more teams.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baxter |first=Kevin |date=December 5, 2015 |title=MLS goes from near extinction to remarkable success |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-soccer-baxter-20151206-story.html |access-date=August 30, 2019 |archive-date=August 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831050155/https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-soccer-baxter-20151206-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> MLS announced in January 2002 that it had decided to contract the [[Tampa Bay Mutiny]] and [[Miami Fusion]], leaving the league with ten teams.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web |title=The Throw-In: Did eliminating Tampa, Miami save MLS? |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/01/05/throw-did-eliminating-tampa-miami-save-mls |date=January 5, 2012 |website=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140918025920/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/01/05/throw-did-eliminating-tampa-miami-save-mls |archive-date=September 18, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Mapfre Stadium (Columbus, Ohio) - aerial photo.jpg|thumb|Built in 1999, [[Historic Crew Stadium]] (the home of the [[Columbus Crew]] until 2021) was the first soccer-specific stadium in MLS.]]

Despite the financial problems, though, MLS did have some accomplishments that would set the stage for the league's resurgence. Columbus Crew Stadium, now known as [[Historic Crew Stadium]], was built in 1999, becoming MLS's first [[soccer-specific stadium]].<ref name="Columbus Crew history">{{Cite web |title=Columbus Crew history |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/history/club/columbus |website=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030033126/http://www.mlssoccer.com/history/club/columbus |archive-date=October 30, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> This began a trend among MLS teams to construct their own venues instead of leasing American football stadiums, where they would not be able to generate revenue from other events.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Strutner|first1=Matthew|last2=Parrish|first2=Charles|last3=Nauright|first3=John|date=2014|title=Making Soccer "Major League" in the USA and Beyond: Major League Soccer's First Decade|url=https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/shr/45/1/article-p23.xml|journal=Sport History Review|volume=45|issue=1|pages=23–36|doi=10.1123/shr.2012-0017|issn=1087-1659|doi-access=free|access-date=May 2, 2020|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803143255/https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/shr/45/1/article-p23.xml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bell |first=Jack |date=March 23, 2002 |title=Making Big Plans to Build Stadiums, and Interest |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/23/sports/soccer-making-big-plans-to-build-stadiums-and-interest.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=December 19, 2022 |archive-date=December 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220064025/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/23/sports/soccer-making-big-plans-to-build-stadiums-and-interest.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2000, the league won an antitrust lawsuit, ''[[Fraser v. Major League Soccer]]'', that the players had filed in 1996. The court ruled that MLS's policy of centrally contracting players and limiting player salaries through a salary cap and other restrictions were a legal method for the league to maintain solvency and competitive parity since MLS was a single entity and therefore incapable of conspiring with itself.<ref>''[[Fraser v. Major League Soccer]]'', 97 F.Supp.2d 130 ([[United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts|D. Mass]] 2000)</ref>

===Resurgence===
The [[2002 FIFA World Cup]], in which the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]] made the quarterfinals, coincided with a resurgence in American soccer and MLS,<ref name="nycfc.com">{{Cite web |title=Learn about MLS |url=http://www.nycfc.com/Fans/Learn-about-MLS |publisher=New York City FC |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720230433/http://www.nycfc.com/fans/learn-about-mls |archive-date=July 20, 2014 |access-date=January 23, 2017}}</ref> with [[MLS Cup 2002]] drawing 61,316 spectators to [[Gillette Stadium]], the largest attendance in an MLS Cup final until [[2018 MLS Cup|2018]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS Cup 2002 |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/history/mlscup/2002 |date=October 20, 2002 |publisher=Major League Soccer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516201220/http://www.mlssoccer.com/history/mlscup/2002 |archive-date=May 16, 2013 |access-date=March 16, 2012}}</ref> MLS limited teams to three substitutions per game in 2003, and adopted [[International Football Association Board]] (IFAB) rules in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Formatting MLS, Part 4: Global Tradition, American Appeal |url=http://exittheforest.wordpress.com/2012/09/07/formatting-mls-part-4-global-tradition-american-appeal/ |date=September 7, 2012 |website=Waldlichtung |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814155539/http://exittheforest.wordpress.com/2012/09/07/formatting-mls-part-4-global-tradition-american-appeal/ |archive-date=August 14, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>

MLS underwent a transition in the years leading up to the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]]. After marketing itself on the talents of American players, the league lost some of its homegrown stars to prominent European leagues. For example, [[Tim Howard]] was transferred to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] for $4 million in one of the most lucrative contract deals in league history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tim Howard club career |url=http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=players&id=11 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008055145/http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=players&id=11 |archive-date=October 8, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Carlisle |first=Jeff |date=March 24, 2015 |title=Americans in the Premier League – why have numbers dropped recently? |publisher=ESPN FC |url=http://www.espnfc.us/blog/espn-fc-united-blog/68/post/2331121/americans-in-the-premier-league----why-have-numbers-dropped-recently |url-status=live |access-date=January 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202013152/http://www.espnfc.us/blog/espn-fc-united-blog/68/post/2331121/americans-in-the-premier-league----why-have-numbers-dropped-recently |archive-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref> Many more American players did make an impact in MLS. In 2005, [[Jason Kreis]] became the first player to score 100 career MLS goals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jason Kreis still has something to prove |url=https://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/6435726/rsl-jason-kreis-to-prove |publisher=ESPN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224105448/http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/6435726/rsl-jason-kreis-to-prove |archive-date=February 24, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>

The league's financial stabilization plan included teams moving out of large American football stadiums and into soccer-specific stadiums.<ref name="ReferenceB" /> From 2003 to 2008, the league oversaw the construction of six additional soccer-specific stadiums, largely funded by owners such as [[Lamar Hunt]] and [[Phil Anschutz]], so that by the end of 2008, a majority of teams were now in soccer-specific stadiums.<ref name="Last Word On Sports" />

It was also in this era that MLS expanded for the first time since 1998. [[Real Salt Lake]] and [[Chivas USA]] began play in [[2005 Major League Soccer season|2005]], with Chivas USA becoming the second club in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Real Salt Lake vs. Chivas USA – Expansion rivalry a history lesson |url=http://www.rslsoapbox.com/2012/9/27/3415314/real-salt-lake-vs-chivas-usa-expansion-rivalry-a-history-lesson |date=September 28, 2012 |website=RSL Soapbox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808043328/http://www.rslsoapbox.com/2012/9/27/3415314/real-salt-lake-vs-chivas-usa-expansion-rivalry-a-history-lesson |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> By 2006 the [[San Jose Earthquakes]] owners, players and a few coaches moved to Texas to become the expansion [[Houston Dynamo]], after failing to build a stadium in San Jose. The Dynamo became an expansion team, leaving their history behind for a new San Jose ownership group that formed in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quakes History |url=http://www.sjearthquakes.com/club/history#2006 |website=San Jose Earthquakes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923142115/http://www.sjearthquakes.com/club/history#2006 |archive-date=September 23, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>

===Arrival of Designated Players===
[[File:Red Bull Arena on the First Day.jpg|upright=1.15|right|thumb|The 2010 season also brought the opening of the New York Red Bulls' soccer-specific stadium, [[Red Bull Arena (New Jersey)|Red Bull Arena]].]]
In 2007, the league expanded beyond the United States' borders into Canada with the [[Toronto FC]] expansion team.<ref name="Expansion">{{Cite web |title=MLS 101: MLS Expansion Draft and Allocation Money |url=https://www.timbers.com/news/mls-101-mls-expansion-draft-and-allocation-money |date=November 22, 2010 |publisher=Portland Timbers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812213229/http://www.timbers.com/news/2010/11/mls-101-mls-expansion-draft-and-allocation-money |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> Major League Soccer took steps to further raise the level of play by adopting the [[Designated Player Rule]], which helped bring international stars into the league.<ref name="forbes-2014-09">{{Cite web |title=Has The 'Beckham Rule' Worked For MLS? |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bobbymcmahon/2012/08/05/has-the-beckham-rule-worked-for-mls/ |last=McMahon |first=Bobby |website=[[Forbes]] |date=August 5, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924164245/http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobbymcmahon/2012/08/05/has-the-beckham-rule-worked-for-mls/ |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=August 20, 2015}}</ref>
The [[2007 Major League Soccer season|2007 season]] witnessed the MLS debut of [[David Beckham]]. Beckham's signing had been seen as a coup for American soccer, and was made possible by the Designated Player Rule. Players such as [[Cuauhtémoc Blanco]] (Chicago Fire) and [[Juan Pablo Ángel]] (New York Red Bulls), are some of the first Designated Players who made major contributions to their clubs.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Lalas |first=Greg |date=April 17, 2007 |title=Foreign exchange program |magazine=Sports Illustrated |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/greg_lalas/04/17/mls.signings/index.html |url-status=dead |access-date=April 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070421234847/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/greg_lalas/04/17/mls.signings/index.html |archive-date=April 21, 2007}}</ref>
The departures of [[Clint Dempsey]] and [[Jozy Altidore]], coupled with the return of former U.S. national team stars [[Claudio Reyna]] and [[Brian McBride]], highlighted the exchange of top prospects to Europe for experienced veterans to MLS.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A brief guide to Major League Soccer |url=http://tbrfootball.com/a-brief-guide-to-major-league-soccer/ |date=June 8, 2012 |website=The Boot Room |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510025120/http://tbrfootball.com/a-brief-guide-to-major-league-soccer/ |archive-date=May 10, 2015 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>

By 2008, San Jose had returned to the league under new ownership, and in 2009, the expansion side [[Seattle Sounders FC]] began play in MLS.<ref name=Expansion/> The Sounders set a new average attendance record for the league, with 30,943 spectators per match, and were the first expansion team to qualify for the playoffs since 1998.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Romero |first=José Miguel |date=November 5, 2009 |title=Sounders success story, by the numbers |page=C3 |work=The Seattle Times |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/sounders/2010203684_soundersnumbers05.html |access-date=December 2, 2019 |archive-date=November 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091108012102/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sounders/2010203684_soundersnumbers05.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The 2010 season ushered in an expansion franchise in the [[Philadelphia Union]] and their new PPL Park stadium (now known as [[Subaru Park]]).<ref name=Expansion/> The 2010 season also brought the opening of the New York Red Bulls' soccer-specific stadium, [[Red Bull Arena (New Jersey)|Red Bull Arena]], and the debut of French striker [[Thierry Henry]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=New York Red Bulls sign international star Thierry Henry |url=http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2010/07/new-york-red-bulls-sign-international-star-thierry-henry |date=July 14, 2010 |website=New York Red Bulls |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716223438/http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2010/07/new-york-red-bulls-sign-international-star-thierry-henry |archive-date=July 16, 2010 |access-date=July 14, 2010 }}</ref>

The 2011 season brought further expansion with the addition of the [[Vancouver Whitecaps FC]], the second Canadian MLS franchise, and the [[Portland Timbers]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Atlanta expansion signifies changing landscape ahead for Major League Soccer |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/04/17/atlanta-expansion-signifies-changing-landscape-ahead-major-league-soccer |date=April 18, 2014 |website=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904090602/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/04/17/atlanta-expansion-signifies-changing-landscape-ahead-major-league-soccer |archive-date=September 4, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> Real Salt Lake reached the finals of the [[CONCACAF Champions League 2010–11|2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Real Salt Lake: Monterrey wins CONCACAF Champions League, 3–2 on aggregate |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700130691/Real-Salt-Lake-Monterrey-wins-CONCACAF-Champions-League-3-2-on-aggregate.html?pg=all |date=April 27, 2011 |website=Deseret News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630203252/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700130691/Real-Salt-Lake-Monterrey-wins-CONCACAF-Champions-League-3-2-on-aggregate.html?pg=all |archive-date=June 30, 2015 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>
During the 2011 season, the Galaxy signed another international star in [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] all-time leading goalscorer [[Robbie Keane]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 16, 2011 |title=Spurs striker Robbie Keane joins MLS side LA Galaxy |work=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14525931.stm |url-status=live |access-date=August 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822220337/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14525931.stm |archive-date=August 22, 2011}}</ref> MLS drew an average attendance of 17,872 in 2011, higher than the average attendances of the NBA and NHL.<ref name="latimes1">{{Cite news |last=Baxter |first=Kevin |date=November 18, 2011 |title=MLS steadily builds toward goal of profitability |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-xpm-2011-nov-18-la-sp-mls-finances-20111119-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214215450/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/18/sports/la-sp-mls-finances-20111119 |archive-date=December 14, 2014}}</ref> In 2012, the [[CF Montréal|Montreal Impact]] became the league's 19th franchise and the third in Canada, and made their home debut in front of a crowd of 58,912,<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 17, 2012 |title=Fire tie Impact in MLS opener |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/chicagofire/post/_/id/2396/fire-tie-impact-in-mls-opener |url-status=live |access-date=April 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201123730/http://espn.go.com/blog/chicagofire/post/_/id/2396/fire-tie-impact-in-mls-opener |archive-date=February 1, 2013}}</ref> while the [[New York Red Bulls]] added [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australian]] all-time leading goalscorer [[Tim Cahill]].

===Expansion of the league===
{{Main|Expansion of Major League Soccer}}
[[File:Sounders FC Inaugural Game Starting Lineup.jpg|thumb|[[Seattle Sounders FC]] (2009)]]
[[File:LA Galaxy Game 10-16-11 024.jpg|thumb|[[LA Galaxy]] (2011)]]

In 2012, with an average attendance of over 18,000 per game, MLS had the third highest average attendance of any sports league in the U.S. after the [[National Football League]] (NFL) and [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB),<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1290390-nba-and-nhl-get-the-boot-mls-is-the-3rd-most-attended-sports-league-in-america | title=NBA and NHL Get the Boot: MLS Is the 3rd Most Attended Sports League in America | date=August 8, 2012 | access-date=November 14, 2023 | first=Jed | last=Hughes | website=[[Bleacher Report]] | archive-date=November 14, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114160317/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1290390-nba-and-nhl-get-the-boot-mls-is-the-3rd-most-attended-sports-league-in-america | url-status=live }}</ref> and was the seventh highest attended professional soccer league worldwide {{as of|2013|lc=y}}.<ref name="MLSsoccer 2013">{{cite web |work=MLSsoccer.com |title=The expansion, refs, Cascadia: MLS Commissioner Don Garber covers it all in annual address |date=February 27, 2013 |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/02/27/expansion-refs-cascadia-commissioner-garber-covers-it-all-march-soccer-addre |access-date=April 19, 2019 |archive-date=March 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322043641/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/02/27/expansion-refs-cascadia-commissioner-garber-covers-it-all-march-soccer-addre |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2013, MLS introduced [[New York City FC]]<ref name="MLS 20">{{Cite web |title=Major League Soccer announces New York expansion team: New York City Football Club |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/05/21/major-league-soccer-announces-new-york-expansion-team-new-york-city-football |date=May 21, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607111330/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/05/21/major-league-soccer-announces-new-york-expansion-team-new-york-city-football |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref> as its 20th team, and [[Orlando City SC|Orlando City Soccer Club]]<ref name="Orlando MLS Expansion">{{Cite web |title=Major League Soccer Awards Expansion Team to Orlando |url=http://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2013/11/18/major-league-soccer-awards-expansion-team-orlando |date=November 19, 2013 |publisher=Orlando City Soccer Club |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313012930/http://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2013/11/18/major-league-soccer-awards-expansion-team-orlando |archive-date=March 13, 2015 |access-date=November 20, 2013}}</ref> as its 21st team, both of which would begin playing in 2015.

In 2013, the league implemented its "Core Players" initiative, allowing teams to retain key players using retention funds instead of losing the players to foreign leagues.<ref name="mlssoccer.com">{{Cite web |title=Retention funds explained: MLS reveals list of 14 players like Graham Zusi re-signed under initiative |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/retention-funds-explained-mls-reveals-list-14-players-graham-zusi-re-signed-unde |date=August 2, 2013 |website=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821010506/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/08/02/retention-funds-explained-mls-reveals-list-14-players-graham-zusi-re-signed- |archive-date=August 21, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> Among the first high-profile players re-signed in 2013 using retention funds were U.S. national team regulars [[Graham Zusi]] and [[Matt Besler]].
Beginning in summer of 2013 and continuing in the run up to the 2014 World Cup, MLS began signing U.S. stars based abroad, including [[Clint Dempsey]], [[Jermaine Jones]], and [[Michael Bradley (soccer)|Michael Bradley]] from Europe; and [[DaMarcus Beasley]] from Mexico's [[Liga MX]].<ref>{{Cite web |title="FC Dallas technical director Fernando Clavijo waits on US internationals: "More players are coming"" |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/01/30/fc-dallas-technical-director-fernando-clavijo-waits-us-internationals-more-p |date=January 30, 2014 |website=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909160833/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/01/30/fc-dallas-technical-director-fernando-clavijo-waits-us-internationals-more-p |archive-date=September 9, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> By the 2014 season, fifteen of the nineteen [[List of Major League Soccer coaches|MLS head coaches]] had previously played in MLS.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Throw-In: Enjoy MLS in 2014, because this league will never be the same again |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/03/14/throw-enjoy-mls-2014-because-league-will-never-be-same-again |date=March 15, 2014 |website=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910081417/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/03/14/throw-enjoy-mls-2014-because-league-will-never-be-same-again |archive-date=September 10, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> By 2013, the league's popularity had increased to the point where MLS was as popular as Major League Baseball among 12- to 17-year-olds, as reported by the 2013 Luker on Trends ESPN poll, having jumped in popularity since the 2010 World Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS equals MLB in popularity with kids |url=http://www.espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1740529/mls-catches-mlb-espn-sports-poll?cc=5901 |last=Bennett |first=Roger |date=March 7, 2014 |publisher=ESPN FC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528121913/http://www.espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1740529/mls-catches-mlb-espn-sports-poll?cc=5901 |archive-date=May 28, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2013 poll results: MLS equal to MLB in "avid interest" popularity among adolescents – SIDELINE |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/sideline/news/article/2014/03/07/2013-poll-results-mls-equal-mlb-avid-interest-popularity-among-children |last=Edwards |first=Andy |date=March 7, 2014 |website=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914183653/http://www.mlssoccer.com/sideline/news/article/2014/03/07/2013-poll-results-mls-equal-mlb-avid-interest-popularity-among-children |archive-date=September 14, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>

In 2014, the league announced [[Atlanta United FC]] as the 22nd team to start playing in 2017.<ref name="mlssoccer">{{Cite web |title=Major League Soccer names Atlanta as 22nd franchise, set for 2017 debut |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/04/16/major-league-soccer-names-atlanta-22nd-franchise-set-2017-debut |date=April 16, 2014 |work=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503163618/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/04/16/major-league-soccer-names-atlanta-22nd-franchise-set-2017-debut |archive-date=May 3, 2014 |access-date=May 2, 2014}}</ref> Even though New York City FC and Orlando City were not set to begin play until 2015, each team made headlines during the summer 2014 transfer window by announcing their first Designated Players—[[Spain men's national football team|Spain]]'s leading scorer [[David Villa]] and [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]'s leading scorer [[Frank Lampard]] to New York, and [[Ballon d'Or]] winner [[Kaká]] to Orlando.<ref>{{Cite web |title=De George: New clubs raising the stakes in MLS |date=July 6, 2014 |url=http://www.delcotimes.com/sports/20140706/de-george-new-clubs-raising-the-stakes-in-mls |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910203145/http://www.delcotimes.com/sports/20140706/de-george-new-clubs-raising-the-stakes-in-mls |archive-date=September 10, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> The 2014 World Cup featured 21 MLS players on [[2014 FIFA World Cup squads#Statistics|World Cup rosters]] and a record 11 MLS players playing for foreign teams—including players from traditional powerhouses Brazil ([[Júlio César (football goalkeeper, born 1979)|Júlio César]]) and Spain ([[David Villa]]); in the [[2014 FIFA World Cup Group G#United States vs Germany|U.S. v. Germany match]] the U.S. fielded a team with seven MLS starters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=USMNT 0, Germany 1, FIFA World Cup, Group G Match Recap |url=http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-06-26-usa-vs-germany/recap |date=June 26, 2014 |website=MLSsoccer.com MatchCenter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140901220234/http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-06-26-usa-vs-germany/recap |archive-date=September 1, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>

On September 18, 2014, MLS unveiled their new logo as part of a branding initiative. In addition to the new crest logo, MLS teams display versions in their own colors on their jerseys.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vaccaro |first=Adam |date=September 18, 2014 |title=Major League Soccer Unveils New Logo |work=[[Boston.com]] |url=https://www.boston.com/news/business/2014/09/18/major-league-soccer-unveils-new-logo |access-date=October 8, 2019 |archive-date=October 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008232251/https://www.boston.com/news/business/2014/09/18/major-league-soccer-unveils-new-logo |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Chivas USA]] folded following the 2014 season, while [[New York City FC]] and [[Orlando City SC]] joined the league in 2015 as the 19th and 20th teams.<ref name="Philly-2015">{{Cite news |last=Tannenwald |first=Jonathan |date=October 27, 2014 |title=MLS shuts down Chivas USA, realigns conferences |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/blogs/thegoalkeeper/MLS-to-shut-down-Chivas-USA-realign-conferences.html |access-date=October 8, 2019 |archive-date=October 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008204704/https://www.inquirer.com/philly/blogs/thegoalkeeper/MLS-to-shut-down-Chivas-USA-realign-conferences.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Sporting Kansas City and the Houston Dynamo moved from the Eastern Conference to the Western Conference in 2015 to make two 10-team conferences.<ref name="Philly-2015" /><ref name="Chivas USA gone, realignment">{{Cite web |title=MLS announces new strategy for Los Angeles market, 2015 conference alignment |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/10/27/mls-announces-new-strategy-los-angeles-market |date=October 27, 2014 |website=MLSsoccer.com |publisher=Major League Soccer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028032910/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/10/27/mls-announces-new-strategy-los-angeles-market |archive-date=October 28, 2014 |access-date=October 28, 2014}}</ref>

In early 2015, the league announced that two teams—[[Los Angeles FC]] and [[Minnesota United FC]]—would join MLS in either 2017 or 2018.<ref name="Minnesota joins MLS">{{Cite news |last=Stejskal |first=Sam |date=March 25, 2015 |title=MLS Commissioner Don Garber: Minneapolis represents everything that is spurring growth of MLS |work=MLS |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/03/25/mls-commissioner-don-garber-minneapolis-represents-everything-spurring-growt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328124447/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/03/25/mls-commissioner-don-garber-minneapolis-represents-everything-spurring-growt |archive-date=March 28, 2015}}</ref> The 20th season of MLS saw the arrivals of several players who have starred at the highest levels of European club soccer and in international soccer: [[Giovanni dos Santos]], [[Kaká]], [[Andrea Pirlo]], [[Frank Lampard]], [[Steven Gerrard]], [[Didier Drogba]], [[David Villa]], and [[Sebastian Giovinco]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baxter |first=Kevin |date=August 23, 2015 |title=MLS develops a buzz with international influx of talent |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-soccer-baxter-20150823-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831013103/http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-soccer-baxter-20150823-story.html |archive-date=August 31, 2015}}</ref> MLS confirmed in August 2016 that Minnesota United would begin play in 2017 along with Atlanta United FC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota United FC to join MLS in 2017, debuting at TCF Bank Stadium |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/08/19/minnesota-united-fc-join-mls-2017-debuting-tcf-bank-stadium |last=Stejskal |first=Sam |date=August 19, 2016 |website=MLSSoccer |publisher=Major League Soccer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822124523/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/08/19/minnesota-united-fc-join-mls-2017-debuting-tcf-bank-stadium |archive-date=August 22, 2016 |access-date=August 20, 2016}}</ref>

In April 2016, the league's commissioner Don Garber reiterated the intention of the league to expand to 28 teams, with the next round of expansion "likely happening in 2020".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commissioner Garber: Next round of MLS expansion "likely happening in 2020" |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/04/14/commissioner-garber-next-round-mls-expansion-likely-happening-2020 |date=April 14, 2016 |website=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026024829/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/04/14/commissioner-garber-next-round-mls-expansion-likely-happening-2020 |archive-date=October 26, 2016 |access-date=November 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cincinnati set to welcome Commissioner Don Garber in push for MLS expansion |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/11/15/cincinnati-set-welcome-commissioner-don-garber-push-mls-expansion |date=November 15, 2016 |website=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116232548/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/11/15/cincinnati-set-welcome-commissioner-don-garber-push-mls-expansion |archive-date=November 16, 2016 |access-date=November 16, 2016}}</ref> In December 2016, he updated the expansion plans stating that the league will look to approve the 25th and 26th teams in 2017 and to start play in 2020.<ref name="2020ExpansionPlans">{{Cite web |title=MLS announces expansion process and timeline |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/12/15/mls-announces-expansion-process-and-timeline |last=Couch |first=Ben |date=December 15, 2016 |website=MLSsoccer.com |publisher=MLS Digital |access-date=October 8, 2019 |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203212031/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/12/15/mls-announces-expansion-process-and-timeline |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2017, the league received bids from 12 ownership groups.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 31, 2017 |title=MLS receives 12 applications by expansion submission deadline |magazine=Sports Illustrated |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/01/31/mls-expansion-deadline-12-teams-cities |access-date=October 8, 2019 |archive-date=December 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231092659/https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/01/31/mls-expansion-deadline-12-teams-cities |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2017, it was reported that Major League Soccer had rejected an offer by [[MP & Silva]] to acquire all television rights to the league following the conclusion of its current contracts with Fox, ESPN, and Univision, where MP & Silva insisted that the deal would be conditional on Major League Soccer adopting a promotion and relegation system. The league stated that it rejected the offer due to the exclusive periods that the current rightsholders have to negotiate extensions to their contracts. Additionally, media noted that Major League Soccer has long-opposed the adoption of promotion and relegation, continuing to utilize the fixed, franchise-based model used in other U.S. sports leagues.<ref name="pro-rel">{{Cite web |title=MLS rebuffs rich offer tied to relegation |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/07/24/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/MLS.aspx |website=Sports Business Daily |date=July 24, 2017 |access-date=July 25, 2017 |archive-date=December 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213135916/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/07/24/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/MLS.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="espnfc">{{Cite news |title=Pro/rel component made $4B bid for MLS media rights a non-starter |publisher=ESPN FC |url=http://www.espnfc.us/major-league-soccer/19/blog/post/3164341/was-$4b-bid-for-mls-media-rights-tied-to-adopting-pro-rel-grandstanding |access-date=July 25, 2017 |archive-date=December 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204183923/http://www.espnfc.us/major-league-soccer/19/blog/post/3164341/was-$4b-bid-for-mls-media-rights-tied-to-adopting-pro-rel-grandstanding |url-status=live }}</ref> Furthermore, MP & Silva founder [[Riccardo Silva]] also owned [[Miami FC]] of the [[North American Soccer League (2011–2017)|NASL]], which stood to benefit from such a promotion and relegation system.<ref name="espnfc" />

In October 2017, [[Columbus Crew]] owner [[Anthony Precourt]] announced plans to move the franchise to [[Austin, Texas]] by 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Erickson |first=Andrew |date=October 18, 2017 |title=Without a Downtown stadium, Crew likely to bid adieu |work=The Columbus Dispatch |url=http://www.dispatch.com/sports/20171018/without-downtown-stadium-crew-likely-to-bid-adieu |access-date=December 11, 2017 |archive-date=June 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620065110/https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20171018/without-downtown-stadium-crew-likely-to-bid-adieu |url-status=dead }}</ref> The announcement spawned a league-wide backlash and legal action against the league by the Ohio state government.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jeffery |first=James |date=May 27, 2018 |title=Columbus Crew: Two US cities fight over one football team |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44259849 |access-date=May 29, 2018 |archive-date=May 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529055524/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44259849 |url-status=live }}</ref> On August 15, 2018, the Austin City Council voted to approve an agreement with Precourt to move Crew SC to Austin, and on August 22, 2018, the club's new name, [[Austin FC]], was announced.<ref>{{Cite news |title=City's MLS Franchise to be Dubbed Austin FC |url=https://www.statesman.com/sports/soccer/city-mls-franchise-dubbed-austin/NKsuids1tKnXyrbwozIOiP/ |access-date=August 22, 2018 |archive-date=August 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823105659/https://www.statesman.com/sports/soccer/city-mls-franchise-dubbed-austin/NKsuids1tKnXyrbwozIOiP/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> After negotiations between Precourt and [[Jimmy Haslam]], owner of the [[Cleveland Browns]], were announced, MLS made it clear that Austin would receive an expansion team only after a deal to sell Columbus to a local buyer had completed.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 12, 2018 |title=Cleveland Browns owners emerge as potential buyers of Columbus Crew SC |work=MLSsoccer.com |publisher=MLS Digital |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/10/12/cleveland-browns-owners-emerge-potential-buyers-columbus-crew-sc |access-date=October 13, 2018 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109003242/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/10/12/cleveland-browns-owners-emerge-potential-buyers-columbus-crew-sc |url-status=live }}</ref> The purchase of Crew SC by Haslam's group was finalized in late December 2018,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Axelrod |first=Ben |date=December 28, 2018 |title=Haslam family and ownership group finalize agreement to buy Columbus Crew |publisher=[[WKYC]] |location=[[Cleveland]] |url=https://www.wkyc.com/article/sports/soccer/haslam-family-and-ownership-group-finalize-agreement-to-buy-columbus-crew/95-8eefcae1-17a4-4363-95ef-0db963c6e8dc |access-date=February 11, 2019 |archive-date=May 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200515110516/https://www.wkyc.com/article/sports/soccer/haslam-family-and-ownership-group-finalize-agreement-to-buy-columbus-crew/95-8eefcae1-17a4-4363-95ef-0db963c6e8dc |url-status=live }}</ref> and on January 15, 2019, Austin FC was officially announced as a 2021 MLS entry.<ref name="Austin FC announcement">{{cite press release |title=Austin FC to Begin Play in MLS in 2021 |date=January 15, 2019 |publisher=MLS Digital |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/01/15/austin-fc-begin-play-mls-2021 |access-date=February 11, 2019 |work=MLSsoccer.com |archive-date=February 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212123739/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/01/15/austin-fc-begin-play-mls-2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>

MLS announced on December 20, 2017, that it would be awarding an expansion franchise to [[Nashville, Tennessee]], to play in a yet-to-be-built 27,000-seat soccer-specific stadium, [[Nashville Fairgrounds Stadium]], and would join MLS in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nashville awarded MLS expansion club |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/12/20/nashville-awarded-mls-expansion-club |last=Rosano |first=Nicholas |date=December 20, 2017 |website=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=December 21, 2017 |archive-date=December 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171220230933/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/12/20/nashville-awarded-mls-expansion-club |url-status=live }}</ref> The management of the Nashville franchise announced in February 2019 that the MLS side would assume the [[Nashville SC]] name then in use by the city's [[Nashville SC (2018–2019)|USL Championship team]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nashville MLS expansion team unveils name, crest |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/02/20/nashville-mls-expansion-team-unveils-name-crest |date=February 20, 2019 |access-date=February 20, 2019 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108001158/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/02/20/nashville-mls-expansion-team-unveils-name-crest |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:FCC 02 (46722198394).jpg|thumb|right|FC Cincinnati's inaugural MLS home match drew a 32,250 sellout crowd.]]

On January 29, 2018, MLS awarded [[Miami]] an expansion team, led by [[David Beckham]]. [[Inter Miami CF]] started MLS play on March 1, 2020, and plan on opening the proposed 25,000-seat [[Miami Freedom Park|stadium]] sometime in the near future.<ref>{{Cite news |title=MLS finally awards Miami team to Beckham |publisher=ESPN |url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3361118/mls-finally-announces-david-beckhams-expansion-team-in-miami |access-date=March 16, 2018 |archive-date=February 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228134028/http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3361118/mls-finally-announces-david-beckhams-expansion-team-in-miami |url-status=live }}</ref> An expansion team was awarded to [[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, Ohio]] on May 29, 2018, to the ownership group of USL's [[FC Cincinnati (2016–18)|FC Cincinnati]]. The team, which assumed the existing FC Cincinnati name, started MLS play in 2019 and moved to the new 26,000-seat [[TQL Stadium]] in 2021.<ref name="fc-cincinnati">{{Cite press release |title=Cincinnati awarded MLS expansion club, will start play in 2019 |date=May 29, 2018 |publisher=Major League Soccer |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/05/29/fc-cincinnati-named-26th-mls-team-starting-play-2019 |access-date=May 29, 2018 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612112808/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/05/29/fc-cincinnati-named-26th-mls-team-starting-play-2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The league planned to expand to 30 teams with the addition of Austin FC in 2021,<ref name="Austin FC announcement" /> Charlotte in 2022,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Newton |first=David |date=December 17, 2019 |title=Charlotte gets MLS' 30th franchise for record $325 million |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/4015203/charlotte-gets-mls-30th-franchise-for-record-$325-million |access-date=December 17, 2019 |archive-date=June 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613142150/https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/4015203/charlotte-gets-mls-30th-franchise-for-record-$325-million |url-status=live }}</ref> and Sacramento and St. Louis in 2023; however, this was reduced to 29 after [[Sacramento Republic FC]]'s bid was placed on indefinite hold.<ref name="St. Louis expansion">{{Cite press release |title=Major League Soccer awards expansion team to St. Louis |date=August 20, 2019 |publisher=MLS Digital |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/08/20/mls-awards-expansion-team-st-louis |last1=Bogert |first1=Tom |access-date=November 25, 2019 |website=MLSsoccer.com |archive-date=December 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216175809/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/08/20/mls-awards-expansion-team-st-louis |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="stltoday.com">{{Cite web|last=Hunn|first=David|title=St. Louis hailed as 'great soccer city,' but MLS vote on expansion is a ways off|url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/soccer/st-louis-hailed-as-great-soccer-city-but-mls-vote-on-expansion-is-a-ways/article_c2b23429-904a-5854-93a3-69c1f574c76b.html|website=STLtoday.com|date=December 14, 2018|access-date=May 16, 2020|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803161344/https://www.stltoday.com/sports/soccer/st-louis-hailed-as-great-soccer-city-but-mls-vote-on-expansion-is-a-ways/article_c2b23429-904a-5854-93a3-69c1f574c76b.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite news |date=April 18, 2019 |title=MLS announces plans to expand to 30 teams |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/04/18/mls-announces-plans-expand-30-teams |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419091453/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/04/18/mls-announces-plans-expand-30-teams |archive-date=April 19, 2019 |access-date=April 18, 2019 |work=MLSSoccer.com}}</ref><ref name="Sacramento hiatus">{{cite web|last=Carlisle|first=Jeff|title=Sacramento MLS team on indefinite hold after investor pulls out of deal|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/4324773/sacramento-mls-team-on-indefinite-hold-after-main-investor-pulls-out-of-deal|website=[[ESPN.com]]|date=February 26, 2021|access-date=March 1, 2021|archive-date=June 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603180553/https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/4324773/sacramento-mls-team-on-indefinite-hold-after-main-investor-pulls-out-of-deal|url-status=live}}</ref> Commissioner [[Don Garber]] has suggested that another round of expansion could lead to 32 teams in MLS.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Blum |first=Ronald |date=December 5, 2019 |title=MLS hopes to put 30th team in Charlotte, North Carolina |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/84dd3404b33318e07d4ce5d5323fad49 |access-date=December 17, 2019 |archive-date=December 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217170053/https://apnews.com/84dd3404b33318e07d4ce5d5323fad49 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The league suspended its [[2020 Major League Soccer season|2020 season]] on March 12, 2020, after two weeks, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]], and other U.S.-based sports leagues did the same.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goff |first=Steven |date=March 12, 2020 |title=MLS suspends matches for 30 days because of coronavirus outbreak |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/03/12/mls-schedule-suspended-coronavirus/ |access-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-date=March 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316092920/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/03/12/mls-schedule-suspended-coronavirus/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Tannenwald |first=Jonathan |date=March 13, 2020 |title=MLS, U.S. national teams and European soccer leagues shut down because of coronavirus |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |url=https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19-mls-suspends-season-major-league-soccer-philadelphia-union-20200312.html |access-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-date=March 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318061840/https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19-mls-suspends-season-major-league-soccer-philadelphia-union-20200312.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Torres |first=Luis |date=March 19, 2020 |title=MLS extends suspension, eyes playing MLS Cup in December |work=Pro Soccer USA |url=https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/mls-season-suspended-coronavirus/ |access-date=March 19, 2020 |archive-date=March 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319184202/https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/mls-season-suspended-coronavirus/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The 2020 season resumed in July with the [[2020 MLS is Back Tournament|MLS is Back Tournament]], a competition in which 24 out of the 26 teams competed at the [[ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex]] in Orlando for a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League. In September 2020, the league announced the formation of [[MLS Next]], an [[Youth system|academy league]] for MLS academy teams from the under-13 to under-19 level.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carrick |first1=Buzz |title=MLS Next launches as US Development Academy replacement |url=https://3rddegree.net/mls-next-launches-as-us-development-academy-replacement |website=3rd Degree |access-date=September 12, 2020 |date=September 8, 2020 |archive-date=September 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929225922/https://3rddegree.net/mls-next-launches-as-us-development-academy-replacement |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2022, the league signed a $2.5 billion, 10-year deal with [[Apple Inc.]] that made [[Apple TV app|Apple TV]] the primary broadcaster for all MLS games beginning in 2023. The agreement also included MLS and Leagues Cup games shared across the streaming service.<ref name="Gostomelsky">{{Cite web |last=Gostomelsky |first=Adam |date=2022-06-23 |title=A breakdown of Apple's Major League Soccer deal |url=https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2022/06/apple-mls-deal-questions-breakdown/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=Sports Media Watch |archive-date=June 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623110755/https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2022/06/apple-mls-deal-questions-breakdown/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Subscriptions were provided for free for [[season ticket holder]]s of clubs and certain matches were made free to all users. The schedule was adjusted as a result of the deal, with start times generally at 7:30&nbsp;p.m. local time on Wednesdays and Saturdays rather than staggered across the matchday.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rueter |first=Jeff |date=November 16, 2022 |title=MLS, Apple announce details of new deal: What to make of pricing, later kickoff times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3904200/2022/11/16/mls-apple-tv-details/ |work=The Athletic |url-access=subscription |accessdate=December 5, 2024}}</ref>

In May 2023, the league announced it would expand to 30 teams with the addition of [[San Diego FC]] for the 2025 season.<ref name="mls30thteam">{{Cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Cesar |date=May 18, 2023 |title=San Diego awarded 30th MLS team, will debut in 2025 |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37676377/mls-names-san-diego-30th-team-debut-2025 |access-date=May 18, 2023 |archive-date=May 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525183116/https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37676377/mls-names-san-diego-30th-team-debut-2025 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[2024 Major League Soccer season|2024 season]] broke attendance records, with an average of 23,240 per match and over 11 million total spectators. The presence of [[Lionel Messi]] and other star players was credited with contributing to the record crowds, which included several matches moved to larger venues.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barton |first=Jamie |date=2024-10-09 |title=Major League Soccer sets all-time attendance record in Lionel Messi's first full season |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/09/sport/mls-attendance-record-lionel-messi-spt-intl/index.html |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

====Expansion fees====
In 2005, Toronto FC's ownership paid $10 million (about $16 million in 2024){{Inflation-fn|US}} to join the league in 2007; San Jose paid $20 million the next year, and the fee had risen to $30 million when Sounders FC paid the fee in 2007 to join the league in 2009.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/its-official-seattle-to-get-mls-team-in-2009/ | title=It's official: Seattle to get MLS team in 2009 | date=November 13, 2007 | access-date=November 14, 2023 | archive-date=March 26, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326231212/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/its-official-seattle-to-get-mls-team-in-2009/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In 2013, New York City FC agreed to pay a record $100 million expansion fee for the right to join MLS in 2015.<ref name="ESPN-ExpFee">{{Cite news |last=Carlisle |first=Jeff |date=October 21, 2019 |title=Sacramento awarded latest MLS expansion franchise |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3969740/sacramento-awarded-latest-mls-expansion-franchise |access-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231115850/https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3969740/sacramento-awarded-latest-mls-expansion-franchise |url-status=live }}</ref> This record was surpassed by the ownership groups of FC Cincinnati and Nashville SC, which each paid $150 million to join MLS 2019 and 2020, respectively.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 16, 2016 |title=MLS to expand to 28 teams with huge jump in fees for new entrants |work=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mls/2016/12/16/mls-to-expand-to-28-teams-with-150m-entry-fee-for-newcomers/95511822/ |access-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-date=March 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318061840/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mls/2016/12/16/mls-to-expand-to-28-teams-with-150m-entry-fee-for-newcomers/95511822/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite being announced in January 2018, [[Inter Miami CF]] only paid a $25 million expansion fee due to a clause in part-owner [[David Beckham]]'s original playing contract signed in 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 29, 2018 |title=MLS announces David Beckham's expansion team in Miami |publisher=ESPN |url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3361118/mls-finally-announces-david-beckhams-expansion-team-in-miami?src=com |access-date=February 1, 2018 |archive-date=February 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202012431/http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3361118/mls-finally-announces-david-beckhams-expansion-team-in-miami?src=com |url-status=live }}</ref> $150 million was paid as an effective entrance fee by a group that bought [[Columbus Crew]] in 2018, which led to [[Anthony Precourt|that team's previous operator]] receiving rights to Austin FC, which joined MLS in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bench |first=Emily |date=December 6, 2018 |title=Columbus Crew's proposed buyers pledging $645M total investment |work=Columbus Business First |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/12/06/columbus-crews-proposed-buyers-pledging-645m-total.html |access-date=January 3, 2019 |archive-date=May 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200515110515/https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/12/06/columbus-crews-proposed-buyers-pledging-645m-total.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Salazar |first=Daniel |date=December 19, 2018 |title=Austin and PSV finalize soccer stadium deal; MLS team likely to kick off in 2021 |work=Austin Business Journal |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2018/12/19/austin-and-psv-finalize-soccer-stadium-deal-mls.html |access-date=January 3, 2019 |archive-date=June 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621230908/https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2018/12/19/austin-and-psv-finalize-soccer-stadium-deal-mls.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, Charlotte FC agreed to a reported $325 million expansion fee.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Negley |first1=Cassandra |title=Charlotte's MLS expansion fee reportedly a record $325M — two-thirds more than recent expansions |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/charlotte-will-reportedly-become-30th-mls-franchise-for-record-325-m-twothirds-more-than-recent-expansions-212710659.html |website=Yahoo Sports |access-date=January 17, 2021 |date=December 16, 2019}}</ref> The most recent expansion team, San Diego FC paid a record $500 million fee in 2023.<ref name="mls30thteam"/>