Editing Major League Soccer

{{Short description|Professional soccer league in the United States and Canada}}
{{Redirect|MLS}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox football league
| name = Major League Soccer
| image = MLS crest logo RGB gradient.svg
| countries = United States (27 teams)<br />Canada (3 teams)
| confed = [[CONCACAF]]
| founded = {{start date and age|1993|12|17}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Borg|first=Simon|title=MLS celebrates 17th anniversary of formal debut|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-celebrates-17th-anniversary-formal-debut|website=MLSSoccer.com|date=December 17, 2010|access-date=November 20, 2022|archive-date=January 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112104012/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/mls-celebrates-17th-anniversary-formal-debut|url-status=live}}</ref>
| first = [[1996 Major League Soccer season|1996]]
| conferences = [[Eastern Conference (MLS)|Eastern Conference]]<br />[[Western Conference (MLS)|Western Conference]]
| teams = 30 
| levels = [[United States soccer league system|1]]
| domest_cup = [[U.S. Open Cup]]<br />[[Canadian Championship]]
| confed_cup = [[CONCACAF Champions Cup]]<br />[[Campeones Cup]]<br />[[Leagues Cup]]
| mlscupchamps = [[LA Galaxy]] (6th title)
| mlscupseason = [[2024 MLS Cup Playoffs|2024]]
| shieldchamps = [[Inter Miami CF]] (1st shield)
| shieldseason = [[2024 Major League Soccer season|2024]]
| most_mlscups = [[LA Galaxy]]<br />(6 titles)
| most_shields = [[D.C. United]]<br />[[LA Galaxy]]<br />(4 shields each)
| most_appearances = [[Nick Rimando]] (514)
| top goalscorer = [[Chris Wondolowski]] (171)
| tv = [[MLS Season Pass]]<br />([[Apple TV app|Apple TV]])
{{unbulleted list|class=nowrap|
| '''United States''':
| [[MLS on Fox|Fox/FS1]]
| [[MLS on Fox|Fox Deportes]]{{efn-ua|Spanish audio/broadcast}}
| '''Canada''':
| [[MLS on TSN|TSN]]
| [[Réseau des sports|RDS]]{{efn-ua|French audio/broadcast}}
| '''International''':
| [[List of current Major League Soccer broadcasters#International video broadcasters|See list]]
}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.mlssoccer.com/|MLSsoccer.com}}
| current_season = 2025 Major League Soccer season
}}

'''Major League Soccer''' ('''MLS''') is a professional [[Association football|soccer]] league in [[North America]] and the highest level of the [[United States soccer league system]].<ref>{{cite web |title=About Major League Soccer |url=http://www.ussoccer.com/about/affiliates/professional-soccer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923121329/http://www.ussoccer.com/about/affiliates/professional-soccer |archive-date=September 23, 2014 |access-date=January 16, 2021 |publisher=USSoccer.com}}</ref> It comprises 30 teams, with 27 in the [[United States]] and 3 in [[Canada]], and is sanctioned by the [[United States Soccer Federation]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Louis City unveil new renderings of state-of-the-art stadium ahead of 2023 MLS debut |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/st-louis-city-unveil-new-renderings-state-art-stadium-ahead-2023-mls-debut |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518065656/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/st-louis-city-unveil-new-renderings-state-art-stadium-ahead-2023-mls-debut |archive-date=May 18, 2021 |access-date=August 20, 2019 |website=Chicago Tribune |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> MLS is one of the [[major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada]]. The league is headquartered in [[Midtown Manhattan]].

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">{{Cite web |title=By The Numbers... North American Soccer League vs Major League Soccer |date=February 11, 2013 |url=http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/2013/02/by-the-numbers-north-american-soccer-league-vs-major-league-soccer.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131209045614/http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/2013/02/by-the-numbers-north-american-soccer-league-vs-major-league-soccer.html |archive-date=December 9, 2013 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> MLS was founded in 1993 as part of the United States' successful bid to host the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 5, 2008 |title=About Major League Soccer |publisher=MLSnet.com |url=http://web.mlsnet.com/about/ |access-date=September 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625214719/http://web.mlsnet.com/about/ |archive-date=June 25, 2008}}</ref> The [[1996 Major League Soccer season|inaugural season]] took place in 1996 with ten teams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1996 Season Recap |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/history/season/1996 |work=MLSsoccer.com |date=February 22, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141001073656/http://www.mlssoccer.com/history/season/1996 |archive-date=October 1, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> MLS experienced financial and operational struggles in its first few years, losing millions of dollars and folding two teams in 2002.<ref name="forbes.com">{{Cite web |title=Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Teams |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2013/11/20/major-league-soccers-most-valuable-teams/ |date=November 20, 2013 |website=Forbes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921101715/http://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2013/11/20/major-league-soccers-most-valuable-teams/ |archive-date=September 21, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> Since then, developments such as the proliferation of [[soccer-specific stadium]]s around the league, the implementation of the [[Designated Player Rule]] allowing teams to sign star players such as [[David Beckham]] and [[Lionel Messi]], and [[Major League Soccer on television|national TV contracts]] have made MLS profitable.<ref name="forbes-2015-08">{{Cite web |title=Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Teams 2015 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2015/08/19/major-league-soccers-most-valuable-teams-2015-2/ |last=Smith |first=Chris |date=August 19, 2015 |website=Forbes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820044818/http://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2015/08/19/major-league-soccers-most-valuable-teams-2015-2/ |archive-date=August 20, 2015 |access-date=August 20, 2015}}</ref> 

In 2022, with an average attendance of over 21,000 per game, MLS had the fourth-highest average attendance of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, behind the [[National Football League]] (NFL) with over 69,000 fans per game, [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) with over 26,000 fans per game, and the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL) with over 21,700 fans per game.<ref>{{cite news |last=Broughton |first=David |date=April 10, 2023 |title=Attendance evolution since 2003 |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2023/04/10/In-Depth/attendance.aspx |work=[[Sports Business Journal]] |url-access=subscription |accessdate=March 3, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Strong |first=Gregory |date=May 19, 2023 |title=Intentional Grounding: CFL coverage to take hit with fewer reporters on the road |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/cfl/intentional-grounding-cfl-coverage-to-take-hit-with-fewer-reporters-on-the-road/article_571381b9-0526-5712-93c6-561de4cee064.html |work=[[Toronto Star]] |agency=[[The Canadian Press]] |accessdate=March 3, 2024}}</ref> Two years later, MLS was ranked second in the most attended soccer leagues in the world, only trailing the [[Premier League]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-05 |title=MLS behind only the Premier League in 2024 fan attendance, with more fans in stadiums than leagues in Spain and Italy |url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/mls-behind-only-the-premier-league-in-2024-fan-attendance-with-more-fans-in-stadiums-than-spain-and-italy/blt4252166372fd44d4 |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Goal.com UK |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The MLS regular season typically starts in late February or early March and runs through mid-October, with each team playing 34&nbsp;games;<ref name="usatoday.com">{{Cite web |date=January 7, 2015|title=MLS expands playoffs, adds 2 teams in 20th season |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mls/2015/01/07/mls-expands-playoffs-adds-2-teams-in-20th-season/21398585/|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109034809/http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mls/2015/01/07/mls-expands-playoffs-adds-2-teams-in-20th-season/21398585/ |archive-date=January 9, 2015 |access-date=January 8, 2015 |website=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 7, 2015 |title=Major League Soccer unveils 2015 schedule, with Decision Day finale and expanded playoff format|publisher=Major League Soccer |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/01/07/major-league-soccer-unveils-2015-schedule-decision-day-finale-and-expanded-p |url-status=live |access-date=June 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626225018/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/01/07/major-league-soccer-unveils-2015-schedule-decision-day-finale-and-expanded-p|archive-date=June 26, 2015}}</ref> the team with the best record is awarded the [[Supporters' Shield]]. Eighteen teams compete in the postseason [[MLS Cup playoffs]] in late October and November, culminating in the league's championship game, [[MLS Cup]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 29, 2013|title=MLS Cup Playoffs 101: How the 2013 postseason works|url=https://www.timbers.com/news/mls-cup-playoffs-101-how-2013-postseason-works|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031034335/http://www.timbers.com/news/2013/10/mls-cup-playoffs-101-how-2013-postseason-works|archive-date=October 31, 2014|access-date=September 20, 2014|publisher=Portland Timbers}}</ref> Instead of operating as an association of independently owned clubs, MLS is a single entity in which each team is owned by the league and individually operated by the league's investors.<ref name="fraser">{{cite court|litigants=Fraser v. Major League Soccer|vol=01|reporter=F.3d|opinion=1296|court=US 1st Cir.|date=March 20, 2002|url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-1st-circuit/1441684.html}}</ref> The league has a fixed membership like most sports leagues in the United States and Canada and Mexico's [[Liga MX]] which makes it one of the few soccer leagues that does not use a [[promotion and relegation]] process.<ref name="pro-rel" /> 

The [[LA Galaxy]] have the most MLS Cups, with six. They are tied with [[D.C. United]] for most Supporters' Shields, with four each.

==Competition format==
{{See also|Supporters' Shield|MLS Cup|MLS Cup playoffs}}

Major League Soccer's regular season runs from late February or early March to October. Teams are geographically divided into the [[MLS Eastern Conference|Eastern]] and [[MLS Western Conference|Western]] Conferences, playing 34 games in an unbalanced schedule. With 30 teams in 2025, each team plays two games (home and away) against the others teams within their conference, and six games against teams from the opposite conference. The 2020 season was the first season in league history in which teams did not play against every other team in the league.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mather |first1=victor |title=In M.L.S., the Pandemic Changes the Playoff Math |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/29/sports/soccer/mls-playoffs.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029172215/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/29/sports/soccer/mls-playoffs.html |archive-date=2020-10-29 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The New York Times|date=October 29, 2020 }}</ref> At the end of the regular season, the team with the highest point total is awarded the [[Supporters' Shield]] and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 21, 2013|title=A case for the Supporters Shield|url=http://www.brotherlygame.com/2013/8/21/4634894/a-case-for-the-supporters-shield|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031044518/http://www.brotherlygame.com/2013/8/21/4634894/a-case-for-the-supporters-shield|archive-date=October 31, 2014|access-date=September 20, 2014|website=Brotherly Game}}</ref>

Teams break for the annual [[Major League Soccer All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] midway through the season, an exhibition game containing the league's best players. The format of the All-Star Game has changed several times since the league's inception; 2020 was the first year in which the MLS All-Stars were planned to play against an all-star team from Mexico's [[Liga MX]], before the event's cancellation due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS All-Star Game creates opportunities for Portland, U.S. soccer: Editorial |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/08/mls_all-star_game_creates_oppo.html |date=August 3, 2014 |website=The Oregonian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811214656/http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/08/mls_all-star_game_creates_oppo.html |archive-date=August 11, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |date=May 19, 2020 |title=Major League Soccer Provides Updates on All-Star Game, Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/05/19/major-league-soccer-provides-updates-all-star-game-leagues-cup-and-campeones-cup |publisher=Major League Soccer |access-date=May 19, 2020 |archive-date=December 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221123106/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/05/19/major-league-soccer-provides-updates-all-star-game-leagues-cup-and-campeones-cup |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="canceled"/> Since 2015, the final matchday of the season has been branded as "[[Decision Day (MLS)|Decision Day]]" and has almost all matches played between intra-conference teams kicking off simultaneously during two windows—one for each conference.<ref>{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=October 4, 2019 |title=Sounders have plenty to play for as Decision Day looms Sunday |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-have-plenty-to-play-for-as-decision-day-looms-sunday/ |work=The Seattl eTimes |accessdate=December 23, 2024}}</ref>

Unlike most major soccer leagues around the world, but similar to other leagues in the Americas,<ref>{{Cite web |title=How the MLS Playoff Format Punishes Ambitious Teams |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zachslaton/2012/10/15/how-the-mls-playoff-format-punishes-ambitious-teams/ |date=October 15, 2012 |website=Forbes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806183526/http://www.forbes.com/sites/zachslaton/2012/10/15/how-the-mls-playoff-format-punishes-ambitious-teams/ |archive-date=August 6, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> the MLS regular season is followed by a postseason knockout tournament to determine the league champion.<ref>{{cite news |last=Yardley |first=Jonathan |date=October 22, 2015 |title=Playoffs Around the World: Global leagues use variety of different formats to determine champions |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/playoffs-around-world-global-leagues-use-variety-different-formats-determine |work=MLSsoccer.com |accessdate=February 21, 2023 |archive-date=February 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221202928/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/playoffs-around-world-global-leagues-use-variety-different-formats-determine |url-status=live }}</ref> {{As of|2023}}, eighteen teams participate in the [[MLS Cup Playoffs]] in October and November, which concludes with the [[MLS Cup]] championship game in early December.<ref>{{cite press release |date=February 21, 2023 |title=Major League Soccer Announces Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs Format and Schedule |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/major-league-soccer-announces-audi-2023-mls-cup-playoffs-format-and-schedule |publisher=Major League Soccer |accessdate=February 21, 2023 |archive-date=February 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222131030/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/major-league-soccer-announces-audi-2023-mls-cup-playoffs-format-and-schedule |url-status=live }}</ref> The 2023 playoff format includes a pair of single-elimination play-in matches for the two lowest-ranked teams in each conference ahead of a [[best-of-three]] round; the round is followed by more single-elimination rounds that lead up to the MLS Cup final.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MLS announces new playoff format for 2023 season|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-announces-new-playoff-format-for-2023-season|access-date=February 21, 2023|archive-date=February 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221201512/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-announces-new-playoff-format-for-2023-season|url-status=live}}</ref>

Major League Soccer's spring-to-fall schedule results in scheduling conflicts with the [[Domestic association football season|FIFA calendar]] and with summertime international tournaments such as the [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] and the [[CONCACAF Gold Cup|Gold Cup]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Michael |date=June 19, 2010 |title=FIFA president Blatter says MLS needs to adopt int'l calendar to compete |work=Daily News |location=New York |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/06/18/2009-06-18_fifa_president_sepp_blatter.html |url-status=live |access-date=December 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629083851/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/06/18/2009-06-18_fifa_president_sepp_blatter.html |archive-date=June 29, 2011}}</ref> causing some players to miss league matches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS May Change Its Schedule To Help The US's World Cup Bid |url=http://articles.businessinsider.com/2010-11-22/sports/30041416_1_summer-schedule-mls-teams-don-garber |date=November 22, 2010 |website=Business Insider |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113134122/http://articles.businessinsider.com/2010-11-22/sports/30041416_1_summer-schedule-mls-teams-don-garber |archive-date=January 13, 2012 |access-date=October 24, 2011}}</ref> While MLS has looked into changing to a fall-to-spring format, there are no current plans to do so. Were the league to change its schedule, a winter break would be necessary to accommodate teams located in harsh winter climates.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 22, 2011 |title=MLS looks at switching to international schedule |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2010-11-21-2487717250_x.htm |url-status=live |access-date=October 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107134551/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2010-11-21-2487717250_x.htm |archive-date=January 7, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=Playoffs expand to 10 teams, more changes ahead |date=November 22, 2010 |publisher=Major League Soccer |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/playoffs-expand-10-teams-more-changes-ahead |access-date=December 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227160017/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/playoffs-expand-10-teams-more-changes-ahead |archive-date=December 27, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="USA Today">{{Cite news |date=February 15, 2011 |title=MLS' Garber: No plans for international calendar |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/mls/2011-02-14-garber-mls-schedule_N.htm |url-status=live |access-date=October 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107114514/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/mls/2011-02-14-garber-mls-schedule_N.htm |archive-date=January 7, 2012}}</ref> It would also have to compete with the popularity and media presence of the [[National Football League]] (NFL), [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA), and [[National Hockey League]] (NHL), which all run on fall-to-spring schedules.<ref name="USA Today" />

===Other competitions===
{{See also|MLS performance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup |Campeones Cup |Leagues Cup|American soccer clubs in international competitions
 }}

MLS teams also play in other international and domestic competitions. Each season, up to ten MLS teams play in the [[CONCACAF Champions Cup]] (CCC) against other clubs from the [[CONCACAF]] region. Four MLS teams qualify based on regular-season results from the previous year: the [[Supporters' Shield]] champion, the team with the highest point total from the opposite conference, and the next two clubs in the Supporters' Shield rankings. The fifth MLS team to qualify is the reigning [[MLS Cup]] champion. An additional U.S.-based MLS team can qualify by winning the [[U.S. Open Cup]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup |url=http://www.ussoccer.com/lamar-hunt-us-open-cup |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920220525/http://www.ussoccer.com/lamar-hunt-us-open-cup |archive-date=September 20, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> Starting in 2024, the league will send eight teams to participate in the U.S. Open Cup instead of every U.S.-based club, with [[MLS Next Pro]] teams as representatives for some teams. MLS had announced their intention to remove itself from the tournament entirely,<ref>{{cite news |last=Floyd |first=Thomas |date=December 15, 2023 |title=MLS to skip U.S. Open Cup, nation's oldest soccer tournament |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/12/15/mls-us-open-cup/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |accessdate=December 16, 2023 |url-access=limited}}</ref> but reached a compromise with U.S. Soccer to send representatives from clubs that were not participating in the Champions Cup, with the exception of the defending Open Cup champions.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carlisle |first=Jeff |date=March 1, 2024 |title=U.S. Open Cup revamp to feature just 8 MLS first teams |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/39631836/us-open-cup-revamp-feature-just-8-mls-first-teams |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=March 1, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Goff |first=Steven |date=March 1, 2024 |title=MLS is back in the U.S. Open Cup, but not every club will participate |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/03/01/mls-us-open-cup-participation/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |accessdate=March 1, 2024}}</ref> The last three teams to qualify are the champion, runner-up, and third-place finisher of the [[Leagues Cup]].<ref name="concacaf-announces-qualification-criteria">{{cite web |url=https://www.concacaf.com/en/champions-league/news/concacaf-announces-qualification-criteria-for-confederation-s-expanded-champions-league-starting-in-2024/ |title=Concacaf announces qualification criteria for Confederation's expanded Champions League starting in 2024 |work=[[CONCACAF]] |orig-date=First published June 1, 2022 |date=June 30, 2022 |access-date=November 13, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601153122/https://www.concacaf.com/en/champions-league/news/concacaf-announces-qualification-criteria-for-confederation-s-expanded-champions-league-starting-in-2024/ |archive-date=June 1, 2022}}</ref> [[CF Montréal|Montreal]], [[Toronto FC|Toronto]], and [[Vancouver Whitecaps FC|Vancouver]] compete against other Canadian sides in the [[Canadian Championship]] for the one CONCACAF Champions Cup berth allocated to Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Canada Soccer announces move to new timeframe for future Amway Canadian Championships |url=http://www.canadasoccer.com/canada-soccer-annonce-un-nouveau-calendrier-pour-les-prochaines-éditions-du-championnat-canadien-amway-p156082&language=en |date=March 21, 2014 |publisher=Canada Soccer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016060453/http://www.canadasoccer.com/canada-soccer-annonce-un-nouveau-calendrier-pour-les-prochaines-%C3%A9ditions-du-championnat-canadien-amway-p156082%26language%3Den |archive-date=October 16, 2014 |access-date=August 1, 2014}}</ref> All three Canadian clubs may also qualify through MLS or the Leagues Cup. If a team qualifies through multiple berths, or they are taken by a Canadian MLS team, the berth is reallocated to the next best team in the overall table. If the U.S. Open Cup winner qualifies through multiple methods, the runner-up fills the slot; should the runner-up qualify, the next best team in the overall table earns the slot. If the Leagues Cup champion wins the MLS Cup, the MLS Cup runner-up qualifies to the round of 16; should a Leagues Cup slot already qualify, MLS is awarded with one additional slot given to the next best non-qualified team in the overall table.<ref name="2024cccregulations">{{cite web |title=2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Regulations |url=https://stconcacafwp001.blob.core.windows.net/media/atwi3fxa/2024-concacaf-champions-cup-regulations-eng.pdf |website=Concacaf |access-date=November 1, 2023 |pages=14–19 |date=October 25, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026041930/https://stconcacafwp001.blob.core.windows.net/media/atwi3fxa/2024-concacaf-champions-cup-regulations-eng.pdf |archive-date=October 26, 2023}}</ref> [[Seattle Sounders FC]] became the first MLS team to win the CONCACAF Champions Cup under the competition's updated format in [[2022 CONCACAF Champions League|2022]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=May 4, 2022 |title=One for the history books: Sounders clinch MLS' first CCL title in front of record crowd in Seattle |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/one-for-the-history-books-sounders-clinch-mls-first-ccl-title-in-front-of-record-crowd-in-seattle/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=May 4, 2022 |archive-date=May 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505044010/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/one-for-the-history-books-sounders-clinch-mls-first-ccl-title-in-front-of-record-crowd-in-seattle/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Creditor |first=Avi |date=May 4, 2022 |title=Seattle Ends MLS's CCL Futility, Routs Pumas to Win Concacaf's Title |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/05/05/seattle-sounders-pumas-unam-ccl-final-video-highlights |magazine=Sports Illustrated |accessdate=May 4, 2022 |archive-date=May 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505015303/https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/05/05/seattle-sounders-pumas-unam-ccl-final-video-highlights |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since 2018, the reigning MLS Cup champion plays in the [[Campeones Cup]], a [[Super Cup]]-style single game against the [[Campeón de Campeones]] from [[Liga MX]], hosted by the MLS team in September.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Major League Soccer and Liga MX Fuel Rivalry with New Partnership |date=March 13, 2018 |publisher=Major League Soccer |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/03/13/major-league-soccer-and-liga-mx-fuel-rivalry-new-partnership |access-date=March 13, 2018 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109023824/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/03/13/major-league-soccer-and-liga-mx-fuel-rivalry-new-partnership |url-status=live }}</ref> The inaugural edition saw [[Tigres UANL]] defeat Toronto FC at BMO Field in Toronto in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shoalts |first=David |date=September 19, 2018 |title=Mexico's Tigres get a little payback, defeat Toronto FC in Campeones Cup |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-mexicos-tigres-get-a-little-payback-defeat-toronto-fc-in-campeones/ |access-date=June 1, 2019 |archive-date=November 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109081517/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-mexicos-tigres-get-a-little-payback-defeat-toronto-fc-in-campeones/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Another inter-league competition with Liga MX, the [[Leagues Cup]], was established in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Marshall |first=Tom |date=May 29, 2019 |title=MLS and Liga MX announce Leagues Cup |publisher=[[ESPN]] |url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3863630/mls-and-liga-mx-announce-leagues-cup |access-date=June 1, 2019 |archive-date=November 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123025944/https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3863630/mls-and-liga-mx-announce-leagues-cup |url-status=live }}</ref> The 2020 edition of the tournament was originally planned to pair eight MLS clubs against eight Liga MX clubs in a single-elimination tournament hosted in the United States, reviving an inter-league rivalry that previously took place in the now-defunct [[North American Superliga]], before its cancelation.<ref name="canceled">{{cite press release |date=May 19, 2020 |title=MLS All-Star Game, Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup canceled for 2020 |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/05/19/mls-all-star-game-leagues-cup-and-campeones-cup-canceled-2020 |publisher=Major League Soccer |access-date=May 19, 2020 |archive-date=May 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529164623/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/05/19/mls-all-star-game-leagues-cup-and-campeones-cup-canceled-2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Beginning with the 2023 edition all MLS and Liga MX teams participated in the competition, which functions as the regional cup for the [[North American Football Union|North American zone]] of [[CONCACAF]].<ref>{{cite news |date=September 21, 2021 |title=Historic reimagined Leagues Cup starting in 2023 |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/historic-reimagined-leagues-cup-starting-in-2023 |work=MLSsoccer.com |accessdate=September 21, 2021 |archive-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921202059/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/historic-reimagined-leagues-cup-starting-in-2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> As of the 2025 edition, only 18 MLS clubs will take part.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bogert |first=Tom |date=2025-01-28 |title=MLS sets US Open Cup, Leagues Cup and Champions Cup update |url=https://www.givemesport.com/mls-sets-us-open-cup-leagues-cup-and-champions-cup-update/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=GiveMeSport |language=en}}</ref>

==Clubs==
{{See also|Expansion of Major League Soccer|Major League Soccer defunct clubs|List of Major League Soccer coaches}}
{{MLS labeled map}}
The 30 clubs of Major League Soccer are divided between the [[Eastern Conference (MLS)|Eastern]] and [[Western Conference (MLS)|Western]] conferences. MLS has regularly expanded since the 2005 season, most recently with the addition of [[San Diego FC]] in 2025.<ref name="San Diego">{{cite press release |date=May 18, 2023 |title=Major League Soccer awards expansion team to San Diego |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/major-league-soccer-awards-expansion-team-to-san-diego-x9222 |publisher=Major League Soccer |accessdate=May 18, 2023 |archive-date=May 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518175919/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/major-league-soccer-awards-expansion-team-to-san-diego-x9222 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The league features numerous [[MLS rivalry cups|rivalry cups]] that are contested by two or more teams, quite often geographic rivals.<ref name="nycfc.com" /> Each trophy is awarded to the team with the best record in matches during the regular season involving the participating teams. The concept is comparable to [[List of NCAA college football rivalry games|rivalry trophies]] played for by American [[college football]] teams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Derby or Rivalry in MLS? |date=January 27, 2014 |url=http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/2014/01/derby-or-rivalry-in-mls.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170525155859/https://ussoccerplayers.com/2014/01/derby%2Dor%2Drivalry%2Din%2Dmls.html |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |access-date=September 20, 2014 }}</ref>

MLS features some of the longest travel distances for a domestic soccer league, with [[Vancouver Whitecaps FC]] and [[Inter Miami CF]] the furthest apart teams at {{convert|2,801|mi|km}}.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rosenblatt |first=Ryan |date=June 13, 2023 |title=Baseball fields, playoffs, snow and All-Star Games: What new things await Lionel Messi in MLS? |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37839435/mls-quirks-await-messi-inter-miami-playoffs-baseball-fields-snow-turf |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=March 3, 2024}}</ref> During the [[2018 Major League Soccer season|2018 season]], the team with the shortest distance traveled over the entire regular schedule was [[Toronto FC]] at {{convert|25,891|mi|km}}, while the longest was Vancouver at {{convert|51,178|mi|km}}.<ref>{{cite news |last=Baer |first=Benjamin |date=January 5, 2018 |title=Which team will have to travel the most, least in 2018? |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/which-team-will-have-travel-most-least-2018 |work=MLSsoccer.com |accessdate=March 3, 2024}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Overview of MLS clubs
|-
! scope="col" | Conference
! scope="col" | Club
! scope="col" | Location
! scope="col" | [[List of Major League Soccer stadiums|Stadium]]
! scope="col" | Capacity
! scope="col" | Joined
! scope="col" | Head coach
|-
!rowspan="15" |[[Eastern Conference (MLS)|Eastern]]
! scope="row"| [[Atlanta United FC]]
| [[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia]]
| [[Mercedes-Benz Stadium]]{{ref|1|1}}
| align=center|42,500{{ref|2|2}}
| align=center|2017
| [[Ronny Deila]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[Charlotte FC]]
| [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]
| [[Bank of America Stadium]]{{ref|1|1}}
| align=center|38,000{{ref|2|2}}
| align=center|2022
| [[Dean Smith (footballer, born 1971)|Dean Smith]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[Chicago Fire FC]]
| [[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]]
| [[Soldier Field]]{{ref|1|1}}
| align=center|24,995{{ref|2|2}}
| align=center|1998
| [[Gregg Berhalter]]
|-
!scope="row"|{{sort|Cincinnati|[[FC Cincinnati]]}}
| [[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, Ohio]]
| [[TQL Stadium]]
| align=center|26,000
| align=center|2019
| [[Pat Noonan]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[Columbus Crew]]
| [[Columbus, Ohio]]
| [[Lower.com Field]]
| align=center|20,000
| align=center|1996
| [[Wilfried Nancy]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[D.C. United]]
| [[Washington, D.C.]]
| [[Audi Field]]
| align=center|20,000
| align=center|1996
| [[Troy Lesesne]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[Inter Miami CF]]
| [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]]
| [[Chase Stadium]]
| align=center|21,550
| align=center|2020
| [[Javier Mascherano]]
|-
!scope="row"|{{sort|Montréal|[[CF Montréal]]}}
| [[Montreal|Montreal, Quebec]]
| [[Saputo Stadium]]
| align=center|19,619
| align=center|2012
| [[Marco Donadel]] {{small|(interim)}}
|-
!scope="row"|[[Nashville SC]]
| [[Nashville, Tennessee]]
| [[Geodis Park]]
| align=center|30,000
| align=center|2020
| [[B. J. Callaghan|B.J. Callaghan]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[New England Revolution]]
| [[Foxborough, Massachusetts]]
| [[Gillette Stadium]]{{ref|1|1}}
| align=center|20,000{{ref|2|2}}
| align=center|1996
| [[Caleb Porter]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[New York City FC]]
| [[The Bronx|The Bronx, New York]]
| [[Yankee Stadium]]{{ref|1|1}}
| align=center|30,321{{ref|2|2}}
| align=center|2015
| [[Pascal Jansen]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[New York Red Bulls]]
| [[Harrison, New Jersey]]
| [[Sports Illustrated Stadium]]
| align=center|25,000
| align=center|1996
| [[Sandro Schwarz]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[Orlando City SC]]
| [[Orlando, Florida]]
| [[Inter&Co Stadium]]
| align=center|25,500
| align=center|2015
| [[Óscar Pareja]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[Philadelphia Union]]
| [[Chester, Pennsylvania]]
| [[Subaru Park]]
| align=center|18,500
| align=center|2010
| [[Bradley Carnell]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[Toronto FC]]
| [[Toronto|Toronto, Ontario]]
| [[BMO Field]]
| align=center|28,351
| align=center|2007
| [[Robin Fraser]]
|-
!rowspan="15" |[[Western Conference (MLS)|Western]]
!scope="row"|[[Austin FC]]
| [[Austin, Texas]]
| [[Q2 Stadium]]
| align=center|20,500
| align=center|2021
| [[Nico Estévez]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[Colorado Rapids]]
| [[Commerce City, Colorado]]
| [[Dick's Sporting Goods Park]]
| align=center|18,061
| align=center|1996
| [[Chris Armas]]
|-
!scope="row"|{{sort|Dallas|[[FC Dallas]]}}
| [[Frisco, Texas]]
| [[Toyota Stadium (Texas)|Toyota Stadium]]
| align=center|19,096
| align=center|1996
| [[Eric Quill]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[Houston Dynamo FC]]
| [[Houston|Houston, Texas]]
| [[Shell Energy Stadium]]
| align=center|22,039
| align=center|2006
| [[Ben Olsen]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[LA Galaxy]]
| [[Carson, California]]
| [[Dignity Health Sports Park]]
| align=center|27,000
| align=center|1996
| [[Greg Vanney]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[Los Angeles FC]]
| [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]]
| [[BMO Stadium]]
| align=center|22,000
| align=center|2018
| [[Steve Cherundolo]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[Minnesota United FC]]
| [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]]
| [[Allianz Field]]
| align=center|19,400
| align=center|2017
| [[Eric Ramsay (football coach)|Eric Ramsay]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[Portland Timbers]]
| [[Portland, Oregon]]
| [[Providence Park]]
| align=center|25,218
| align=center|2011
| [[Phil Neville]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[Real Salt Lake]]
| [[Sandy, Utah]]
| [[America First Field]]
| align=center|20,213
| align=center|2005
| [[Pablo Mastroeni]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[San Diego FC]]
| [[San Diego|San Diego, California]]
| [[Snapdragon Stadium]]{{ref|1|1}}
| align=center|35,000
| align=center|2025
| [[Mikey Varas]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[San Jose Earthquakes]]
| [[San Jose, California]]
| [[PayPal Park]]
| align=center|18,000
| align=center|1996
| [[Bruce Arena]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[Seattle Sounders FC]]
| [[Seattle|Seattle, Washington]]
| [[Lumen Field]]{{ref|1|1}}
| align=center|37,722{{ref|2|2}}
| align=center|2009
| [[Brian Schmetzer]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[Sporting Kansas City]]
| [[Kansas City, Kansas]]
| [[Children's Mercy Park]]
| align=center|18,467
| align=center|1996
| [[Kerry Zavagnin]] {{small|(interim)}}
|-
!scope="row"|[[St. Louis City SC]]
| [[St. Louis|St. Louis, Missouri]]
| [[Energizer Park]]
| align=center|22,423
| align=center|2023
| [[Olof Mellberg]]
|-
!scope="row"|[[Vancouver Whitecaps FC]]
| [[Vancouver|Vancouver, British Columbia]]
| [[BC Place]]{{ref|1|1}}
| align=center|22,120{{ref|2|2}}
| align=center|2011
| [[Jesper Sørensen]]
|-
|}

=== Former clubs ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" | Club
! scope="col" | Location
! scope="col" | Stadium
! scope="col" | Capacity
! scope="col" | Joined
! scope="col" | Final season
|-
!scope="row"|[[Tampa Bay Mutiny]]
| [[Tampa, Florida]]
| [[Raymond James Stadium]]{{ref|1|1}}
| align="center" |65,657
| align="center" |1996
| align="center" |2001
|-
!scope="row"|[[Miami Fusion]]
| [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]]
| [[Lockhart Stadium]]
| align="center" |17,417
| align="center" |1998
| align="center" |2001
|-
!scope="row"|[[Chivas USA]]
|[[Carson, California]]
| [[StubHub Center]]
| align="center" |18,800
| align="center" |2005
| align="center" |2014
|}

'''Notes'''
:{{note label|1|1||&nbsp;Shared facility; not a soccer-specific stadium}}
:{{note label|2|2||&nbsp;Standard reduced capacity for soccer; can be increased}}

===Timeline===
<timeline>
DateFormat = yyyy
ImageSize = width:1200 height:auto barincrement:20
Period = from:1996 till:2026
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
PlotArea = right:100 left:5 bottom:70 top:5 #> to display a count on left side of graph,  use "left:20" to suppress the count, use "left:20"<#

Colors = 
 id:line    value:pink
 id:Full    value:rgb(0.85,0.85,0.95)   legend:League_member
 id:Former  value:rgb(1,0.9,0.9)        legend:Former_member
 id:Future  value:rgb(0.7,0.9,0.9)      legend:Future_member 
 id:Other   value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9)      legend:Other_leagues

PlotData=

 width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s
 
 bar:1  color:Full from:1996 till:end text:Colorado Rapids (1996–present)

 bar:2  color:Full from:1996 till:end text:Columbus Crew (1996–present)

 bar:3  color:Full from:1996 till:end text:D.C. United (1996–present)

 bar:4  color:Full from:1996 till:2005 text:Dallas Burn (1996–2004)
 bar:4  color:Full from:2005 till:end text:FC Dallas (2005–present)

 bar:5  color:Full from:1996 till:2011 text:Kansas City Wiz / Wizards (1996–2010)
 bar:5  color:Full from:2011 till:end text:Sporting Kansas City (2011–present)

 bar:6  color:Full from:1996 till:end text:Los Angeles Galaxy (1996–present)

 bar:7  color:Full from:1996 till:end text:New England Revolution (1996–present)

 bar:8  color:Full from:1996 till:2006 text:New York/New Jersey MetroStars; MetroStars (1996–2005)
 bar:8  color:Full from:2006 till:end text:New York Red Bulls (2006–present)

 bar:9  color:Full from:1996 till:2000 text:San Jose Clash (1996–1999)
 bar:9  color:Full from:2000 till:2006 text:San Jose Earthquakes (2000–2005)
 bar:9  color:Full from:2008 till:end text:San Jose Earthquakes (2008–present)

 bar:10  color:Former from:1996 till:2002 text:Tampa Bay Mutiny (1996–2001)

 bar:11  color:Full from:1998 till:end text:Chicago Fire (1998–present)

 bar:12  color:Former from:1998 till:2002 text:Miami Fusion (1998–2001)

 bar:13  color:Former from:2005 till:2015 text:Chivas USA (2005–2014)

 bar:14  color:Full from:2005 till:end text:Real Salt Lake (2005–present)

 bar:15  color:Full from:2006 till:end text:Houston Dynamo (2006–present)

 bar:16  color:Full from:2007 till:end text:Toronto FC (2007–present)

 bar:17  color:Other from:1996 till:2009 text:A / USISL / USL
 bar:17  color:Full from:2009 till:end text:Seattle Sounders FC (2009–present)

 bar:18  color:Full from:2010 till:end text:Philadelphia Union (2010–present)

 bar:19  color:Other from:1996 till:2011 text:A / USISL / USL / D-2
 bar:19  color:Full from:2011 till:end text:Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2011–present)

 bar:20  color:Other from:2001 till:2005 text:A-League (2001-04)
 bar:20  color:Other from:2005 till:2010 text:USL-1 (2005-09)
 bar:20  color:Other from:2009 till:2011 text:D-2 (2010)
 bar:20  color:Full from:2011 till:end text:Portland Timbers (2011–present)

 bar:21  color:Other from:1996 till:1999 text:APSL (1993-94) A-L (1995-98;)
 bar:21  color:Other from:2000 till:2012 text:A-L (2000-04)
 bar:21  color:Other from:2005 till:2009 text:USL-1 (2005-09)
 bar:21  color:Other from:2009 till:2011 text:D-2/ NASL (2010-11)
 bar:21  color:Full from:2012 till:2021 text:Montreal Impact (2012–2020)
 bar:21  color:Full from:2021 till:end text:CF Montréal (2021–present)

 bar:22  color:Other from:2011 till:2015 text:USL (2011–14)
 bar:22  color:Full from:2015 till:end text:Orlando City SC (2015–present)

 bar:23  color:Full from:2015 till:end text:New York City FC (2015–present)

 bar:24  color:Other from:2010 till:2012 text:D-2 (2010)
 bar:24  color:Other from:2012 till:2017 text:NASL (2011-16)
 bar:24  color:Full from:2017 till:end text:Minnesota United FC (2017–present)

 bar:25  color:Full from:2017 till:end text:Atlanta United FC (2017–present)

 bar:26  color:Full from:2018 till:end text:Los Angeles FC (2018–present)

 bar:27  color:Other from:2016 till:2019 text:USL (2016–18)
 bar:27  color:Full from:2019 till:end text:FC Cincinnati (2019–present)

 bar:28  color:Full from:2020 till:end text:Inter Miami CF (2020–present)

 bar:29  color:Other from:2018 till:2020 text: USL / USLC
 bar:29  color:Full from:2020 till:end text:Nashville SC (2020–present)

 bar:30  color:Full from:2021 till:end text:Austin FC (2021–present)

 bar:31  color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Charlotte FC (2022–present)

 bar:32  color:Full from:2023 till:end align:right anchor:till text:St. Louis City SC (2023–present)

 bar:33  color:Full from:2025 till:end align:right anchor:till text:San Diego FC (2025–)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:10 start:1996
TextData =
    fontsize:L
    textcolor:black
    pos:(0,30) tabs:(400-center)
    text:
</timeline>

==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"/>

==League championships==
{{See also|List of MLS Cup finals|Supporters' Shield}}

As of the 2024 season, 32 different clubs have competed in the league, with 15 having won at least one [[MLS Cup]], and 16 winning at least one [[Supporters' Shield]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS Trophies – By Trophy |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/history/honors/trophies/trophy |website=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117183031/http://www.mlssoccer.com/history/honors/trophies/trophy |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> The two trophies have been won by the same club in the same year on eight occasions (two clubs have accomplished the feat twice).<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS guide: Learn more about Orlando's new pro league |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2013/11/19/mls-guide-learn-more-about-orlandos-new-pro-league/ |website=Orlando Sentinel |date=November 19, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715131354/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-11-19/sports/os-orlando-mls-soccer-facts-1120-20131119_1_mls-cup-mls-games-mls-teams |archive-date=July 15, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> Of these teams only one, [[2017 Toronto FC season|Toronto FC]] have also won their national elite knockout tournament (In Toronto FC's case, the [[2017 Canadian Championship|Canadian Championship]]) in the same year for a domestic [[Treble (association football)|treble]].

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ MLS Cup titles and Supporters' Shield wins
|-
!scope="col"|Team
!scope="col"|[[MLS Cup|MLS<br />Cups]]
!scope="col"|Years won
!scope="col"|[[Supporters' Shield|Supporters'<br />Shields]]
!scope="col"|Years won
!scope="col"|Total<br />combined
!scope="col"|MLS<br />seasons
|-
| scope="row" align=left | [[LA Galaxy]]
| 6 || align=left| [[MLS Cup 2002|2002]], [[MLS Cup 2005|2005]], [[MLS Cup 2011|2011]], [[MLS Cup 2012|2012]], [[MLS Cup 2014|2014]], [[MLS Cup 2024|2024]]|| 4
| align=left | [[1998 MLS season|1998]], [[2002 MLS season|2002]], [[2010 MLS season|2010]], [[2011 MLS season|2011]] || 10 || 29
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[D.C. United]]
| 4 || align=left| [[MLS Cup 1996|1996]], [[MLS Cup 1997|1997]], [[MLS Cup 1999|1999]], [[MLS Cup 2004|2004]] || 4 || align=left| [[1997 MLS season|1997]], [[1999 MLS season|1999]], [[2006 MLS season|2006]], [[2007 MLS season|2007]] || 8 || 29
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[Columbus Crew]]
| 3 || align=left| [[MLS Cup 2008|2008]], [[MLS Cup 2020|2020]], [[MLS Cup 2023|2023]] || 3 || align=left| [[2004 MLS season|2004]], [[2008 MLS season|2008]], [[2009 MLS season|2009]] || 6 || 29
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[San Jose Earthquakes]]
| 2 || align=left| [[MLS Cup 2001|2001]], [[MLS Cup 2003|2003]] || 2 || align=left| [[2005 MLS season|2005]], [[2012 MLS season|2012]] || 4 || 27
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[Sporting Kansas City]]
| 2 || align=left| [[MLS Cup 2000|2000]], [[MLS Cup 2013|2013]] || 1 || align=left| [[2000 MLS season|2000]] || 3 || 29
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[Seattle Sounders FC]]
| 2 || align=left| [[MLS Cup 2016|2016]], [[MLS Cup 2019|2019]]  || 1 || align=left| [[2014 MLS season|2014]] || 3 || 16
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[Houston Dynamo FC]]
| 2 || align=left| [[MLS Cup 2006|2006]], [[MLS Cup 2007|2007]] || 0 || – || 2 || 19
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[Los Angeles FC]]
| 1 ||align=left|[[MLS Cup 2022|2022]]|| 2 || align=left| [[2019 Major League Soccer season|2019]], [[2022 Major League Soccer season|2022]] || 3 || 7
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[Chicago Fire FC]]
| 1 || align=left| [[MLS Cup 1998|1998]] || 1 || align=left| [[2003 MLS season|2003]] || 2 || 27
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[Toronto FC]]
| 1  || align=left| [[MLS Cup 2017|2017]] || 1 || align=left| [[2017 Major League Soccer season|2017]] || 2 || 18
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[Real Salt Lake]]
| 1 || align=left| [[MLS Cup 2009|2009]] || 0 || – || 1 || 20
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[Colorado Rapids]]
| 1 || align=left| [[MLS Cup 2010|2010]] || 0 || – || 1 || 29
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[Portland Timbers]]
| 1 || align=left| [[MLS Cup 2015|2015]] || 0 || – || 1 || 14
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[Atlanta United FC]]
| 1  || align=left| [[MLS Cup 2018|2018]]|| 0|| – || 1 || 8
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[New York City FC]]
|1||align=left|[[MLS Cup 2021|2021]]||0|| – || 1|| 10
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[New York Red Bulls]]
| 0 || – || 3 || align=left| [[2013 Major League Soccer season|2013]], [[2015 Major League Soccer season|2015]], [[2018 Major League Soccer season|2018]] || 3 || 29
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[Tampa Bay Mutiny]]{{efn|name=ex|Franchise folded after completion of the [[2001 Major League Soccer season|2001 season]]}}
| 0 || – || 1 || align=left| [[1996 MLS season|1996]] || 1 || 6{{efn|name=ex}}
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[Miami Fusion]]{{efn|name=ex}}
| 0 || – || 1 || align=left| [[2001 MLS season|2001]] || 1 || 4{{efn|name=ex}}
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[FC Dallas]]
| 0 || – || 1 || align=left| [[2016 Major League Soccer season|2016]] || 1 || 29
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[Philadelphia Union]]
| 0 || – || 1 || align=left| [[2020 Major League Soccer season|2020]] || 1 || 15
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[New England Revolution]]
| 0 || – || 1 || align=left| [[2021 Major League Soccer season|2021]] || 1 || 29
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[FC Cincinnati]]
| 0 || – || 1 || align=left| [[2023 Major League Soccer season|2023]] || 1 || 6
|-
|scope="row" align=left | [[Inter Miami CF]]
| 0 || – || 1 || align=left| [[2024 Major League Soccer season|2024]] || 1 || 5
|}
{{notelist}}

==Organization==

===Ownership===
{{See also|Major League Soccer owners}}
Major League Soccer operates under a single-entity structure in which teams and player contracts are centrally owned by the league.<ref name=fraser /><ref name="Business of Soccer">{{Cite web|date=August 26, 2013|title=Dempsey Transfer Highlights Influence of MLS Single-Entity Economic Structure|url=http://www.businessofsoccer.com/2013/08/26/dempsey-transfer-highlights-mls-single-entity-economic-structure/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812084436/http://www.businessofsoccer.com/2013/08/26/dempsey-transfer-highlights-mls-single-entity-economic-structure/|archive-date=August 12, 2014|access-date=September 20, 2014|website=Business of Soccer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Roundtable: Is MLS Single Entity Here To Stay? |url=http://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2014/2/28/5456444/roundtable-is-mls-single-entity-here-to-stay |date=February 28, 2014 |website=Hot Time in Old Town |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031111538/http://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2014/2/28/5456444/roundtable-is-mls-single-entity-here-to-stay |archive-date=October 31, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> Each team has an investor-operator that is a shareholder in the league.<ref name="Stadiums" /> In order to control costs, MLS shares revenues and holds players contracts instead of players contracting with individual teams. In ''[[Fraser v. Major League Soccer]]'', a lawsuit filed in 1996 and decided in 2002, the league won a legal battle with its players in which the court ruled that MLS was a single entity that can lawfully centrally contract for player services.<ref name=fraser /> The court also ruled that even absent their [[collective bargaining agreement]], players could opt to play in other leagues if they were unsatisfied.<ref name=fraser />

Having multiple clubs operated by a single investor was a necessity in the league's first ten years.<ref name="latimes2006" /> At one time, [[Phil Anschutz]]'s AEG operated six MLS franchises and [[Lamar Hunt]]'s Hunt Sports operated three franchises. In order to attract additional investors, in 2002 the league announced changes to the operating agreement between the league and its teams to improve team revenues and increase the incentives to be an individual club operator.<ref name="Contraction">{{Cite web |title=Major League Soccer Announces Elimination of Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion for 2002 Season |url=http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/03/17/12/08/major-league-soccer-announces-elimination-of-tampa-bay-mutiny-and-miami-fusion-for-2002-season |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819082916/http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/03/17/12/08/major-league-soccer-announces-elimination-of-tampa-bay-mutiny-and-miami-fusion-for-2002-season |archive-date=August 19, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> These changes included granting operators the rights to a certain number of players they develop through their club's academy system each year, sharing the profits of [[Soccer United Marketing]], and being able to sell individual club jersey sponsorships.<ref name="Contraction" />

As MLS appeared to be on the brink of overall profitability in 2006 and developed significant expansion plans, MLS announced that it wanted each club to have a distinct operator.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS' Don Garber Talks State of the League with the Daily |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2007/04/Issue-135/MLS-Season-Preview/MLS-Don-Garber-Talks-State-Of-The-League-With-The-Daily.aspx?hl=FC%20Dallas&sc=0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228003815/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2007/04/Issue-135/MLS-Season-Preview/MLS-Don-Garber-Talks-State-Of-The-League-With-The-Daily.aspx?hl=FC%20Dallas&sc=0 |archive-date=February 28, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> The league has attracted new investors that have injected more money into the league.<ref name="forbes.com"/> Examples include [[Red Bull]]'s purchase of the MetroStars from AEG in 2006 for over $100&nbsp;million.<ref name="latimes2006">''Los Angeles Times'', [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-mar-29-sp-mls29-story.html "MLS Looks Way Down the Field"], March 29, 2006.</ref><ref name="nytimes.com">''The New York Times'', [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/10/sports/soccer/10soccer.html?_r=0 "Red Bull Is New Owner, and Name, of MetroStars"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20140531232010/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/10/sports/soccer/10soccer.html|date=May 31, 2014 }}, March 10, 2006.</ref> For the 2014 season, the league assumed control of the former Chivas USA club, which had suffered from mismanagement and poor financial results under its individual operator relationship.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baxter |first=Kevin |date=February 20, 2014 |title=Major League Soccer assumes ownership of Chivas USA |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-xpm-2014-feb-20-la-sp-mls-chivas-20140221-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822080201/http://articles.latimes.com/2014/feb/20/sports/la-sp-mls-chivas-20140221 |archive-date=August 22, 2014}}</ref><ref name="forbes.com" /> The league eventually dissolved the team,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dear Fans and Friends |url=http://www.cdchivasusa.com/ |publisher=CD Chivas USA |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030005413/http://www.cdchivasusa.com/ |archive-date=October 30, 2014 |access-date=October 30, 2014}}</ref> in favor of awarding rights to a second soccer club in the Los Angeles area to a new investor group on October 30, 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Major League Soccer awards new team to Los Angeles |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/10/30/major-league-soccer-awards-new-team-los-angeles |date=October 30, 2014 |website=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101193554/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/10/30/major-league-soccer-awards-new-team-los-angeles |archive-date=November 1, 2014 |access-date=October 30, 2014}}</ref>

The league now has 30 investor-operators for its 30 current clubs, with no member of any club's investor group having a stake in that of any other club. Since December 2015, when AEG sold its remaining 50% interest in the Houston Dynamo, the former multiple-team operators AEG and Hunt Sports, with the LA Galaxy and FC Dallas respectively, now only control one franchise.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 6, 2007 |title=Chicago Fire sold to Andell Holdings |publisher=Chicago Fire Media Relations |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/chicago-fire-sold-andell-holdings |url-status=live |access-date=August 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141120024349/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/chicago-fire-sold-andell-holdings |archive-date=November 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Group led by Gabriel Brener acquires AEG's ownership interests in Houston Dynamo |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/12/15/group-led-gabriel-brener-acquires-aegs-ownership-interests-houston-dynamo |date=December 16, 2015 |website=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151216201123/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/12/15/group-led-gabriel-brener-acquires-aegs-ownership-interests-houston-dynamo |archive-date=December 16, 2015 |access-date=December 15, 2015}}</ref>

===League executives===
[[Don Garber]] has been the commissioner of Major League Soccer since 1999, serving as the league's chief executive. The league's first commissioner was [[Doug Logan]], who served in the role from 1995 to 1999.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Wahl |first=Grant |author-link=Grant Wahl |date=December 3, 2014 |title=15 Years of The Don: Under Garber, MLS stayed afloat, has taken strides |magazine=Sports Illustrated |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/planet-futbol/2014/12/03/don-garber-mls-commissioner-major-league-soccer |url-status=live |access-date=March 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305192652/http://www.si.com/soccer/planet-futbol/2014/12/03/don-garber-mls-commissioner-major-league-soccer |archive-date=March 5, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bissonette |first=Zac |date=December 5, 2014 |title=A sports league that's unprofitable—but hopeful |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2014/12/05/major-league-soccer-mls-works-hard-to-become-a-profitable-business.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305194831/http://www.cnbc.com/2014/12/05/major-league-soccer-mls-works-hard-to-become-a-profitable-business.html |archive-date=March 5, 2017}}</ref>

Mark Abbott, a former MLS business partner, has served as the league's president and Deputy Commissioner since 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mark Abbott |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=32728860&privcapId=4312581 |publisher=Bloomberg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305195054/http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=32728860&privcapId=4312581 |archive-date=March 5, 2017 |access-date=March 4, 2017}}</ref>

===Player acquisition and salaries===
[[File:David Beckham Nov 11 2007.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|[[David Beckham]] was the league's first [[Designated Player Rule|Designated Player]] in 2007.]]
In 2016, the average salary for MLS players was $373,094,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Salary Guide |url=https://mlsplayers.org/resources/salary-guide |date=May 19, 2016 |publisher=MLS Players' Association |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615185627/https://mlsplayers.org/resources/salary-guide |archive-date=June 15, 2018 |access-date=July 20, 2018}}</ref> lower than the average salaries in England's second-tier [[EFL Championship]] ($420,000 in 2015),<ref name=Bolavip>{{cite web |url=https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/what-is-the-average-salary-in-theefl-championship-20210326-0022.html |title=EFL Championship: What is the average salary in England's second-tier? |website=bolavip.com |last=Alcheva |first=Martina |date=May 27, 2021 |access-date=July 29, 2021 |archive-date=August 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814055611/https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/what-is-the-average-salary-in-theefl-championship-20210326-0022.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the Netherlands' [[Eredivisie]] ($445,000),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dutch professional football continues financial improvement |url=http://www.epfl-europeanleagues.com/eredivisie_financial_improvement.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820114358/http://www.epfl-europeanleagues.com/eredivisie_financial_improvement.htm |archive-date=August 20, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> or Mexico's [[Liga MX]] ($418,000 in 2015).<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS confident new CBA will be done in time for March 6 season start |url=http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/2232135/mls-confident-new-cba-will-be-done-in-time-for-march-6-season-start |last=Carlisle |first=Jeff |date=January 7, 2015 |publisher=ESPN FC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626104757/http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/2232135/mls-confident-new-cba-will-be-done-in-time-for-march-6-season-start |archive-date=June 26, 2015 |access-date=June 26, 2015}}</ref> The league's minimum player salary increased in 2017 to $65,000 for most players, and roster players #25–30 saw their minimum salary increased to $53,000.<ref name="Major League Soccer">{{Cite web |title=MLS Players Union announces that it has ratified collective bargaining agreement |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/07/16/mls-players-union-announces-it-has-ratified-collective-bargaining-agreement |date=July 16, 2015 |publisher=Major League Soccer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022061339/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/07/16/mls-players-union-announces-it-has-ratified-collective-bargaining-agreement |archive-date=October 22, 2015 |access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref><ref name="pressbox2015">{{Cite web |title=2015 MLS Player Rules and Regulations Summary |url=http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/content/roster-rules-and-regulations |website=MLS Press Box |publisher=Major League Soccer |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424014409/http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/content/roster-rules-and-regulations |archive-date=April 24, 2015 |access-date=May 1, 2015}}</ref>

MLS salaries are limited by a [[Salary cap#Major League Soccer|salary cap]], which MLS has had in place since the league's inception in 1996. The purpose of the salary cap is to prevent the team's owners from unsustainable spending on player salaries and to prevent a competitive imbalance among teams.<ref name="leagle.com" /> The salary cap survived a legal challenge by the players in the ''[[Fraser v. Major League Soccer]]'' lawsuit. The 2017 salary cap increased to $3.845 million per team.<ref name="Major League Soccer" /><ref name=pressbox2015/> Each team is allowed up to 30 players on its first team roster.<ref name="MLS Roster Rules">{{Cite news |date=March 2, 2018 |title=MLS Roster Rules and Regulations |work=MLSsoccer.com |publisher=MLS Digital |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/league/official-rules/mls-roster-rules-and-regulations |access-date=February 13, 2019 |archive-date=February 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226030351/https://www.mlssoccer.com/league/official-rules/mls-roster-rules-and-regulations |url-status=dead }}</ref> All 30 players are eligible for selection to each 18-player game-day squad during the regular season and playoffs.

Teams may augment their squads by signing players from other leagues. MLS has two [[transfer window]]s—the primary pre-season transfer window lasts three months from mid February until mid May, and the secondary mid season transfer window runs one month from early July to early August.<ref name="pressbox2015" /> When an MLS club sells one of its players overseas, the club and the league split the transfer revenues, with the club retaining from 33% to 75% depending on the player's status and tenure.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goff |first=Steve |date=August 2, 2016 |title=Israeli club ups offer for D.C. United's Steve Birnbaum, but |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2016/08/02/israeli-club-ups-offer-for-d-c-uniteds-steve-birnbaum-but/ |url-status=live |access-date=January 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510134413/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2016/08/02/israeli-club-ups-offer-for-d-c-uniteds-steve-birnbaum-but/ |archive-date=May 10, 2017}}</ref>
MLS teams have a limited number of [[MLS International Roster Slots|international roster slots]] that they can use to sign non-domestic players. However, MLS teams often obtain green cards for their non-domestic players in order to qualify them for domestic status and thus free up international roster slots.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ASN article: MLS Allure: Why Wages Are Only Part of the Story |url=http://americansoccernow.com/articles/mls-allure-why-wages-are-only-part-of-the-story |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916192944/http://americansoccernow.com/articles/mls-allure-why-wages-are-only-part-of-the-story |archive-date=September 16, 2015 |access-date=September 15, 2015}}</ref> In 2015, 49% of MLS players were born outside of the U.S. and Canada, with players from 58 countries represented.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Recent analysis of foreign player pool in MLS reveals interesting numbers |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/sideline/news/article/2015/09/10/recent-analysis-foreign-player-pool-mls-reveals-interesting-numbers |date=September 10, 2015 |website=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912153409/http://www.mlssoccer.com/sideline/news/article/2015/09/10/recent-analysis-foreign-player-pool-mls-reveals-interesting-numbers |archive-date=September 12, 2015 |access-date=September 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS remains most diverse professional sports league in North America |url=http://www.lagalaxy.com/news/2015/04/mls-remains-most-diverse-professional-sports-league-north-america |date=April 23, 2015 |website=LA Galaxy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425222317/http://www.lagalaxy.com/news/2015/04/mls-remains-most-diverse-professional-sports-league-north-america |archive-date=April 25, 2015 |access-date=April 24, 2015}}</ref>

MLS has a set of [[List of MLS Pool Goalkeepers|pool goalkeepers]] who are signed to a contract with the league and are loaned to teams during emergencies in which they are missing a goalkeeper due to injuries or suspensions.<ref>{{cite news |last=Koczwara |first=Kevin |date=November 4, 2016 |title=On MLS's Most Star-Studded Team, Brian Rowe Is the Last Line of Defense |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/on-mlss-most-star-studded-team-brian-rowe-is-the-last-line-of-defense/ |work=Vice News |access-date=August 22, 2020 |archive-date=September 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905044535/https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/kbd3ga/on-mlss-most-star-studded-team-brian-rowe-is-the-last-line-of-defense |url-status=live }}</ref> The pool goalkeeper trains with an MLS club or an affiliated team when not assigned to a team; some pool goalkeepers, including [[Tim Melia]], have gone on to be signed to permanent contract with their assigned teams.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brenner |first=Steve |date=June 25, 2019 |title=Meet Charlie Lyon: The MLS 'Pool Goalkeeper' Who Can Play for Every Club |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2842032-meet-charlie-lyon-the-mls-pool-goalkeeper-who-can-play-for-every-club |work=[[Bleacher Report]] |access-date=August 22, 2020 |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020202459/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2842032-meet-charlie-lyon-the-mls-pool-goalkeeper-who-can-play-for-every-club |url-status=live }}</ref> In the past, when rosters were smaller, there were multiple goalkeepers signed to the pool, however, in recent years only one or two keepers are signed as team rosters are much larger.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://global.espn.com/football/major-league-soccer/19/blog/post/3132935/billy-heavner-life-in-limbo-in-major-league-soccer-as-a-pool-goalkeeper|title=Billy Heavner's life in limbo in Major League Soccer as a 'pool goalkeeper'|date=May 24, 2017|first=Jeff|last=Carlisle|work=[[ESPN]]|access-date=August 31, 2020|archive-date=February 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221094933/https://global.espn.com/football/major-league-soccer/19/blog/post/3132935/billy-heavner-life-in-limbo-in-major-league-soccer-as-a-pool-goalkeeper|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Designated Players and allocation money====
MLS has also introduced various initiatives and rules intended to improve quality of players while still maintaining the salary cap. Rules concerning Designated Players and allocation money allow for additional wage spending that is exempt from the salary cap. These initiatives have brought about an increase in on-field competition.<ref name="monstersandcritics.com">{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Pat |date=May 4, 2007 |title=MLS comes out of the gates strong in '07 |publisher=monstersandcritics.com |url=http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=soc-mls/misc/mls_features_archive/mls_features_archive_050407.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524072946/http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=soc-mls%2Fmisc%2Fmls_features_archive%2Fmls_features_archive_050407.htm |archive-date=May 24, 2015}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=October 2019}}

The [[Designated Player Rule|designated player (DP) rule]] allows teams to sign a limited number of players whose salary exceeds the maximum cap; in 2017, each DP player only counted as $480,625 (the maximum non-DP salary) against the cap. Instituted in 2007, England's [[David Beckham]] was the first signing under the DP rule.<ref name="forbes-2014-09" /> The DP rule has led to large income inequality in MLS with top DPs earning as much as 180 times more than a player earning the league minimum.<ref name="2014-salaries-mlsplayers">{{Cite web |title=2014 MLS Player Salaries: April 1, 2014: By Club |url=http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/April%201,%202014%20Salary%20Information%20-%20By%20Club.pdf |date=April 2, 2014 |publisher=Major League Soccer Players Union |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618064130/http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/April%201%2C%202014%20Salary%20Information%20-%20By%20Club.pdf |archive-date=June 18, 2015 |access-date=August 20, 2015}}</ref> In the 2013 season, 21% of the league's wage spending went to just five players; this stretched to 29% on the top 6 players in the 2014 season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reese |first=Bill |date=January 30, 2014 |title=A Look at Income Inequality in MLS |work=Empire of Soccer |url=http://www.empireofsoccer.com/look-income-inequality-22820/ |url-status=usurped |access-date=August 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726234141/http://www.empireofsoccer.com/look-income-inequality-22820/ |archive-date=July 26, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2014 MLS Salaries Visualized |url=http://www.stathunting.com/2014/04/11/mls-salaries-visualized/ |last=Fenn |first=Steve |date=April 11, 2014 |publisher=StatHunting |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712170437/http://www.stathunting.com/2014/04/11/mls-salaries-visualized/ |archive-date=July 12, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=October 2019}}

The league's "Core Players" initiative allows teams to re-sign players using retention funds that do not count against the salary cap.<ref name="mlssoccer.com" /> Retention funds were implemented in 2013 as a mechanism for MLS to retain key players; among the first high-profile players re-signed using retention funds were U.S. national team regulars [[Graham Zusi]] and [[Matt Besler]].<ref name="mlssoccer.com" /> MLS teams can also obtain [[allocation money]], which is money that the team can use on player salaries that does not count against the cap, and teams can earn allocation money in several ways, such as from the transfer fees earned by selling players to teams in other leagues.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The great allocation money chase |url=http://www.phillysoccerpage.net/2012/06/26/the-great-allocation-money-chase/ |date=June 26, 2012 |website=The Philly Soccer Page |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717212245/http://www.phillysoccerpage.net/2012/06/26/the-great-allocation-money-chase/ |archive-date=July 17, 2014 |access-date=September 25, 2014}}</ref> MLS teams can also use Targeted Allocation Money (often referred to as TAM), an initiative announced in 2015. Teams can use TAM funds to attract high-profile players by "buying down" contracts of players to below the Designated Player level.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tomlich |first=Ryan |title=MLS approves large TAM increase, additional Homegrown Player spending |work=Soccer by Ives |url=http://sbisoccer.com/2015/12/mls-approves-large-tam-increase-additional-homegrown-player-spending |url-status=live |access-date=December 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211034629/http://sbisoccer.com/2015/12/mls-approves-large-tam-increase-additional-homegrown-player-spending |archive-date=December 11, 2015}}</ref> High-profile players for which TAM funds were used include [[Hector Villalba]], [[Zlatan Ibrahimović]] and [[Giorgio Chiellini]].

===Youth development===
{{See also|MLS Next Pro|Homegrown Player Rule (Major League Soccer)}}
MLS has introduced various initiatives and rules intended to develop young players. Rules concerning Generation Adidas players and home grown players provide incentives for clubs to develop and retain young players.<ref name="monstersandcritics.com" />

MLS has required all of its teams to operate youth development programs since 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS launches youth development initiative |url=http://espnfc.com/news/story?id=391065&cc=5901 |date=November 10, 2006 |publisher=ESPN FC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231220008/http://espnfc.com/news/story?id=391065&cc=5901 |archive-date=December 31, 2013}}</ref> MLS roster rules allow teams to sign an unlimited number of players straight from their academies and bypassing the draft process.<ref name="pressbox2015" /> There is also supplementary salary budget made by MLS only for homegrown players that are registered using senior roster slots called homegrown player funds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS announces $37 million investment in Targeted Allocation Money, Homegrown Player funds for 2016–17 |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/12/09/mls-announces-37-million-investment-targeted-allocation-money-homegrown-player-funds |date=December 9, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131040701/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/12/09/mls-announces-37-million-investment-targeted-allocation-money-homegrown-player-funds |archive-date=January 31, 2016}}</ref> One of the most prominent and lucrative examples of success in "home-grown" development was [[Jozy Altidore]], who rose to prominence as a teenager in MLS before his record transfer fee $10&nbsp;million move to Villarreal in Spain in 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Jack |date=June 5, 2008 |title=Spanish Soccer Team Strikes Deal for Altidore |work=The New York Times |location=United States |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/sports/soccer/05altidore.html?ref=sports |url-status=live |access-date=October 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517174541/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/sports/soccer/05altidore.html?ref=sports |archive-date=May 17, 2013}}</ref> The various MLS teams' development academies play matches in a [[U.S. Soccer Development Academy|U.S. Soccer developmental league]] against youth academies from other leagues such as the [[North American Soccer League (2011–2017)|North American Soccer League]] (NASL), which had been a Division II league prior to 2018, and USL Pro, originally a Division III league but now the Division II [[USL Championship]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Soccer Development Academy 2014–2015 |url=http://ussda.demosphere.com/Profiles/index_E.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921020705/http://ussda.demosphere.com/Profiles/index_E.html |archive-date=September 21, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>

The league operates a [[Generation Adidas]] program, which is a joint venture between MLS and U.S. Soccer that encourages young American players to enter MLS.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US U-20 players headline 2006 class |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=354854&cc=5901 |date=January 11, 2006 |publisher=ESPN FC |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214081859/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=354854&cc=5901 |archive-date=February 14, 2012 |access-date=September 15, 2013}}</ref> The Generation Adidas program has been in place since 1997, and has introduced players such as [[Landon Donovan]], [[Clint Dempsey]], [[Tim Howard]] and [[Michael Bradley (soccer)|Michael Bradley]] into MLS. Players under the Home Grown Player rule are signed to Generation Adidas contracts,<ref name="pressbox2015" /> all players on Generation Adidas contracts are "off budget players" and their salaries do not count against the cap.

MLS has operated reserve leagues, which give playing time to players who were not starters for their MLS teams, during two different periods. The [[MLS Reserve League]] was formed in 2005, and operated through 2014 (with the exception of the 2009 & 2010 seasons).<ref>MLSsoccer.com, [http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/commissioner-reveals-details-reserve-division "Commissioner reveals details of Reserve Division"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120213608/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/commissioner-reveals-details-reserve-division |date=November 20, 2010 }}, November 16, 2010.</ref> MLS began integrating its Reserve League with the league then known as USL Pro in 2013,<ref name="MLS_USL_Deal">{{Cite news |date=January 23, 2013 |title=MLS, USL Pro reach deal on restructured Reserve League |work=MLSsoccer.com |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/01/23/mls-usl-pro-reach-deal-restructured-reserve-league |url-status=live |access-date=January 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126060258/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/01/23/mls-usl-pro-reach-deal-restructured-reserve-league |archive-date=January 26, 2013}}</ref> and after the 2014 season folded the Reserve League, with MLS then requiring all teams to either affiliate with a USL team or field their own reserve side in that league. However, this requirement was never strictly enforced, and MLS eventually relaunched its reserve league in 2022 under the banner of [[MLS Next Pro]]. In the inaugural 2022 season, 19 of the league's then-current clubs, plus future club [[St. Louis City SC]], fielded reserve sides in Next Pro. In the 2023 season, the only MLS teams that will not field Next Pro sides are [[CF Montréal]] and [[D.C. United]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bonagura |first1=Kyle |title=Major League Soccer to launch development league in 2022 |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/4415507/major-league-soccer-to-launch-development-league-in-2022 |access-date=June 21, 2021 |work=[[ESPN]] |date=June 21, 2021 |archive-date=December 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216144436/https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/4415507/major-league-soccer-to-launch-development-league-in-2022 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.mlsnextpro.com/news/seven-mls-affiliated-clubs-to-join-mls-next-pro-in-2023 |title=Seven MLS-Affiliated Clubs to Join MLS Next Pro in 2023 |publisher=MLS Next Pro |date=August 4, 2022 |access-date=January 30, 2023 |archive-date=February 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209024649/https://www.mlsnextpro.com/news/seven-mls-affiliated-clubs-to-join-mls-next-pro-in-2023 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following the folding of the [[U.S. Soccer Development Academy|Development Academy]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer-articles/us-soccer-ends-development-academy_aid47937|title=U.S. Soccer ends Development Academy &#124; Club Soccer &#124; Youth Soccer|website=TopDrawerSoccer.com|access-date=May 15, 2020|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804003325/https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer-articles/us-soccer-ends-development-academy_aid47937|url-status=live}}</ref> MLS announced its own development league in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=April 16, 2020 |title=Major League Soccer launches new elite competition for youth academies {{!}} MLSSoccer.com |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/major-league-soccer-launches-new-elite-competition-youth-academies |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204013928/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/major-league-soccer-launches-new-elite-competition-youth-academies |archive-date=2023-12-04 |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=mlssoccer |language=en}}</ref> It includes all of the MLS team academies as well as 95 clubs across the country; many of which were a part of the Development Academy.<ref>{{cite news |title=MLS Unveils New Youth Development Program Details |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2020/05/14/mls-youth-academy-development-program-us-soccer |via=[[Sports Illustrated]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=May 14, 2020 |language=en-us}}</ref>

===Stadiums===
<!--The plural of stadium is BOTH stadiums and stadia. This article is based on a sports league in the United States and Canada, and North American English more commonly uses "stadiums". Please consult WP:ENGVAR-->
[[File:Columbus crew stadium mls allstars 2005.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|right|The [[Columbus Crew]]'s [[Historic Crew Stadium|first stadium]] was MLS' first [[soccer-specific stadium]]]]
{{See also|Soccer-specific stadium|List of Major League Soccer stadiums}}
Since 1999, the league has overseen the construction of twelve stadiums specifically designed for soccer. The development of soccer-specific stadiums owned by the teams has generated a better gameday experience for the fans.<ref name="New York Times 2012">''The New York Times'', [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/sports/soccer/mls-keeps-moving-up-as-houston-dynamo-open-stadium.html?_r=0 "M.L.S. Continues to Bolster Growing Brand With New Stadium in Houston"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118143116/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/sports/soccer/mls-keeps-moving-up-as-houston-dynamo-open-stadium.html|date=January 18, 2017 }}, May 12, 2012.</ref> The soccer-specific stadiums have yielded positive financial results as teams were no longer required to pay to rent out facilities and gained control over revenue streams such as concessions, parking, naming rights, and the ability to host non-MLS events.<ref name="forbes.com" /><ref name="New York Times 2012" /> Several teams have doubled their season tickets following the team's move into a soccer-specific stadium.<ref>Sports Business Journal, [http://m.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2013/03/04/In-Depth/Presidents.aspx "MLS club presidents on the season ahead"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222105726/http://m.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2013/03/04/In-Depth/Presidents.aspx |date=December 22, 2015 }}, March 4, 2013.</ref> The establishment of soccer-specific stadiums is considered the key to the league and the ability of teams to turn a profit.<ref name="sportsbusinessdaily.com">Sports Business Journal, [http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2006/06/20060605/SBJ-In-Depth/Soccers-Visionary-Phil-Anschutz.aspx "Soccer's visionary: Phil Anschutz"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223021304/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2006/06/20060605/SBJ-In-Depth/Soccers-Visionary-Phil-Anschutz.aspx |date=February 23, 2014 }}, June 5, 2006.</ref> In 2006, Tim Leiweke, then CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group, described the proliferation of soccer-specific stadiums as the turning point for MLS.<ref name="sportsbusinessdaily.com" />

Columbus Crew owner Lamar Hunt started this trend in 1999 by constructing Columbus Crew Stadium, now known as [[Historic Crew Stadium]], as MLS's first soccer-specific stadium.<ref name="Columbus Crew history" /> The Los Angeles Galaxy followed four years later with the opening of the Home Depot Center, now [[Dignity Health Sports Park]], in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |title=StubHub Center – About |url=http://www.stubhubcenter.com/about/about-stub-hub-center |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915033548/http://www.stubhubcenter.com/about/about-stub-hub-center |archive-date=September 15, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> FC Dallas opened Pizza Hut Park, now [[Toyota Stadium (Texas)|Toyota Stadium]], in 2005, and the Chicago Fire began playing their home games in Toyota Park, now [[SeatGeek Stadium]], in 2006. The 2007 season brought the opening of [[Dick's Sporting Goods Park]] for the Colorado Rapids and [[BMO Field]] for Toronto FC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Executives |url=http://www.squidelephantdesign.com/sumworld/about/ |access-date=September 20, 2014 |archive-date=July 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723035047/http://www.squidelephantdesign.com/sumworld/about/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Near the end of the 2008 season, Rio Tinto Stadium (now known as [[America First Field]]) became the home of Real Salt Lake, which meant that for the first time in MLS history a majority of MLS's teams (8 out of 14) played in soccer-specific stadiums.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rio Tinto Stadium Set To Open |url=http://ctsportslaw.com/2008/10/04/rio-tinto-stadium-set-to-open/ |date=October 4, 2008 |website=Connecticut Sports Law |access-date=September 20, 2014 |archive-date=October 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021135738/http://ctsportslaw.com/2008/10/04/rio-tinto-stadium-set-to-open/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Red Bull Arena (New Jersey)|Red Bull Arena]], the new home of the New York Red Bulls opened for the start of the 2010 season,<ref name="Stadiums">{{Cite web |title=About Major League Soccer |url=http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/content/about-major-league-soccer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027210834/http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/content/about-major-league-soccer |archive-date=October 27, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> and the Philadelphia Union opened PPL Park, now [[Subaru Park]], in June 2010, midway through their inaugural season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Opinion: Is NYC FC's stadium deal a black eye for MLS? |url=http://www.onceametro.com/2014/4/22/5639350/nyc-fc-stadium-deal-is-a-black-eye-for-mls |date=April 22, 2014 |website=Once A Metro |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024042050/http://www.onceametro.com/2014/4/22/5639350/nyc-fc-stadium-deal-is-a-black-eye-for-mls |archive-date=October 24, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>

The following season, in 2011, the Portland Timbers made their MLS debut in a newly renovated Jeld-Wen Field, now renamed [[Providence Park]], which was originally a multi-purpose venue but turned into a soccer-specific facility.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Portland Timbers, Jeld-Wen joined at the right time on stadium naming rights |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/playbooks-profits/index.ssf/2014/02/portland_timbers_jeld-wen_join.html |date=February 11, 2014 |website=The Oregonian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814085900/http://www.oregonlive.com/playbooks-profits/index.ssf/2014/02/portland_timbers_jeld-wen_join.html |archive-date=August 14, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> Also in 2011, Sporting Kansas City moved to new Livestrong Sporting Park, now [[Children's Mercy Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sporting Kansas City's Sporting Park will serve as host of MLS Cup |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/11/23/sporting-kansas-citys-sporting-park-will-serve-host-mls-cup |date=November 24, 2013 |website=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906141345/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/11/23/sporting-kansas-citys-sporting-park-will-serve-host-mls-cup |archive-date=September 6, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> The Houston Dynamo relocated to their new home at BBVA Compass Stadium, now [[Shell Energy Stadium]], in 2012.<ref name=Stadiums/> In the same year, the Montreal Impact joined the league in an expanded [[Saputo Stadium|Stade Saputo]], which reopened in June 2012, when renovations pushed the seating capacity to over 20,000. The Impact has used [[Olympic Stadium (Montreal)|Olympic Stadium]] for early season matches and for games that require a larger capacity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The State of Soccer in Montreal |url=http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/07/17/whats-wrong-with-saputo-stadium/ |date=July 17, 2012 |website=Last Word on Sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808050229/http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/07/17/whats-wrong-with-saputo-stadium/ |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> The San Jose Earthquakes, who had played at [[Buck Shaw Stadium]] from 2008 until 2014, opened their new Avaya Stadium (now [[PayPal Park]]) before the 2015 season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Almond |first=Elliott |date=February 27, 2015 |title=Avaya Stadium: Breaking down Earthquakes' new digs |work=The Mercury News |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/02/27/avaya-stadium-breaking-down-earthquakes-new-digs/ |access-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-date=March 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318062047/https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/02/27/avaya-stadium-breaking-down-earthquakes-new-digs/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Orlando City SC intended to begin constructing its soccer-specific stadium, now known as [[Exploria Stadium]], in 2014 to be completed in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schlueb |first=Mark |date=January 7, 2014 |title=Orlando officials, Orlando City Lions to brainstorm design for MLS stadium |work=Orlando Sentinel |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-mls-soccer-stadium-orlando-20140107,0,4518538.story |url-status=dead |access-date=January 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107205220/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-mls-soccer-stadium-orlando-20140107%2C0%2C4518538.story |archive-date=January 7, 2014}}</ref> Delays caused by changes to the stadium plans pushed back the new venue's opening, first to late 2016 and finally to the start of the 2017 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Your City Your Stadium: Update on Proposed Stadium Opening |url=http://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2016/01/13/your-city-your-stadium-update-proposed-stadium-opening |date=January 13, 2016 |publisher=Orlando City Soccer Club |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114235507/http://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2016/01/13/your-city-your-stadium-update-proposed-stadium-opening |archive-date=January 14, 2016 |access-date=January 13, 2016}}</ref> Orlando City played at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium, now [[Camping World Stadium]], while awaiting the construction of their new venue through the 2016 season. Exploria Stadium hosted its first MLS match on March 5, 2017, against New York City FC as Orlando City Stadium.

[[File:Soundersfcqwestfield.jpg|thumb|right|[[Lumen Field]], home of [[Seattle Sounders FC]]]]

The development of additional MLS stadiums has continued to progress.  D.C. United had played their home games at former NFL and Major League Baseball venue [[Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium|RFK Stadium]]. In 2013, D.C. United announced the signing of a public-private partnership term sheet to build a new soccer stadium in Washington, D.C., and a final deal was reached in late 2014. In late February 2017,  D.C. United finally broke ground on their new stadium, [[Audi Field]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goff |first=Steven |date=December 17, 2014 |title=D.C. United stadium approval improves its playing field in MLS in many ways |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2014/12/17/d-c-united-stadium-approval-improves-its-playing-field-in-mls-in-many-ways/ |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-date=July 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150728112000/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2014/12/17/d-c-united-stadium-approval-improves-its-playing-field-in-mls-in-many-ways/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After 21 years of playing at RFK Stadium, D.C. United played their first game at Audi Field in July 2018.

Two teams have announced their desire to build a soccer-specific stadium, although these teams have not finalized the stadium site and received all necessary government approvals. New York City FC play home games at [[Yankee Stadium]], a Major League Baseball venue, although they intend to move into a soccer-specific stadium in the future. The New England Revolution play home games at [[Gillette Stadium]] which is an NFL Stadium also owned by the Revolution's owner, [[Robert Kraft]]. The team are currently in discussion with the City of [[Boston]] regarding a potential soccer-specific stadium in [[South Boston]].<ref name="Boston Globe 2014">''Boston Globe'',{{Cite web |title=Kraft family looks to build soccer stadium in Boston |website=[[The Boston Globe]] |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/11/18/krafts-exploring-soccer-stadium-boston/s7p5krvDeH1J7UgjlEIFtM/story.html |date=November 18, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141121103133/http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/11/18/krafts-exploring-soccer-stadium-boston/s7p5krvDeH1J7UgjlEIFtM/story.html |archive-date=November 21, 2014 |access-date=November 18, 2014}}</ref>

Several remaining clubs play in stadiums not originally built for MLS and have not announced plans to move. The Seattle Sounders FC play at [[Lumen Field]], a dual-purpose facility used for both American football and soccer. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC joined the league with Portland in 2011 and temporarily held matches at [[Empire Field]] before moving into the refurbished [[BC Place]] in October 2011,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vancouver Whitecaps History |url=http://www.whitecapsfc.com/history |date=October 11, 2010 |website=Vancouver Whitecaps FC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924082207/http://www.whitecapsfc.com/history |archive-date=September 24, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> a retractable-roof stadium that hosts [[Canadian football]] as well as soccer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to Make the CFL USA Work This Time and 15 Places Where It Could Thrive |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1685288-cfl-usa-how-to-make-it-work-this-time-and-15-places-where-it-could |last=Charles Bennett |website=Bleacher Report |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815204706/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1685288-cfl-usa-how-to-make-it-work-this-time-and-15-places-where-it-could |archive-date=August 15, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>

Of the three teams that made their MLS debuts in 2017 and 2018, one opened a soccer-specific stadium in 2019, a second is playing in a shared football stadium, and the last opened a soccer-specific stadium for its inaugural 2018 season. Minnesota United FC, which debuted in 2017, built [[Allianz Field]] in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]] which hosted its inaugural game against New York City FC on April 13, 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Greder |first=Andy |date=July 28, 2016 |title=MLS expansion: Atlanta is lock for 2017, Minnesota expected to join them |work=Pioneer Press |url=http://www.twincities.com/2016/07/28/mls-expansion-atlanta-is-lock-for-2017-minnesota-expected-to-join-them/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730213051/http://www.twincities.com/2016/07/28/mls-expansion-atlanta-is-lock-for-2017-minnesota-expected-to-join-them/ |archive-date=July 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Van Berkel |first=Jessie |date=December 12, 2016 |title=Minnesota United officials say 'big dig' at stadium site will begin in spring |work=[[Star Tribune]] |url=http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-united-to-hold-ceremonial-groundbreaking-for-st-paul-stadium/406049026/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213212815/http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-united-to-hold-ceremonial-groundbreaking-for-st-paul-stadium/406049026/ |archive-date=December 13, 2016}}</ref> Until that time, the team played in [[Minneapolis]] at TCF Bank Stadium (now [[Huntington Bank Stadium]]), home to [[University of Minnesota]] [[Minnesota Golden Gophers football|football]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Quarstad |first=Brian |date=August 19, 2016 |title=Minnesota United to play inaugural MLS season at new home: TCF Bank Stadium |publisher=Major League Soccer |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/08/19/minnesota-united-play-inaugural-mls-season-new-home-tcf-bank-stadium |url-status=live |access-date=August 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823133049/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/08/19/minnesota-united-play-inaugural-mls-season-new-home-tcf-bank-stadium |archive-date=August 23, 2016}}</ref> Atlanta United FC began play in 2017 at a college football facility, [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football|Georgia Tech]]'s [[Bobby Dodd Stadium]], before moving into its permanent home at the retractable-roof [[Mercedes-Benz Stadium]], which it shares with the NFL's [[Atlanta Falcons]]; the two teams share a [[Arthur Blank|common owner]] and the stadium is equipped with screens to cordon off the upper tiers for most matches.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Atlanta United to Start MLS Season in March 2017 at Georgia Tech's Historic Bobby Dodd Stadium |date=October 5, 2016 |publisher=Atlanta United FC |url=http://www.atlutd.com/post/2016/10/05/atlanta-united-start-mls-season-march-2017-georgia-tech-s-historic-bobby-dodd |access-date=October 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008175304/http://www.atlutd.com/post/2016/10/05/atlanta-united-start-mls-season-march-2017-georgia-tech-s-historic-bobby-dodd |archive-date=October 8, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Los Angeles FC, which began play in 2018, opened Banc of California Stadium (now [[BMO Stadium]]) on the former site of the [[Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena|Los Angeles Sports Arena]] in April of its inaugural season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baxter |first=Kevin |date=December 18, 2017 |title=LAFC's stadium is coming together ahead of schedule |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-lafc-20171218-story.html |access-date=February 1, 2018 |archive-date=February 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201004212/http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-lafc-20171218-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

FC Cincinnati made its MLS debut in 2019 at [[Nippert Stadium]], the [[Cincinnati Bearcats football|football]] home of the [[University of Cincinnati]]. The stadium had been home to FCC's [[FC Cincinnati (2016–18)|USL Championship predecessor]] for all of its three seasons of play. The club moved within Cincinnati to the new [[TQL Stadium]] in 2021.<ref name="fc-cincinnati" /> Inter Miami began play in 2020 at Inter Miami CF Stadium, now known as [[Chase Stadium]], at the former site of [[Lockhart Stadium]] in [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida|Fort Lauderdale]] before opening [[Miami Freedom Park]] in the future.<ref name="Miami announcement">{{Cite press release |title=It's official: Major League Soccer awards expansion team to Miami |date=January 29, 2018 |publisher=MLS Digital |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/01/29/its-official-major-league-soccer-awards-expansion-team-miami |access-date=November 25, 2019 |website=MLSSoccer.com |archive-date=March 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303091243/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/01/29/its-official-major-league-soccer-awards-expansion-team-miami |url-status=live }}</ref> Nashville SC played the 2020 and 2021 seasons at an NFL facility, the [[Tennessee Titans]]' [[Nissan Stadium]], before opening [[Geodis Park]] in 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Deas |first=Tommy |date=January 31, 2019 |title=Nashville MLS team to open play in 2020 and play home games at Nissan Stadium |work=[[The Tennessean]] |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2019/01/31/mls-nashville-soccer-nissan-stadium-2020/2669544002/ |access-date=February 11, 2019}}</ref> Austin FC opened [[Q2 Stadium]] for its first season in 2021.<ref name="Austin FC announcement" /> St. Louis City SC opened [[Citypark (St. Louis)|CityPark]] in November 2022, a few months before the club's first season in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/business-journal/st-louis-city-sc-host-first-match-citypark-stadium/63-94372f87-2a3d-43ca-9ad0-941898f0d83b |title=With power restored at its stadium, here's when St. Louis City SC will host its first match there |first=Nathan |last=Rubbelke |publisher=[[KSDK]] |website=ksdk.com |language=en |date=October 27, 2022 |access-date=October 31, 2022 |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101034443/https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/business-journal/st-louis-city-sc-host-first-match-citypark-stadium/63-94372f87-2a3d-43ca-9ad0-941898f0d83b |url-status=live }}</ref> Construction of [[Eleven Park]] was tied to an application for an [[Indianapolis]]-based MLS team, initialized in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=Mirror Indy |date=2024-04-25 |accessdate=2024-04-25 |url=https://mirrorindy.org/indy-eleven-soccer-park-indianapolis-keystone-mayor-joe-hogsett-keystone/ |title=Hogsett makes his soccer pitch for MLS, upending future of Eleven Park deal |first=Peter |last=Blanchard |language=en-US |department=Government}}</ref>

===Profitability and revenues===
{{See also|Major League Soccer defunct clubs|List of professional sports leagues by revenue}}
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="margin-left:1em;float:right;"
|-
|+ colspan="3"|Average [[Forbes&nbsp;list of the most valuable MLS clubs|franchise valuations]]
|-
!Year
!Value
|-
| 2008 || $37 million
|-
| 2013 || $103 million
|-
| 2015 || $157 million
|-
| 2016 || $185 million
|-
| 2017 || $223 million
|-
| 2018 || $240 million
|-
| 2019 || $313 million
|-
| 2021 || $550 million
|-
| 2022 || $582 million
|-
| 2023 || $678 million<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sportico.com/feature/mls-soccer-team-value-ranking-1234689586/ | title=(2023) MLS Team Value Ranking List | date=January 24, 2024 | access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| 2025 || $721 million
|}

Major League Soccer began to demonstrate positive signs of long-term profitability as early as 2004 with the single-entity ownership structure, salary cap, and the media and marketing umbrella Soccer United Marketing (SUM) all contributing towards MLS's financial security.<ref name="nytimes" /> As soccer-specific stadiums are built, ownership expands, and television coverage increases, MLS has seen its revenues increase while controlling costs.<ref name="forbes.com" />

Television coverage and revenue have increased since the league's early years. In 2006, MLS reached an 8-year TV deal with [[ESPN]] spanning the 2007–2014 seasons, and marked the first time that MLS earned rights fees, reported to be worth $7–8&nbsp;million annually.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESPN, MLS Reach Eight-Year TV Deal That Includes Rights Fees |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2006/08/Issue-216/Sports-Media/ESPN-MLS-Reach-Eight-Year-TV-Deal-That-Includes-Rights-Fees.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224183626/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2006/08/Issue-216/Sports-Media/ESPN-MLS-Reach-Eight-Year-TV-Deal-That-Includes-Rights-Fees.aspx |archive-date=February 24, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> In September 2012 the league extended its distribution agreement with London-based Media rights agency MP & Silva until 2014 in a deal worth $10&nbsp;million annually. Total league TV revenues are over $40&nbsp;million annually.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS agrees golden deal with MP & Silva – Sports Broadcast news – Soccer |date=January 27, 2009 |url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/mls_agrees_golden_deal_with_mp_silva/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930090527/http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/mls_agrees_golden_deal_with_mp_silva |archive-date=September 30, 2013 |access-date=September 15, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MP & Silva extends MLS deal – Sports Broadcast news – Soccer North America |date=September 13, 2012 |url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/mp_silva_extends_mls_deal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007161729/http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/mp_silva_extends_mls_deal/ |archive-date=October 7, 2013 |access-date=September 15, 2013}}</ref> In 2011, MLS earned $150&nbsp;million when it sold a 25% stake in SUM.<ref name="forbes.com" />

{{clear right}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left:1em;float:right;font-size:90%;"
|+ Jersey sponsorships
|-
!Team
! width="180"|Sponsor
!Annual value
|-
|[[Atlanta United FC]]
|[[American Family Insurance|AmFam]] (game – main)<br />[[Piedmont Hospital]] (game – sleeve)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 12, 2016 |title=American Family Insurance to be Atlanta United's first jersey sponsor |work=MLSsoccer.com |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/07/12/american-family-insurance-be-atlanta-uniteds-first-jersey-sponsor |url-status=live |access-date=July 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716025812/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/07/12/american-family-insurance-be-atlanta-uniteds-first-jersey-sponsor |archive-date=July 16, 2016}}</ref>
|-
|[[Austin FC]]
|[[Yeti (American company)|Yeti]] (game – main)<br />Netspend (game – sleeve) <br />St. David's Healthcare (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 10, 2020 |title=Austin FC enter multi-year deal with YETI to be official jersey sponsor |work=MLSsoccer.com |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/02/10/austin-fc-enter-multi-year-deal-yeti-be-official-jersey-sponsor |access-date=February 10, 2020 |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116083521/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/02/10/austin-fc-enter-multi-year-deal-yeti-be-official-jersey-sponsor |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[Charlotte FC]]
|[[Ally Financial|Ally]] (game – main)<br />[[Centene Corporation|Centene]] (game – sleeve)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Ally announces multi-year agreement with Charlotte MLS soccer |date=December 17, 2019 |publisher=Charlotte MLS 2021 |url=https://charlottemls2021.com/ally-announces-multi-year-agreement-with-charlotte-mls-soccer/ |access-date=December 17, 2019 |archive-date=December 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218021035/https://charlottemls2021.com/ally-announces-multi-year-agreement-with-charlotte-mls-soccer/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|[[Chicago Fire FC]]
|[[Carvana]] (game – main)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite web |last=chicagofirefc |title=Chicago Fire FC Kicks Off Multi-Year Partnership with Carvana as Official Online Auto Retailer and Front of Kit Sponsor {{!}} Chicago Fire FC |url=https://www.chicagofirefc.com/news/chicago-fire-fc-kicks-off-multi-year-partnership-with-carvana-as-official-online |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=chicagofirefc |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[Colorado Rapids]]
|[[UCHealth]] (game – main)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 15, 2022 |title=Colorado Rapids and UCHealth launch health-focused initiative as part of multi-year jersey rights deal |publisher=Colorado Rapids |url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/news/colorado-rapids-and-uchealth-launch-health-focused-initiative-as-part-of-multi-y |access-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114190116/https://www.coloradorapids.com/news/colorado-rapids-and-uchealth-launch-health-focused-initiative-as-part-of-multi-y |url-status=live }}</ref> 
|-
|[[Columbus Crew]]
|[[Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company|Nationwide]] (game – main)<br />[[Tipico]] (game – sleeve)<br />[[Ohio Health]] (prematch)
|$3 million<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 27, 2020 |title=Crew announces jersey sponsorship deal with Nationwide |publisher=The Columbus Dispatch |url=https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20200227/crew-announces-jersey-sponsorship-deal-with-nationwide |access-date=February 27, 2020 |archive-date=February 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227212720/https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20200227/crew-announces-jersey-sponsorship-deal-with-nationwide |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|[[D.C. United]]
|[[Guidehouse]] (game – main)<br />The Fruitist (game - sleeve)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 15, 2024 |title=D.C. United Announce Multi-Year Front-of-Kit Partnership with Guidehouse, a DMV-Based Global Consultancy |publisher=D.C United |url=https://www.dcunited.com/news/d-c-united-announce-multi-year-front-of-kit-partnership-with-guidehouse |access-date=February 19, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|[[FC Cincinnati]]
|[[Mercy Health (Ohio & Kentucky)|Mercy Health]] (game – main)<br />[[Kroger]] (game – sleeve)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite press release |title=FC Cincinnati sign jersey sponsorship deal pending MLS acceptance |date=November 14, 2017 |publisher=Major League Soccer |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/11/14/fc-cincinnati-sign-jersey-sponsorship-deal-pending-mls-acceptance |access-date=January 1, 2019 |archive-date=January 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102050357/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/11/14/fc-cincinnati-sign-jersey-sponsorship-deal-pending-mls-acceptance |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[FC Dallas]]
|[[Children's Health (health care system)|Children's Health]] (game - main)<br />[[University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center|UT Southwestern]] (game – main)<br />[[AdvoCare]] (game – sleeve)
|Undisclosed<ref name="jersey">{{Cite news |date=January 11, 2023 |title=FC Dallas Announces Partnership with Children's Health and UT Southwestern Medical Center |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/fc-dallas-announce-new-jersey-sponsors-ahead-of-2023-season |access-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111230924/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/fc-dallas-announce-new-jersey-sponsors-ahead-of-2023-season |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[Houston Dynamo FC]]
|[[MD Anderson Cancer Center]] (game – main)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 28, 2018 |title=MD Anderson, Houston Dynamo team up for one goal: end cancer |work=MLS |url=https://www.houstondynamo.com/post/2018/11/28/md-anderson-houston-dynamo-team-one-goal-end-cancer |access-date=November 28, 2018 |archive-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129013110/https://www.houstondynamo.com/post/2018/11/28/md-anderson-houston-dynamo-team-one-goal-end-cancer |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[Inter Miami CF]]
|[[Royal Caribbean Group|Royal Caribbean]] (game – main)<br />Fracht Group (game – sleeve)<br />[[AutoNation]] (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 23, 2024 |title=South Florida Proud: Royal Caribbean Takes Center Stage on Inter Miami CF's Iconic Jerseys |work=Inter Miami CF |url=https://www.intermiamicf.com/news/south-florida-proud-royal-caribbean-takes-center-stage-on-inter-miami-cf-s-iconi |access-date=February 25, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|[[LA Galaxy]]
|[[Herbalife]] (game – main)<br />[[Honey (company)|Honey]] (game – sleeve)
|{{sort|4.4|$4.4&nbsp;million}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 16, 2012 |title=Herbalife Renews Sponsorship With MLS Galaxy for a Record 10 Years, $44M |work=Sports Business Daily |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2012/03/16/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Galaxy.aspx |url-status=live |access-date=March 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317190410/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2012/03/16/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Galaxy.aspx |archive-date=March 17, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|[[Los Angeles FC]]
|[[Bank of Montreal]] (game – main)<br />[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] (game – sleeve)<br />[[Rockstar (drink)|Rockstar]] (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 26, 2021 |title=LAFC Announces FLEX Power Tools As Official Jersey Sponsor |work=LAFC |url=https://www.lafc.com/post/2021/03/26/lafc-announces-flex-power-tools-official-jersey-sponsor |access-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326160510/https://www.lafc.com/post/2021/03/26/lafc-announces-flex-power-tools-official-jersey-sponsor |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[Minnesota United FC]]
|[[Target Corporation|Target]] (game – main)<br />[[Allianz]] (game – sleeve)<br />[[Blue Cross Blue Shield Association|Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota]] (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 19, 2017 |title=Target becomes official MLS partner-Lands-Minnesota United jersey front |work=MLSsoccer.com |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/01/19/target-becomes-official-mls-partner-lands-minnesota-united-jersey-front |url-status=live |access-date=January 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125155127/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/01/19/target-becomes-official-mls-partner-lands-minnesota-united-jersey-front |archive-date=January 25, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|[[CF Montréal]]
|[[Bank of Montreal]] (game – main)<br />[[Telus Communications|Telus]] (game – sleeve)
|{{sort|4|US$4 million}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 15, 2011 |title=BMO sign multi-million deal with Montreal Impact |url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/bmo_sign_multi-million_deal_with_montreal_impact/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714232321/http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/bmo_sign_multi-million_deal_with_montreal_impact/ |archive-date=July 14, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|[[Nashville SC]]
|[[Renasant Bank|Renasant]] (game – main)<br />[[Hyundai Motor Company|Hyundai]] (game – sleeve)<br />Vanderbilt Health (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 18, 2020 |title=Nashville SC Unveils First Major League Soccer Jersey |work=NashvilleSC.com |publisher=Nashville SC Communications |url=https://www.nashvillesc.com/post/2020/01/18/nashville-sc-unveils-first-major-league-soccer-jersey |access-date=January 18, 2020 |archive-date=February 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229165041/https://www.nashvillesc.com/post/2020/01/18/nashville-sc-unveils-first-major-league-soccer-jersey |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[New England Revolution]]
|[[UnitedHealth Group|UnitedHealthcare]] (game – main)<br />[[Santander Bank|Santander]] (game – sleeve)<br />Socios.com (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite press release |title=UnitedHealthcare, New England Revolution Announce Partnership |date=April 22, 2011 |publisher=UnitedHealthcare |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110422005176/en/UnitedHealthcare-England-Revolution-Announce-Partnership |access-date=October 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819001721/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110422005176/en/UnitedHealthcare-England-Revolution-Announce-Partnership |archive-date=August 19, 2011 |via=[[Business Wire]] |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[New York City FC]]
|[[Etihad Airways]] (game – main)<br /> Capital Rx (game – sleeve)<br />[[NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital]] (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 13, 2014 |title=New York City Football Club Takes Flight with Etihad Airways Partnership |work=New York City FC |url=http://www.nycfc.com/post/2014/11/12/new-york-city-football-club-takes-flight-etihad-airways-partnership |url-status=dead |access-date=November 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113184154/http://www.nycfc.com/post/2014/11/12/new-york-city-football-club-takes-flight-etihad-airways-partnership |archive-date=November 13, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|[[New York Red Bulls]]
|[[Red Bull]] (game – main)<br />Oanda (game – sleeve)
|Owns club
|-
|[[Orlando City SC]]
|[[Orlando Health]] (game – main)<br />Exploria (game – sleeve)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite web |title=Orlando City locks in Orlando Health as healthcare partner and jersey sponsor for MLS |url=http://www.mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/sports/article.html/content/news/articles/bhsn/2013/11/18/orlando_city_locks_i.html |date=November 18, 2013 |publisher=[[News 13|News 13 Orlando]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305091505/http://www.mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/sports/article.html/content/news/articles/bhsn/2013/11/18/orlando_city_locks_i.html |archive-date=March 5, 2014 |access-date=February 27, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|[[Philadelphia Union]]
|[[Bimbo Bakeries USA]] (game – main)<br />[[Independence Blue Cross]] (game – sleeve)
|{{sort|3|$3&nbsp;million}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Union soccer team wins sponsorship from Bimbo bakery |url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20110111_Union_soccer_team_wins_sponsorship_from_Bimbo_bakery.html |date=January 11, 2011 |website=Philadelphia Daily News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115021621/http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20110111_Union_soccer_team_wins_sponsorship_from_Bimbo_bakery.html |archive-date=January 15, 2011 |access-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|[[Portland Timbers]]
|[[Tillamook County Creamery Association|Tillamook]] (game – main)<br />[[TikTok]] (game – sleeve)<br />[[Dutch Bros. Coffee|Dutch Brothers Coffee]] (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.timbers.com/news/portland-timbers-unveil-tillamook-as-jersey-partner | title=Portland Timbers unveil Tillamook as jersey partner }}</ref>
|-
|[[Real Salt Lake]]
|[[Intermountain Health|Select Health]] (game – main)<br />[[Intermountain Health]] (game – sleeve)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 14, 2024 |title=Real Salt Lake & Utah Royals FC Unveil Major Long-Term "Community-Focused" Partnership With Intermountain Health |work=Real Salt Lake |url=https://www.rsl.com/utahroyals/news/real-salt-lake-utah-royals-fc-unveil-major-long-term-community-focused-partnersh|access-date=February 19, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|[[San Diego FC]]
|[[DirecTV]] (game – main)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{cite news |last=Finley |first=Ryan |date=July 18, 2024 |title=San Diego FC announces jersey sponsor ahead of first Major League Soccer season |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/07/18/san-diego-fc-announces-jersey-sponsor-ahead-of-first-major-league-soccer-season/ |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |accessdate=July 18, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|[[San Jose Earthquakes]]
|[[El Camino Hospital|El Camino Health]] (game – main)<br />Habbas Law (game – sleeve)<br />[[Udemy]] (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite web |title=NEWS: San Jose Earthquakes Score Big with Intermedia Cloud Communications Partnership |url=https://www.sjearthquakes.com/post/2020/01/22/news-san-jose-earthquakes-score-big-intermedia-cloud-communications-partnership |website=Earthquakes Communications |access-date=January 22, 2020 |archive-date=July 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713033836/https://www.sjearthquakes.com/post/2020/01/22/news-san-jose-earthquakes-score-big-intermedia-cloud-communications-partnership |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[Seattle Sounders FC]]
|[[Providence Health & Services|Providence]] (game – main)<br />[[Emerald Queen Casino]] (game – sleeve)<br />[[Catholic Health Initiatives|CHI Franciscan]] (prematch)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=January 20, 2023 |title=Sounders announce partnership with Providence Swedish. Here's a look at the new jerseys. |work=The Seattle Times |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-announce-partnership-with-providence-swedish-heres-a-look-at-the-new-jerseys/ |access-date=January 22, 2023 |archive-date=January 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120222151/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-announce-partnership-with-providence-swedish-heres-a-look-at-the-new-jerseys/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[Sporting Kansas City]]
|[[Compass Minerals]] (game – main)<br />[[Children's Mercy Hospital|Children's Mercy]] (game – sleeve)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carp |first=Sam |date=February 11, 2022 |title=Sporting Kansas City name Compass Minerals as shirt sponsor in expanded deal |work=[[Sportspro]] |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/sporting-kansas-city-shirt-sponsor-compass-minerals-2028/ |access-date=February 11, 2022 |archive-date=February 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211235255/https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/sporting-kansas-city-shirt-sponsor-compass-minerals-2028/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[St. Louis City SC]]
|[[Nestlé Purina PetCare|Purina]] (game – main)<br />[[BJC HealthCare]] (game – sleeve)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite press release |title=A partnership born and bred in St. Louis. |date=March 31, 2021 |publisher=St.Louis City SC |url=https://www.stlcitysc.com/purina/ |access-date=March 31, 2021 |archive-date=April 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426151919/https://www.stlcitysc.com/purina/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|[[Toronto FC]]
|[[Bank of Montreal]] (game – main and sleeve) <br /> [[GE Appliances]] (game – sleeve)
|{{sort|4|C$4&nbsp;million+}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 28, 2013 |title=Toronto FC keeps bank's name on jerseys |work=Sports Business Journal |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2010/06/20100628/This-Weeks-News/Toronto-FC-Keeps-Banks-Name-On-Jerseys.aspx |url-status=live |access-date=July 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508214245/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2010/06/20100628/This-Weeks-News/Toronto-FC-Keeps-Banks-Name-On-Jerseys.aspx |archive-date=May 8, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|[[Vancouver Whitecaps FC]]
|[[Telus Communications|Telus]] (game – main)
|Undisclosed<ref>{{Cite news |last=Adams |first=JJ |date=February 16, 2023 |title=Whitecaps get a new look and new sponsor as new season looms |work=The Province |url=http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Whitecaps+beat+Lions/4460075/story.html |access-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-date=April 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424024250/http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Whitecaps+beat+Lions/4460075/story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

In early 2005, MLS signed a 10-year, $150&nbsp;million sponsorship deal with [[Adidas]] for its jerseys and other equipment.<ref name="nytimes" /> In 2007, MLS teams started selling ad space on the front of jerseys to go along with the league-wide sponsorship partners who had already been advertising on the back of club jerseys, following the practice of international sport, specifically soccer. MLS established a floor of $500,000 per shirt sponsorship, with the league receiving a flat fee of $200,000 per deal.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weinbach |first=John |date=September 28, 2006 |title=Major League Soccer to sell ad space on jerseys |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06271/725842-28.stm |url-status=live |access-date=May 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428093129/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06271/725842-28.stm |archive-date=April 28, 2008}}</ref> As of July 2014, sixteen teams had signed sponsorship deals to have company logos placed on the front of their jerseys (and another team is directly owned by its shirt sponsor), and the league average from jersey sponsors was about $2.4&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Crew catching up financially to rest of MLS |url=http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2012/09/13/scoring-goals.html |last=Wartenberg |first=Steve |website=The Columbus Dispatch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031064036/http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2012/09/13/scoring-goals.html |archive-date=October 31, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> Sleeve sponsorship was introduced to MLS in the 2020 season, with the teams able to sell a {{convert|2|by|2|in|mm|adj=on}} section on the right arm where the league logo patch is normally positioned.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 24, 2018 |title=MLS to add jersey sleeve advertisements in 2020 |work=NBC Sports |publisher=NBCUniversal |agency=Associated Press |url=https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/10/24/mls-to-add-jersey-sleeve-advertisements-in-2020/ |access-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025150213/https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/10/24/mls-to-add-jersey-sleeve-advertisements-in-2020/ |url-status=live }}</ref>	

The Los Angeles Galaxy made a profit in 2003 in their first season at The Home Depot Center,<ref name=profit/> and FC Dallas turned a profit after moving into Pizza Hut Park in 2005.<ref name=thriving/> For each season between 2006 and 2009, two to three MLS clubs (generally clubs with a soccer-specific stadium) were reported as profitable by the league.<ref name="thriving">{{Cite news |last=Longman |first=Jere |date=July 8, 2007 |title=Beckham Arrives to Find a Sport Thriving in Its Own Way |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/sports/soccer/08beckham.html?ex=1186372800&en=8ac84814e27d5891&ei=5070 |url-status=live |access-date=May 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611010332/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/sports/soccer/08beckham.html?ex=1186372800&en=8ac84814e27d5891&ei=5070 |archive-date=June 11, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Schwartz |first1=Peter J. |last2=Badenhausen |first2=Kurt |date=September 9, 2008 |title=Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Teams |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/2008/09/09/mls-soccer-beckham-biz-sports-cz_kb_0909mlsvalues.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925152556/http://www.forbes.com/2008/09/09/mls-soccer-beckham-biz-sports-cz_kb_0909mlsvalues.html |archive-date=September 25, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sounders FC's success resonates globally |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/sounders/2013242565_soundersfc24.html |website=The Seattle Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202060935/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/sounders/2013242565_soundersfc24.html |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> In November 2013, ''[[Forbes]]'' published a report that revealed that ten of the league's nineteen teams earned an operating profit in 2012, while two broke even and seven had a loss. Forbes estimated that the league's collective annual revenues were $494&nbsp;million, and that the league's collective annual profit was $34 million. Forbes valued the league's franchises to be worth $103&nbsp;million on average, almost three times as much as the $37&nbsp;million average valuation in 2008. The Seattle Sounders FC franchise was named the most valuable at $175&nbsp;million, a 483% gain over the $30 million league entrance fee it paid in 2009.<ref name="forbes.com" />

The trend in increased team values has continued with MLS teams seeing a strong 52% increase in franchise values from 2012 to 2014. In August 2015 ''Forbes'' updated its MLS franchise values with the most profitable team measuring $245 million and the least $105 million. The average value jumped from $103 to $157 million.<ref name="forbes-2015-08" /> In 2018, ''Forbes'' estimated Atlanta United FC is the most valuable MLS team, worth $330 million, while the Colorado Rapids are the lowest value, at $155 million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Chris |title=Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Teams 2018: Atlanta United Debuts On Top |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2018/11/14/mls-most-valuable-teams-2018/?src=rss |access-date=November 14, 2018 |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130031806/https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2018/11/14/mls-most-valuable-teams-2018/?src=rss |url-status=live }}</ref> These valuations do not include the value of stadiums or training facilities owned by the respective clubs. A ''[[Sportico]]'' ranking of club valuations in 2024 placed 20 MLS teams in the top 50 globally, with [[Los Angeles FC]] the most valuable at $1.15&nbsp;billion (15th overall).<ref>{{cite news |last=Badenhausen |first=Kurt |date=May 8, 2024 |title=Most Valuable Soccer Clubs 2024: Man United Leads, Top 50 Worth $80B |url=https://www.sportico.com/feature/worlds-most-valuable-soccer-teams-football-club-1234721285/ |work=[[Sportico]] |accessdate=May 8, 2024}}</ref>

Prior to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], MLS teams typically used commercial flights to transport players and staff between matches, with only four [[charter flight]]s allowed under league rules.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Karstens-Smith |first=Gemma |date=April 26, 2019 |title=Montreal Impact, Vancouver Whitecaps voice concerns about Major League Soccer travel woes |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/article-montreal-impact-vancouver-whitecaps-voice-concerns-about-major-league/ |access-date=April 26, 2019 |archive-date=April 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426141803/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/article-montreal-impact-vancouver-whitecaps-voice-concerns-about-major-league/ |url-status=live }}</ref> These commercial flights were often non-direct, requiring transfers and layovers, and contributed to long travel days.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ruthven |first=Graham |date=July 1, 2019 |title=Window or aisle, Zlatan? Why MLS teams still fly commercial |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/01/mls-flights-commercial-travel-soccer |work=The Guardian |accessdate=December 19, 2023}}</ref> The number of charters allowed for league matches was increased to eight legs prior to the 2020 season and lifted entirely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 6, 2020 |title=MLS players take off: charter flights, sharing media rights |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mls/2020/02/06/mls-players-agree-to-new-contract/41149717/ |work=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=December 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Patrick |date=August 9, 2022 |title=Whitecaps' COVID-19 'benefit?' Charters, for starters, give club a road lift |url=https://theprovince.com/sports/soccer/mls/vancouver-whitecaps/covid-19-benefit-charters-for-starters-give-club-a-road-lift |work=[[The Province]] |location=Vancouver |accessdate=December 19, 2023}}</ref> [[Sun Country Airlines]] has provided charter service to MLS teams since 2020 and became the league's official carrier in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sitaramiah |first=Gita |date=October 27, 2021 |title=Sun Country Airlines to be official carrier of Major League Soccer |url=https://www.startribune.com/sun-country-airlines-to-be-official-carrier-of-major-league-soccer/600110383/ |work=Star-Tribune |accessdate=December 19, 2023}}</ref>

===Rules and officials===
When the league began play, it tried to gain popularity by "Americanizing" the game: the game clock counted down in each half and stopped for certain dead ball situations and games level at the end of regulation were resolved with a running penalty shootout.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/then-and-now-how-mls-has-changed-1996-0 |title=Then and Now: How MLS Has Changed Since 1996 &#124; San Jose Earthquakes |access-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110184902/https://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/then-and-now-how-mls-has-changed-1996-0 |url-status=live }}</ref>  Now MLS follows the [[Laws of the Game (association football)|rules and standards]] of the [[International Football Association Board]] (IFAB).
Since 2005, the playoff extra time structure follows IFAB standards: two full 15-minute periods, followed by a [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shootout]] if necessary.

[[United States Soccer Federation|U.S. Soccer]] hired the first full-time professional referees in league history in 2007 as part of the league's "Game First" initiatives.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 2, 2007 |title='Game First' initiatives enhance on-field product |publisher=Major League Soccer Communications |url=http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20070402&content_id=87043&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp |url-status=dead |access-date=May 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080426134827/http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20070402&content_id=87043&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp |archive-date=April 26, 2008}}</ref>
Major League Soccer has been implementing fines and suspensions since the 2011 season for simulation (diving) through its Disciplinary Committee, which reviews plays after the match. The first player fined under the new rule was [[Charlie Davies]], fined $1,000 for intentionally deceiving match officials.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS Disciplinary Committee fines Davies for dive vs. RSL |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/06/24/mls-disciplinary-committee-fines-davies-simulation |date=June 24, 2011 |website=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230231605/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/06/24/mls-disciplinary-committee-fines-davies-simulation |archive-date=December 30, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>

MLS uses the list of banned substances published by the [[World Anti-Doping Agency]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/sports/soccer/contract-has-strict-drug-policy.html Contract Has Strict Drug Policy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129010445/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/sports/soccer/contract-has-strict-drug-policy.html |date=January 29, 2019 }} – Jack Bell, The New York Times, March 29, 2005</ref>

===Branding===
The current MLS logo debuted in 2014, ahead of the league's 20th season, replacing an earlier logo that featured a stylized boot and ball. The current logo is a simple crest with a diagonal stripe, the MLS wordmark, and three stars that represent "community, club, and country". The logo was designed to be remixed in different color schemes that match teams when used on merchandise and jerseys.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Straus |first=Brian |date=September 17, 2014 |title=Ahead of 20th season, MLS unveils new logo, branding to alter look |magazine=Sports Illustrated |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/planet-futbol/2014/09/17/new-mls-logo-crest-shield-major-league-soccer |access-date=February 27, 2020 |archive-date=February 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228043904/https://www.si.com/soccer/planet-futbol/2014/09/17/new-mls-logo-crest-shield-major-league-soccer |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first MLS anthem was unveiled in 2007 and was composed by [[Audiobrain]]. The current league anthem debuted in 2020 and was composed by film score composer [[Hans Zimmer]]. It will be used during league broadcasts and as a prelude to kickoff at stadiums.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wright |first=Chris |date=February 26, 2020 |title=Major League Soccer reveals epic new anthem by legendary Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog-the-toe-poke/story/4060719/major-league-soccer-reveals-epic-new-anthem-by-legendary-hollywood-composer-hans-zimmer |access-date=February 27, 2020 |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226183128/https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog-the-toe-poke/story/4060719/major-league-soccer-reveals-epic-new-anthem-by-legendary-hollywood-composer-hans-zimmer |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Team names====
{{for-text|more information on MLS team names|the individual team entries}}

In the early years of MLS, teams were typically given official nicknames in the style of other U.S. sports leagues (e.g., [[Columbus Crew]], [[Los Angeles Galaxy]], [[New England Revolution]]). Several club names in MLS originated with previous professional soccer clubs, such as the 1970s-era [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]] team names [[San Jose Earthquakes (1974–88)|San Jose Earthquakes]], [[Seattle Sounders (1974–83)|Seattle Sounders]], [[Portland Timbers (1975–82)|Portland Timbers]], and [[Vancouver Whitecaps (1974–84)|Vancouver Whitecaps]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Toye: Fans are delighted the old NASL names, Sounders, Timbers, Whitecaps and Quakes were saved |url=http://www.prostamerika.com/2012/09/24/toye-fans-are-delighted-the-old-nasl-names-sounders-timbers-whitecaps-and-quakes-were-saved/71346 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202155940/http://www.prostamerika.com/2012/09/24/toye-fans-are-delighted-the-old-nasl-names-sounders-timbers-whitecaps-and-quakes-were-saved/71346 |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>

[[D.C. United]] was the only MLS team to adopt European naming conventions during the 1990s.<ref name="dc united name">{{Cite book |last=Dure |first=Beau |title=Long Range Goals: The Success Story of Major League Soccer |publisher=Potomac Books |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-59797-509-4 |location=Dulles, Virginia |pages=21–23}}</ref> In more recent years, European-style names have become increasingly common in MLS, with expansion teams such as [[Real Salt Lake]], [[Toronto FC]], [[New York City FC]], [[Atlanta United FC]], [[Minnesota United FC]], and [[FC Cincinnati]], along with rebrandings such as [[FC Dallas]] (formerly the Dallas Burn),<ref>{{cite news |last=Davis |first=Glenn |date=August 12, 2004 |title=On Soccer: Dallas Burn nickname about to become history |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/dynamo/article/on-soccer-dallas-burn-nickname-about-to-become-1974994.php |work=[[Houston Chronicle]] |accessdate=July 12, 2023 |archive-date=July 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713045533/https://www.chron.com/sports/dynamo/article/on-soccer-dallas-burn-nickname-about-to-become-1974994.php |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Sporting Kansas City]] (formerly the Kansas City Wizards),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Will the Kansas City Wizards become Sporting Kansas City? |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/blog/2010/11/will-the-kansas-city-wizards-become.html?page=all |date=November 16, 2010 |website=Kansas City Business Journal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822033753/http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/blog/2010/11/will-the-kansas-city-wizards-become.html?page=all |archive-date=August 22, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref> and [[CF Montréal]] (formerly the Montreal Impact).

Austrian beverage company [[Red Bull GmbH]] owns and sponsors the [[New York Red Bulls]] as well as other sports teams outside the U.S.<ref name="nytimes.com" />

==Media coverage==
{{Main|Major League Soccer on television}}
{{See also|List of current Major League Soccer broadcasters}}

===MLS Season Pass on Apple TV===
Since 2023, all MLS and [[Leagues Cup]] matches, as well as certain matches from [[MLS Next Pro]] and [[MLS Next]], are streamed worldwide on [[MLS Season Pass]] via [[Apple TV app|Apple TV]]. This agreement ended the previous regional sports network-based system.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Straus |first=Brian |title=MLS, Apple Partner on New 10-Year Media Rights Deal |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/06/14/mls-apple-partner-broadcast-tv-rights-media-deal |access-date=2022-06-14 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614162215/https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/06/14/mls-apple-partner-broadcast-tv-rights-media-deal |url-status=live }}</ref> The contract allows for some broadcasts on linear television. ESPN and Univision exited negotiations, apparently because MLS would not allow them to stream via their own platforms or use their own commentators.<ref name="Gostomelsky"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=SBJ Media: Univision not close on MLS deal |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/SB-Blogs/Newsletter-Media/2022/07/25.aspx |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=Sports Business Journal |language=en |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006162428/https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/SB-Blogs/Newsletter-Media/2022/07/25.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> Following their departures, Fox Sports joined Apple as MLS's linear broadcast partners in the U.S., with [[Bell Media]]'s [[The Sports Network|TSN]] and [[Réseau des sports|RDS]] doing so in Canada.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Major League Soccer, FOX Sports, TelevisaUnivision, TSN & RDS Announce Multi-year Linear TV Rights Agreements |date=December 13, 2022 |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/major-league-soccer-fox-sports-televisaunivision-tsn-rds-announce-multi-year-lin |access-date=January 6, 2023 |website=MLSSoccer.com |archive-date=December 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229074017/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/major-league-soccer-fox-sports-televisaunivision-tsn-rds-announce-multi-year-lin |url-status=live }}</ref>

===United States===
From 2012 to 2014, MLS matches were broadcast by [[NBC Sports]], with 40 matches per year—primarily on [[NBCSN]], and select matches broadcast on the NBC network.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 10, 2011 |title=MLS, NBC announce three-year broadcast deal |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/08/10/mls-nbc-sports-agree-three-year-broadcast-deal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025033032/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/08/10/mls-nbc-sports-agree-three-year-broadcast-deal |archive-date=October 25, 2011 |access-date=October 11, 2011 |website=MLSsoccer.com}}</ref> The move from [[Fox Soccer]] to the more widely distributed NBCSN caused viewership numbers to double for the 2012 season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tannenwald |first=Jonathan |date=November 29, 2012 |title=Analyzing NBC's ratings in its first season of broadcasting Major League Soccer |work=Philadelphia Daily News |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/thegoalkeeper/Analyzing-NBCs-ratings-in-its-first-season-of-broadcasting-Major-League-Soccer.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015092025/http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/thegoalkeeper/Analyzing-NBCs-ratings-in-its-first-season-of-broadcasting-Major-League-Soccer.html |archive-date=October 15, 2014}}</ref>

Soccer United Marketing partnered with [[Google]] and Bedrocket Media Ventures in 2012 to launch "KickTV", a premium [[YouTube]] channel with original soccer programming.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Jack |date=May 1, 2012 |title=KickTV Is on the 'Air' on YouTube |work=The New York Times |url=https://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/01/kicktv-is-on-the-air-on-youtube/ |access-date=August 17, 2020 |archive-date=January 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122081342/https://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/01/kicktv-is-on-the-air-on-youtube/ |url-status=live }}</ref> KickTV was sold to [[Copa90]] in 2015 to form its American branch.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=MLS announces sale of KICKTV YouTube channel & soccer media platform to Copa90 |date=January 29, 2015 |publisher=Major League Soccer |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/01/29/mls-announces-sale-kicktv-youtube-channel-soccer-media-platform-copa90 |access-date=August 17, 2020}}</ref> In 2020, Soccer United Marketing signed a multi-year agreement with [[Bleacher Report]] to produce content and highlights for MLS and the U.S. national teams through the 2022 season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Settimi |first=Christina |date=August 17, 2020 |title=Major League Soccer Signs Content Deal With Bleacher Report; Streaming Deal Could Be Next |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinasettimi/2020/08/17/major-league-soccer-signs-deal-with-bleacher-report-invites-company-to-bid-on-broadcast-rights/#3ae14c224b39 |access-date=August 17, 2020 |archive-date=April 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415164608/https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinasettimi/2020/08/17/major-league-soccer-signs-deal-with-bleacher-report-invites-company-to-bid-on-broadcast-rights/#3ae14c224b39 |url-status=live }}</ref>

From 2015 to 2022, MLS matches were broadcast nationally by [[ESPN]] networks and [[Fox Sports (United States)|Fox Sports]] in English, and [[Univision]] networks in Spanish under an eight-year contract. Each broadcaster had a window for national regular season matches, with [[UniMás]] airing a game on Friday nights in Spanish and additional matches on [[Univision Deportes Network]], and [[ESPN Major League Soccer|ESPN]] and [[Fox Sports 1]] airing games on Sunday evenings in English. ESPN, FS1, and Univision shared coverage of the playoffs, while ABC and Fox alternated broadcasting the MLS Cup final in English. In total, at least 125 matches were aired per-season across all three networks. The three contracts have an average estimated value of $90 million per season—five times larger than the average $18 million value of the previous contracts with ESPN, Univision, and [[NBC Sports]].<ref name="philly-espnfs1mls">{{Cite web |title=NBC to end MLS deal in 2015; ESPN, Fox pay $70 million per year for new rights package |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/thegoalkeeper/NBC-to-lose-MLS-rights-in-2015-ESPN-Fox-likely-to-share-new-deal.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114221044/http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/thegoalkeeper/NBC-to-lose-MLS-rights-in-2015-ESPN-Fox-likely-to-share-new-deal.html |archive-date=January 14, 2014 |access-date=February 3, 2014 |website=The Goalkeeper|date=January 9, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="nyt-newcontract">{{Cite news |last=Das |first=Andrew |date=May 12, 2014 |title=M.L.S. and TV Networks Reach Deal to Set Weekly Slots for Games |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/13/sports/soccer/mls-and-tv-networks-reach-deal-to-set-weekly-slots-for-games.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513214511/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/13/sports/soccer/mls-and-tv-networks-reach-deal-to-set-weekly-slots-for-games.html?_r=0 |archive-date=May 13, 2014}}</ref><ref name="mls-newdeal2015">{{Cite web |date=May 13, 2014 |title=ESPN, Fox and Univision promise new emphasis to domestic game, MLS in landmark eight-year TV deal |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/05/12/espn-fox-and-univision-promise-new-emphasis-domestic-game-mls-landmark-eight |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513163155/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/05/12/espn-fox-and-univision-promise-new-emphasis-domestic-game-mls-landmark-eight |archive-date=May 13, 2014 |access-date=May 13, 2014 |website=MLSsoccer.com}}</ref>

Matches not televised nationally were broadcast regionally, often by [[regional sports networks]] like [[Bally Sports]], [[NBC Sports Regional Networks]], [[Spectrum Sports]] and [[Root Sports]], and sometimes by terrestrial stations like [[KTXA]], [[WGN Sports|WGN]] and [[KMYU]].<ref name="latimes1" /> Regionally televised matches were available outside their local markets on [[ESPN+]], which replaced MLS Live from 2018 until 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 2, 2018 |title=ESPN+ launching on April 12; MLS LIVE games moving to platform |work=MLSsoccer.com |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/13/mls-live-be-added-espn-lineup-spring-free-fans-until-espn |access-date=August 17, 2020 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109040419/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/02/13/mls-live-be-added-espn-lineup-spring-free-fans-until-espn |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Canada===
[[File:2012 Impact Montreal Stade Saputo.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|right|[[CF Montréal|Montreal Impact]] hosting [[D.C. United]] (August 2012).]]

Currently, English-language national MLS broadcast rights in Canada are held by the [[The Sports Network|TSN]] networks through a five-year deal first renewed in 2017. The networks primarily broadcast matches involving the league's Canadian franchises, in combination with separate "regional" rights deals giving TSN exclusive rights to all [[Toronto FC]] and [[Vancouver Whitecaps FC]] matches.<ref name="bell-mlsprwhitecaps">{{Cite web |title=Every Game, All Season Long: MLS ON TSN Kicks Off its Complete Coverage of Vancouver Whitecaps FC This Saturday |url=http://www.bellmediapr.ca/Network/TSN/Press/Every-Game-All-Season-Long-MLS-ON-TSN-Kicks-Off-its-Complete-Coverage-of-Vancouver-Whitecaps-FC-This-Saturday- |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140405171947/http://www.bellmediapr.ca/Network/TSN/Press/Every-Game-All-Season-Long-MLS-ON-TSN-Kicks-Off-its-Complete-Coverage-of-Vancouver-Whitecaps-FC-This-Saturday- |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 5, 2014 |access-date=April 5, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="tsn-whitecapsdeal">{{Cite web |title=TSN to broadcast all Whitecaps FC games beginning in 2014 |url=https://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=439310 |publisher=The Sports Network |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201161233/http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=439310 |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |access-date=January 21, 2014}}</ref><ref name="mls-canadiantv17" /> A limited number of matches are also carried by [[CTV Television Network|CTV]].<ref name="mls-canadiantv17" />

[[TVA Sports]] holds exclusive French-language rights to MLS in Canada as of the 2017 season. As part of a separate "regional" rights deal, it also holds exclusive rights to all [[CF Montréal]] games.<ref name="mls-canadiantv17">{{Cite web |title=Canadian national broadcast schedule for 2017 revealed; CTV to air 7 games |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/02/09/canadian-national-broadcast-schedule-2017-revealed-ctv-air-7-games |date=February 9, 2017 |website=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211155844/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/02/09/canadian-national-broadcast-schedule-2017-revealed-ctv-air-7-games |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |access-date=February 22, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Impact sign multimedia deal, name TVA Sports broadcaster |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/07/14/impact-sign-multimedia-deal-name-tva-sports-broadcaster |last=Delia-Lavictoire |first=Yvan |date=July 14, 2011 |website=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817051921/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/07/14/impact-sign-multimedia-deal-name-tva-sports-broadcaster |archive-date=August 17, 2011 |access-date=August 7, 2011}}</ref>

In 2018, online streaming service [[DAZN]] obtained Major League Soccer's digital out-of-market service MLS Live with live and on-demand streaming of matches featuring U.S. teams (matches with Canadian teams are only available after a 48-hour delay to protect the league's main rightsholders TSN and TVA Sports).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Armstrong |first=Laura |date=March 2, 2018 |title=MLS partners with DAZN to live stream U.S. matches for Canadian soccer fans |work=Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/2018/03/02/mls-partners-with-dazn-to-live-stream-us-matches-for-canadian-soccer-fans.html |access-date=March 4, 2018 |issn=0319-0781 |archive-date=March 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303214646/https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/2018/03/02/mls-partners-with-dazn-to-live-stream-us-matches-for-canadian-soccer-fans.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===International===
MLS also entered into a four-year contract with [[Sky Sports]] to broadcast two MLS matches per week in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 2015 to 2019.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=MLS and Sky Sports Announce Groundbreaking Partnership to Broadcast MLS in the United Kingdom |date=February 25, 2015 |publisher=Major League Soccer |url=http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/content/mls-and-sky-sports-announce-groundbreaking-partnership-broadcast-mls-united-kingdom |access-date=January 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202024406/http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/content/mls-and-sky-sports-announce-groundbreaking-partnership-broadcast-mls-united-kingdom |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> As part of the agreement, Sky Sports broadcast at least two MLS regular-season matches each week, as well as the MLS All-Star Game, every MLS Cup Playoff game, and the MLS Cup final. The matches appeared across Sky's family of networks. It also carried weekly MLS highlights across various platforms, including Sky Sports News and SkySports.com. Sky Sports also broadcast at least one match from MLS's "Decision Day" – the final day of the MLS regular season. Many of the matches on Decision Day every year are expected to determine the final spots for the MLS Cup Playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS and British broadcaster Sky Sports announce groundbreaking partnership |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/02/25/mls-and-british-broadcaster-sky-sports-announce-groundbreaking-partnership |date=February 25, 2015 |website=MLSsoccer.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002140559/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/02/25/mls-and-british-broadcaster-sky-sports-announce-groundbreaking-partnership |archive-date=October 2, 2016 |access-date=January 23, 2017}}</ref>

[[DSport]], owned by [[Discovery Communications]], began televising league matches in India in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Laghate |first=Gaurav |date=February 6, 2017 |title=Discovery launches sports channel DSPORT in India |work=[[The Economic Times]] |location=Mumbai |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/media/discovery-launches-sports-channel-dsports-in-india/articleshow/56997525.cms |url-status=live |access-date=March 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207124304/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/media/discovery-launches-sports-channel-dsports-in-india/articleshow/56997525.cms |archive-date=February 7, 2017}}</ref>

[[SBS Sport|SBS Sport Australia]] broadcast one MLS game per week in Australia from 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to watch 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) season LIVE on SBS |date=March 1, 2025 |publisher=SBS |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/sport/article/how-to-watch-2025-major-league-soccer-mls-season-live-on-sbs/v55m5n5on}}</ref>

===Video games===

Major League Soccer is a playable league in the [[EA Sports FC]] series, the [[eFootball]] series, and the [[Football Manager]] series. The league made its video game debut in 1999 with [[FIFA 2000]]. Kids video game company [[Humongous Entertainment]] had the rights to teams and players for their game, [[Backyard Soccer MLS Edition]] and for Backyard Soccer 2004. In 2000, [[Konami]] released ''[[ESPN MLS GameNight]]'', and two years later, they released its sequel, ''[[ESPN MLS ExtraTime 2002]]''. The league made its first appearance in the management series ''[[Football Manager 2005]]'' in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Football Manager signs with MLS |url=http://www.sigames.com/news.php?type=view&article_id=905 |date=May 13, 2004 |publisher=Sports Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040714083312/http://www.sigames.com/news.php?type=view&article_id=905 |archive-date=July 14, 2004 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>

==Player records==
{{See also|Major League Soccer records and statistics|2024 Major League Soccer season#Player statistics|List of Major League Soccer players with 100 or more goals|List of Major League Soccer players with 400 or more games played}}

Statistics below are for all-time leaders. Statistics are for regular season only. '''Bold''' indicates active MLS players.
{{updated|1 July 2024|<ref name="mls stats">{{Cite web |title=MLS Statistics: All-Time |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/stats/alltime |website=MLSsoccer.com |publisher=MLS Digital |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=October 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009213142/http://www.mlssoccer.com/stats/alltime |url-status=live }}</ref>}}<ref>{{cite web |title=2024 MLS Fact and Record Book.pdf |url=https://mlssoccer.app.box.com/s/xvks2sfia70gsowb4qyh61c7ytqpbnht |publisher=MLS Soccer |access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref>
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|+ <big>'''Goals'''</big>
!Rank
!Player
!align=center|Years
!Goals
|-
!align=center|1
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Chris Wondolowski]]
|align=center|{{nowrap|2005–2021}}
|align=center|171
|-
!align=center|2
|{{flagicon|SLE}} [[Kei Kamara]]
|align=center|2006–2013 <br/>2015–2020<br/>2022–present
|align=center|146
|-
!align=center|3
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Landon Donovan]]
|align=center|2001–2014<br />2016
|align=center|145
|-
!align=center|4
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jeff Cunningham]]
|align=center|1998–2011
|align=center|134
|-
!align=center|5
|{{flagicon|BOL}} [[Jaime Moreno (footballer, born 1974)|Jaime Moreno]]
|align=center|1996–2010
|align=center|133
|-
!align=center|6
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Bradley Wright-Phillips]]
|align=center|2013–2021
|align=center|117
|-
!align=center|7
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Ante Razov]]
|align=center|1996–2000<br />2001–2009
|align=center|114
|-
!align=center|8
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jason Kreis]]
|align=center|1996–2007
|align=center|108
|-
!align=center|9
|{{flagicon|VEN}} '''[[Josef Martínez]]'''
|align=center|2017–present
|align=center|117
|-
!align=center|10
|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Dwayne De Rosario]]
|align=center|2001–2014
|align=center|104
|}
{{Col-2}}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|+ <big>'''Assists'''</big>
!Rank
!Player
!align=center|Years
!Assists
|-
!align=center|1
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Landon Donovan]]
|align=center|2001–2014<br />2016
|align=center|136
|-
!align=center|2
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Steve Ralston]]
|align=center|1996–2010
|align=center|135
|-
!align=center|3
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Brad Davis (soccer)|Brad Davis]]
|align=center|2002–2016
|align=center|123
|-
!align=center|4
|{{flagicon|COL}} [[Carlos Valderrama]]
|align=center|1996–2002
|align=center|114
|-
!align=center|5
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Preki]]
|align=center|1996–2005
|align=center|112
|-
!align=center|6
|{{flagicon|BOL}} [[Jaime Moreno (footballer, born 1974)|Jaime Moreno]]
|align=center|1996–2010
|align=center|102
|-
!align=center|7
|{{flagicon|BOL}} [[Marco Etcheverry]]
|align=center|1996–2003
|align=center|101
|-
!align=center|8
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Sacha Kljestan]]
|align=center|2006–2010<br />{{nowrap|2015–2022}}
|align=center|99
|-
!align=center rowspan="2"|9
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Cobi Jones]]
|align=center|1996–2007
|align=center rowspan="2"|91
|-
|{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Diego Valeri]]
|align=center|2013–2021
|}
{{Col-end}}
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|+ <big>'''Shutouts''' (clean sheets)</big> <!--Shutout is the term used by MLS, please do not change-->
!Rank
!Player
!align=center|Years
!Shutouts <!-- Do not rename this category. "Shutouts" is the official term used by MLS. -->
|-
!align=center|1
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Nick Rimando]]
|align=center|2000–2019
|align=center|154
|-
!align=center|2
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Kevin Hartman]]
|align=center|1997–2013
|align=center|112
|-
!align=center|3
|{{flagicon|SUI}} '''[[Stefan Frei]]'''
|align=center|2009–present
|align=center|105
|-
!align=center|4
|{{flagicon|USA}} '''[[Sean Johnson (soccer)|Sean Johnson]]'''
|align=center|2010–present
|align=center|96
|-
!align=center|5
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Joe Cannon (soccer)|Joe Cannon]]
|align=center|1999–2013
|align=center|86
|-
!align=center|6
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jon Busch]]
|align=center|2002–2015
|align=center|83
|-
!align=center|7
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Bill Hamid]]
|align=center|2009–2022
|align=center|80
|-
!align=center|8
|{{flagicon|USA}} '''[[Brad Guzan]]'''
|align=center|2012–present
|align=center|78
|-
!align=center|9
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Zach Thornton]]
|align=center|1996–2011
|align=center|76
|-
!align=center|10
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Matt Reis]]
|align=center|1998–2013
|align=center|75
|-
|}
{{Col-2}}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|+ <big>'''Games played'''</big>
!Rank
!Player
!align=center|Years
!Games
|-
!align=center|1
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Nick Rimando]]
|align=center|2000–2019
|align=center|514
|-
!align=center|2
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Kyle Beckerman]]
|align=center|2000–2020
|align=center|498
|-
!align=center|3
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Dax McCarty]]
|align=center|2006–2024
|align=center|488
|-
!align=center|4
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jeff Larentowicz]]
|align=center|2005–2020
|align=center|437
|-
!align=center|5
|{{flagicon|SLE}} '''[[Kei Kamara]]'''
|align=center|2006–2013<br />2015–2020<br />2022–present
|align=center|432
|-
!align=center|6
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Kevin Hartman]]
|align=center|1997–2013
|align=center|416
|-
!align=center|7
|{{Flagicon|USA}} '''[[Darlington Nagbe]]'''
|align=center|2011–present
|align=center|415
|-
!align=center|8
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Chris Wondolowski]]
|align=center|2005–2021
|align=center|413
|-
!align=center|9
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Drew Moor]]
|align=center|2005–2022
|align=center|411
|-
!align=center|10
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Chad Marshall]]
|align=center|2004–2019
|align=center|409
|}
{{Col-end}}

===Player records (active)===
Statistics below are for all-time leaders who are still playing. Statistics are for regular season only.
{{updated|July 1, 2024|<ref name="mls stats" />}}
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-4}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|+ <big>'''Goals'''</big>
!Rank
!Player
!Goals
|-
!align=center|1
|{{flagicon|SLE}} [[Kei Kamara]]
|align=center|146
|-
!align=center|2
|{{flagicon|VEN}} [[Josef Martinez]]
|align=center|108
|-
!align=center|3
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Gyasi Zardes]]
|align=center|103
|-
!align=center|4
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[C. J. Sapong]]
|align=center|89
|-
!align=center|5
|{{flagicon|COL}} [[Fredy Montero]]
|align=center|85
|}
{{Col-4}}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|+ <big>'''Assists'''</big>
!Rank
!Player
!Assists
|-
!align=center|1
|{{flagicon|URU}} [[Nicolás Lodeiro]]
|align=center|78
|-
!align=center|2
|{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Luciano Acosta]]
|align=center|72
|-
!align=center|3
|{{flagicon|URU}} [[Diego Fagúndez]]
|align=center|67
|-
!align=center|4
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Julian Gressel]]
|align=center|65
|-

|}
{{Col-4}}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|+ <big>'''Shutouts'''</big> <!-- Do not rename this category. "Shutouts" is the standard term in North American English and is officially used by MLS.-->
!Rank
!Player
!Shutouts <!-- Do not rename this category. "Shutouts" is the official term used by MLS. -->
|-
!align=center|1
|{{flagicon|SUI}} [[Stefan Frei]]
|align=center|102
|-
!align=center|2
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Sean Johnson (soccer)|Sean Johnson]]
|align=center|96
|-
!align=center|3
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Bill Hamid]]
|align=center|80
|-
!align=center|4
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Brad Guzan]]
|align=center|76
|-
!align=center|5
|{{flagicon|JAM}} [[Andre Blake]]
|align=center|71
|}
{{Col-4}}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|+ <big>'''Games played'''</big>
!Rank
!Player
!Games
|-
!align=center|1
|{{flagicon|SLE}} [[Kei Kamara]]
|align=center|432
|-
!align=center|2
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Darlington Nagbe]]
|align=center|415
|-
!align=center|3
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Sean Johnson (soccer)|Sean Johnson]]
|align=center|374
|-
!align=center|4
|{{flagicon|SUI}} [[Stefan Frei]]
|align=center|368
|}
{{Col-end}}

==MLS awards==
At the conclusion of each season, the league presents several awards for outstanding achievements, mostly to players, but also to coaches, referees, and teams. The finalists in each category are determined by voting from MLS players, team employees, and the media.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLS Announces 2013 Awards Finalists |url=http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/content/mls-announces-2013-awards-finalists |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903042624/http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/content/mls-announces-2013-awards-finalists |archive-date=September 3, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>

{{div col}}
*[[MLS Best XI]]
*[[Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year Award]]
*[[MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award]]
*[[MLS Defender of the Year Award]]
*[[MLS Fair Play Award|MLS Fair Play Award (individual)]]
*[[MLS Fair Play Award|MLS Fair Play Award (team)]]
*[[MLS Goal of the Year Award]]
*[[MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award]]
*[[MLS Golden Boot]]
*[[MLS Humanitarian of the Year Award]]
*[[Landon Donovan MVP Award]]
*[[MLS Newcomer of the Year Award]]
*[[MLS Referee of the Year Award]]
*[[MLS Young Player of the Year Award]]
*[[MLS Save of the Year Award]]
{{div col end}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist-ua}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Association football|Sports|United States|Canada}}
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[MLS SuperDraft]]
*[[List of Major League Soccer seasons]]
*[[List of American and Canadian soccer champions]]
*[[List of Major League Soccer stadiums]]
*[[Major League Soccer attendance]]
*[[MLS Players Association]]
*[[National Women's Soccer League]]
*[[United States soccer league system]]
{{div col end}}

{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Notelist}} 
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|d=Q18543|c=Category:Major League Soccer|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|q=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Division 1 Soccer | Prev = [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|NASL (1968–1984)]] | Years = 1996–present | Next = current league}}
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