MLS
North American soccer league.
Major League Soccer (MLS) is the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, representing the highest level of the North American soccer pyramid. Contested by 30 clubs as of the 2024 season, it operates as a closed league without promotion and relegation. Seasons typically run from February to October, with each team playing 34 matches in a balanced schedule.
The competition was founded on December 17, 1993, as part of the United States' successful bid to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The inaugural season took place in 1996 with 10 teams. MLS is structured as a single entity in which each team is owned by the league and operated by the league's investors. The league is managed by a commissioner, with team operators serving as shareholders. MLS has secured significant media rights deals, with Apple TV acquiring global streaming rights in a 10-year, $2.5 billion agreement starting in 2023. Additional broadcast partnerships exist with Fox Sports, TelevisaUnivision, and TSN/RDS.
While not as globally popular as some European leagues, MLS has experienced steady growth in viewership and attendance. For the 2023 season, the average MLS match attendance was approximately 22,000 spectators, reflecting the league's increasing popularity within North America. MLS matches are broadcast to numerous countries, reaching a substantial audience of soccer enthusiasts worldwide.
As of 2023, MLS ranks 29th in the global league rankings according to the IFFHS. While the league has not produced any UEFA Champions League titles, it has seen success in the CONCACAF Champions League, with Los Angeles FC winning the competition in 2023.
Thirty-five clubs have competed in MLS since its inception in 1996, all from the United States and Canada. Nine of them have won the MLS Cup: LA Galaxy (5), D.C. United (4), Columbus Crew (2), Sporting Kansas City (2), San Jose Earthquakes (2), Houston Dynamo (2), Seattle Sounders FC (2), Atlanta United FC (1), and Los Angeles FC (1). The league continues to expand, with San Diego FC set to join in 2025, further solidifying MLS's position as a growing force in world soccer.