History UsefulNotes / MajorLeagueSoccer

One of two new clubs for 2017. Arthur Blank, founder of The Home Depot and owner of the [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague Atlanta Falcons]], owns the team. Between 2008 and 2014, Atlanta was the largest media market without a MLS club, and it was also the last top 10 media market to enter the league. Due to construction delays with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the team played its home matches at Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium during the first half of its debut season. Notably ended the Seattle Sounders' reign as the league’s attendance champion, drawing over 48,000 per home game in its inaugural season and well over [=50K=] in both following seasons. Perhaps even more notably, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar saw Argentine midfielder Thiago Almada became the first player ever to win the World Cup while playing in MLS.[[note]]That said, Almada only made the squad as an injury replacement, and played a total of ''6 minutes'' in Qatar.[[/note]]

Originally founded as the Montreal Impact, they are the third Canadian team to join the league (after Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps in that order), they replaced a second-division (USL/USSF/NASL) club of the same name in 2012. Some high-profile matches are played at the larger Olympic Stadium; CF Montréal's regular home ground, Stade Saputo, is located just north of Olympic Stadium. CF Montréal became the first Canadian team to reach the CONCACAF Champions League final in 2015, losing 5-3 on aggregate to Mexican club América. In 2021, the club rebranded as Club de Foot Montréal. Initially coached by former D.C. United + Chicago Fire player Jesse Marsch (who would later go on to have success coaching in European soccer at RB Leipzig and Leeds United), their other managers have included two French ex-Arsenal players in Remi Garde and Thierry Henry. Upon Henry's resignation in 2021, he was succeeded by his assistant, Wilfried Nancy, who stayed two seasons before moving to Columbus. Played the first part of the 2021 season at Inter Miami's stadium, with some matches moved to other venues due to conflicts with the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Announced in December 2019, the club is fronted by billionaire hedge fund manager David Tepper, owner of the NFL's Carolina Panthers. Despite St. Louis City SC being announced earlier, Charlotte FC launched a year ahead of them. Rather than build an MLS-specific stadium, Bank of America Stadium was renovated to make it soccer-friendly; however, included among the renovations was replacing the stadium's natural grass surface with synthetic turf, similar to other MLS clubs that share a stadium with an NFL or CFL team. Previous efforts to bring MLS to the Carolinas include a bid by Marcus G. Smith, president of [[UsefulNotes/{{NASCAR}} Speedway Motorsports]], as well as a rival bid by the Raleigh-based lower division club North Carolina FC, both in 2016. Notably, CFC set a new single-game MLS attendance record in its home debut (though that record only lasted for one season).

One of the first teams established after MLS' launch along with the now-defunct Miami Fusion FC, the Fire won both the MLS Cup and the US Open Cup in their inaugural season in 1998. They've fallen on hard times recently but have started to undergo a renaissance. They're also known for being the first club for Carlos Bocanegra, the former United States national team captain, and as the last club of German World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger[[note]]who, upon signing for the club, was infamously asked if he thought he'd be able to help them win the World Cup[[/note]], who retired at the end of the 2019 season. [[BlackComedy Named for the Great Chicago Fire of 1871]]; in fact, the official announcement of the team's entry into MLS was made on the anniversary of said event. In 2019, the club announced its intentions to abandon its MLS-specific stadium in suburban Bridgeview in favor of returning to the larger Soldier Field, at least temporarily, starting in the 2020 season. Swiss international Xherdan Shaqiri, formerly of Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Liverpool, joined after the 2021–22 season, becoming the league's highest-paid player before Lionel Messi's 2023 arrival at Inter Miami.

In October 2017, then-team operator Anthony Precourt announced his intention to move the club to Austin, Texas in 2019 if he didn't get a new stadium built in downtown Columbus. This potential move not only angered Crew supporters, with some rival supporter groups showing their disapproval as well, but it also threw a monkey wrench into San Antonio's expansion efforts.[[note]] After meeting with MLS higher-ups in 2015, Spurs Sports and Entertainment made a substantial investment -- $18 million -- to start San Antonio FC & purchase Toyota Field for them to play on… however, MLS neglected to mention that Precourt held an option to move the Crew to Austin after acquiring the club in 2013. The two cities are only 80 miles (130 km) from each other.[[/note]] The city of Columbus and state of Ohio also filed suit, citing a state law that had been passed in the wake of the even more controversial relocation of the Cleveland Browns. The Crew's situation resonated with the Browns ownership, and they entered into talks with MLS and Precourt to buy the Crew.

Just before the end of 2018, a settlement was reached: Columbus and the state of Ohio dropped their suit; the Browns owners bought the Crew and kept the team in Columbus, pledging over $200 million for a new Crew stadium in downtown Columbus (eventually known as Lower.com Field); and Precourt got a new MLS team for Austin, with a stadium deal in that city having been inked while the negotiations with the Browns were nearing their end. 2020 was planned to be the final season for Historic Crew Stadium (Mapfre Stadium from 2015–2020), with the stadium site being redeveloped as the Crew's new training ground and home of their Next Pro and academy sides; however, the Crew played their first three home matches of the 2021 season in their old ground before the new one opened.

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Originally founded as the Montreal Impact, they are the third Canadian team to join the league (after Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps in that order), they replaced a second-division (USL/USSF/NASL) club of the same name in 2012. Some high-profile matches are played at the larger Olympic Stadium; CF Montréal's regular home ground, Stade Saputo, is located just north of Olympic Stadium. CF Montréal became the first Canadian team to reach the CONCACAF Champions League final in 2015, losing 5-3 on aggregate to Mexican club América. In 2021, the club rebranded as Club de Foot Montréal. Initially coached by former D.C. United + Chicago Fire player Jesse Marsch (who would later go on to have success coaching in European soccer at RB Leipzig and Leeds United), their other managers have included two French ex-Arsenal players in Remi Garde and Thierry Henry. Upon Henry's resignation in 2021, he was succeeded by his assistant, Wilfried Nancy, who stayed two seasons before moving to Columbus. Played the first part of the 2021 season at Inter Miami's DRV PNK Stadium, with some matches moved to other venues due to conflicts with the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

-->'''Stadium:''' DRV PNK Stadium[[note]]Capacity: 21,000. Pronounced "Drive Pink"; the naming rights are owned by [=AutoNation=], which chose to promote its breast cancer awareness campaign.[[/note]]

After three failed stadium proposals, Miami Beckham United then planned to build their new stadium in the Overtown neighborhood. The Miami-Dade government had previously endorsed FIU's[[note]]Florida International University[[/note]] on-campus football stadium as a short-term solution. The league sought to have the Miami team ready in 2018, to launch alongside LAFC; however, with the league's announcement of expansion for 2020 and intense competition for new franchises, Beckham's group could have lost their franchise rights if a stadium was not secured in time. More recently, rumors emerged in spring 2017 that the Beckham group may abandon Miami in favor of Las Vegas; however, in June 2017, the group acquired the last parcel of land necessary to build their stadium, and that October, a local judge dismissed a lawsuit seeking to halt construction. In July 2018, Beckham unveiled alternate plans for a stadium as part of a larger mixed-use development, dubbed Miami Freedom Park, on the site of the city-owned Melreese Country Club, near Miami International Airport. The Melreese site was approved by Miami-Dade voters in a November 2018 referendum and was approved by the Miami-Dade council in April 2022, with construction on the Freedom Park stadium starting in 2023 and its opening set for 2025. In late January 2019, Inter Miami announced plans to redevelop the Lockhart Stadium site to serve as their permanent training ground; the development also includes a new 18,000-seat stadium which will host Inter Miami's future USL/Next Pro reserve side (later unveiled as Fort Lauderdale CF, and since renamed Inter Miami CF II) while also serving as an interim home for the first team until the Freedom Park Stadium opens. The club received unanimous approval from the Fort Lauderdale city council to redevelop the Lockhart Stadium site in April 2019 and demolished the old Lockhart Stadium a month later; the replacement became known as Inter Miami CF Stadium and is now DRV PNK Stadium.

-->'''Stadium:''' Lockhart Stadium[[note]]Capacity: 20,450; DRV PNK Stadium now stands on its former site[[/note]]

RSL saw major turmoil in 2020 when the principal owner was found to have had a history of racial comments, with said owner essentially being forced to sell out. The NWSL side ceased operations, with the team's player-related assets being acquired by a group in… Kansas City. However, the NWSL offered Real's new ownership an option to return to that league, and the new RSL group took them up on it. The Royals (without the "FC") will return in the 2024 season.

One of the ten charter clubs, the Crew are notable for celebrating the working-class side of their fanbase. Won the MLS Cup in 2008, 2020, and 2023, as well as three Supporters' Shields. The team is credited with building the first MLS-specific stadium, with other teams following suit. In October 2017, then-team operator Anthony Precourt announced his intention to move the club to Austin, Texas in 2019 if he didn't get a new stadium built in downtown Columbus. This potential move not only angered Crew supporters, with some rival supporter groups showing their disapproval as well, but it also threw a monkey wrench into San Antonio's expansion efforts.[[note]] After meeting with MLS higher-ups in 2015, Spurs Sports and Entertainment made a substantial investment -- $18 million -- to start San Antonio FC & purchase Toyota Field for them to play on... however, MLS neglected to mention that Precourt held an option to move the Crew to Austin after acquiring the club in 2013. The two cities are only 80 miles (130 km) from each other.[[/note]] The city of Columbus and state of Ohio also filed suit, citing a state law that had been passed in the wake of the even more controversial relocation of the Cleveland Browns. The Crew's situation resonated with the Browns ownership, and they entered into talks with MLS and Precourt to buy the Crew. Just before the end of 2018, a settlement was reached: Columbus and the state of Ohio dropped their suit; the Browns owners bought the Crew and kept the team in Columbus, pledging over $200 million for a new Crew stadium in downtown Columbus (eventually known as Lower.com Field); and Precourt got a new MLS team for Austin, with a stadium deal in that city having been inked while the negotiations with the Browns were nearing their end. 2020 was planned to be the final season for Historic Crew Stadium (Mapfre Stadium from 2015–2020), with the stadium site being redeveloped as the Crew's new training ground and home of their Next Pro and academy sides; however, the Crew played their first three home matches of the 2021 season in their old ground before the new one opened. Early in the 2021 season, the current owners announced they would rebrand the team as "Columbus SC"... and got fan reaction similar to that received by the six English Premier League teams that announced they would leave the UEFA Champions League for a proposed European Super League. In other words, "extremely negative" ''doesn't begin'' to describe fan sentiment. The "Columbus SC" branding lasted only a week (about 5 days longer than the proposed ESL did), with the owners returning to the original "Columbus Crew", without the "SC", although the crest intended for the rebrand, which is shaped like Ohio's state flag, was retained with minor tweaks.

Second to the LA Galaxy in overall honors, with 4 MLS Cups and 4 Supporters' Shields. One of the founding members of MLS, the name "United" was adapted from English club names (like Manchester United and Leeds United) and is a reflection of Washington D.C.'s status as the capital of the ''United'' States. For most of the early years of MLS, D.C. United had the only European-style name. From 2005 to 2008, D.C. United shared its home ground with a Major League Baseball team when the Nationals played at RFK Stadium, meaning they played on turf laid over dirt in some places for part of the year. After playing in RFK Stadium from their 1996 inception until 2017, the club opened the new Audi Field in the District during the 2018 season.[[note]]Due to construction delays, United played 12 of their first 14 regular-season games in 2018 on the road. The two home games in this stretch were played in Maryland, one at a small soccer stadium in suburban Germantown and the other at the US Naval Academy's (American) football stadium in Annapolis.[[/note]] Longtime Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney was captain for two seasons until returning to England after the 2019 season to become a player and assistant coach at Derby County, before returning as their head coach in 2022 (after departing Derby following their descent into financial chaos). After two seasons without a playoff appearance, he left at the end of the 2023 season and returned to England at Birmingham City. United is one of several MLS sides that have partnerships with separately owned sides in the top US women's level, the National Women's Soccer League. The Washington Spirit practice at United's HQ complex in Northern Virginia, and split home games between Audi Field and the stadium that hosts United's reserve side before moving all home games to Audi Field in 2023.

FC Cincinnati was announced as the next member of MLS in May 2018, becoming the seventh team to be promoted to MLS from a lower-level league. Founded in 2015 and playing its first season in the United Soccer League (now known as the USL Championship) in 2016, FCC is backed by a group led by local billionaire Carl Lindner III. During its time in the USL, FCC was the best-supported U.S. soccer team outside of MLS, consistently drawing crowds at Nippert Stadium, home to University of Cincinnati (American) football, that would place the team safely in the top half of MLS (and, in fact, ''fourth'' in 2018). It had been the early favorite to snag one of the franchises awarded in the 2018 phase, but initially lost out to Nashville due largely to problems finding an appropriate site for a new stadium. Shortly before the MLS announcement, FCC reached a deal with the city of Cincinnati for a new stadium in the West End, near downtown and the rapidly gentrifying Over-the-Rhine, that opened in May 2021. Although FCC's entry was announced after Miami and Nashville, it joined MLS in 2019, largely because its then-current home could easily accommodate crowds larger than the new stadium can hold.[[note]]Nippert can hold 40,000, though FCC restricted capacity to 33,250 for MLS games. The new stadium holds around 26,000.[[/note]] While Cincy's media market is smaller than that of any previously existing MLS team, the market of 2021 MLS entry Austin FC is smaller still. Even though the team propped up the MLS table in its first season, the fans turned out in droves, placing FCC third in average attendance behind the attendance giants of Atlanta United and the Seattle Sounders. For FCC's first three MLS seasons, the club finished dead last in the overall table; however, the club finally made the MLS Cup playoffs for the first time in their fourth season, and took it one better in 2023 by winning the Supporters' Shield.

After several years in limbo due to stadium issues, the Miami franchise was finally made official in January 2018 and in September of the same year, the club's name was unveiled: Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami.[[note]]The club's short name, Inter Miami, has drawn ire from Italian Serie A side Inter Milan.[[/note]] The club was initially backed by retired English football icon UsefulNotes/DavidBeckham, his business partner Simon Fuller (creator of the ''[[Series/AmericanIdol Idol]]'' franchise), and Miami-based Bolivian telecom billionaire Marcelo Claure. In December 2017, the ownership group gained further financial clout with the addition of Miami construction magnates Jorge and José Mas and Japanese telecom billionaire Masayoshi Son (a business partner of Claure). Beckham exercised an option in his original MLS contract to buy an expansion team at a reduced price.[[note]]Beckham's expansion fee was $25 million, while the owners for NYCFC, Orlando City, Atlanta United, LAFC, and Minnesota United paid between $70 million to $100 million, the owners of FC Cincinnati and Nashville SC each paid $150 million (Jimmy Haslam also paid the same price to take over the Columbus Crew from Anthony Precourt), and St. Louis City SC paid $200 million, and Charlotte FC paid $325 million.[[/note]] After three failed stadium proposals, Miami Beckham United then planned to build their new stadium in the Overtown neighborhood. The Miami-Dade government had previously endorsed FIU's[[note]]Florida International University[[/note]] on-campus football stadium as a short-term solution. The league sought to have the Miami team ready in 2018, to launch alongside LAFC; however, with the league's announcement of expansion for 2020 and intense competition for new franchises, Beckham's group could have lost their franchise rights if a stadium was not secured in time. More recently, rumors emerged in spring 2017 that the Beckham group may abandon Miami in favor of Las Vegas; however, in June 2017, the group acquired the last parcel of land necessary to build their stadium, and that October, a local judge dismissed a lawsuit seeking to halt construction. In July 2018, Beckham unveiled alternate plans for a stadium as part of a larger mixed-use development, dubbed Miami Freedom Park, on the site of the city-owned Melreese Country Club, near Miami International Airport. The Melreese site was approved by Miami-Dade voters in a November 2018 referendum and was approved by the Miami-Dade council in April 2022, with construction on the Freedom Park stadium starting in 2023 and its opening set for 2025. In late January 2019, Inter Miami announced plans to redevelop the Lockhart Stadium site to serve as their permanent training ground; the development also includes a new 18,000-seat stadium which will host Inter Miami's future USL/Next Pro reserve side (later unveiled as Fort Lauderdale CF, and since renamed Inter Miami CF II) while also serving as an interim home for the first team until the Freedom Park Stadium opens. The club received unanimous approval from the Fort Lauderdale city council to redevelop the Lockhart Stadium site in April 2019 and demolished the old Lockhart Stadium a month later; the replacement became known as Inter Miami CF Stadium and is now DRV PNK Stadium. Inter Miami II started play in League One in 2020. After a disastrous start to the 2023 season, Inter fired its head coach, Beckham's former Manchester United and England teammate Phil Neville, and then made perhaps the biggest MLS signing at least since that of Beckham, if not in league history, by picking up Argentine legend Lionel Messi fresh off a World Cup win.[[note]]Messi owns several properties in the Miami area and frequently vacations there. Also of note, the Argentina national team is soon to open a satellite training center in the Miami area.[[/note]] Inter also moved to provide Messi with even more of a comfort zone by hiring Tata Martino, a former ''Albiceleste'' and Barcelona manager, as head coach; signing two of his old Barça teammates, Spanish internationals Jordi Alba (who captains ''La Roja'') and Sergio Busquets; and also picking up two young Argentine talents. US international [=DeAndre=] Yedlin is also on the squad. Past stars include former England international defender Kieran Gibbs and Messi's former international teammate Gonzalo Higuaín (both now retired). Messi's arrival during the Leagues Cup flipped the script on Inter's 2023 season; he proceeded to score 10 goals in his seven Cup games on Inter's way to its first-ever trophy. While the Herons' disastrous start, combined with international duty for several key players, fixture congestion, and an ill-timed injury to Messi, kept them out of the playoffs, things appear to be looking up in South Florida. And that was before Inter signed ''another'' former Messi teammate in Luis Suárez.

Officially announced in December 2017, the club is fronted by local billionaire John Ingram, with backing by the Wilf family, owners of the Minnesota Vikings who lost out on the Twin Cities expansion bid in 2014, plus the support of several of the city's largest corporations. Nashville was initially seen as the longest shot among the final four candidates for expansion in 2020; while it had drawn large crowds for international matches, it had no professional soccer when it launched its expansion bid. However, a combination of cultural appeal, stumbles by the early expansion frontrunners (mainly Cincinnati's stadium site issues), and a well-advanced stadium plan, with a site nailed down at the former state fairgrounds just south of downtown, left Nashville as the clear front-runner. The city launched a USL Championship team, Nashville SC, in 2018, and club and MLS officials announced in February 2019 that the Nashville SC name would carry over to MLS, making it the eighth lower-division club to be promoted to MLS. In late January 2019, club officials announced that Nashville SC would begin play at Nissan Stadium while the venue that eventually became Geodis Park was under construction. After spending the first two months of the 2022 season on the road, the new ground opened in May 2022. Nashville SC's conference alignment has flip-flopped numerous times since their MLS debut; originally placed in the Western Conference at the beginning of the 2020 season, the team moved to the Eastern Conference starting with the MLS is Back tournament, resulting in an unbalanced conference alignment, and stayed there in 2021, moved back to the Western Conference when Charlotte FC debuted in 2022, and NSC moved back to the East when St. Louis City SC debuted in 2023. It's one of several teams with an all-star cast of owners—minority investors include Creator/ReeseWitherspoon (and her second ex-husband), Tennessee Titans RB Derrick Henry, Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg, and Milwaukee Bucks megastar Giannis Antetokounmpo and three of his four brothers. NSC also boasts something of a celebrity superfan in the form of Music/JarsOfClay guitarist Stephen Mason, aka [[https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/soccer-moses-story-behind-nashville-scs-most-famous-supporter Soccer Moses]]. Also of note is that it's the only MLS team whose Next Pro affiliate plays outside its local market; it decided to place its reserve side in Huntsville, Alabama.

Perhaps the least successful among the ten charter franchises, not counting the Tampa Bay Mutiny, who folded after the 2001 season. The Revs have not won the Cup, and didn't win the Shield until 2021 (and with it, claimed the MLS points record at 73 and tied with the NY Red Bulls for most wins in the post-shootout era)... [[EveryYearTheyFizzleOut despite being runners-up five times in the Cup, and second overall once]]. Their only other trophies have been from the Open Cup or [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_SuperLiga international competitions]]. Sister team of the Patriots and play in Gillette Stadium. In November 2021, the Revs redesigned their crest for the first time, retiring the "crayon flag" logo the club had used since the ''league's'' inception, becoming the last among MLS's charter clubs to change their logo. During that offseason, they signed US international Jozy Altidore.

One of the two 2015 expansion teams, and the second team based in the New York metropolitan area. Unlike the Red Bulls or the NFL's Jets and Giants, they're trying to play in the Big Apple itself; until a stadium is built, Yankee Stadium in The Bronx is hosting their games, making NYCFC the second club (after D.C.) to share its stadium with a Major League Baseball club[[note]]This is not by coincidence—the [[UsefulNotes/MajorLeagueBaseball New York Yankees]] own a 20% stake in the team, with [[UsefulNotes/EnglishPremierLeague Manchester City]] owning the rest. However, scheduling conflicts have forced NYCFC to play occasional matches at Citi Field or Red Bull Arena[[/note]]. Had a number of high-profile players in their early years in former England midfielder Frank Lampard and World Cup winners Andrea Pirlo and David Villa, and a high-profile former manager in Patrick Vieira, but all are now gone. That turned out to be a non-issue by 2021, however, as a roster primarily made of young guns, spearheaded by Golden Boot winner Valentin Castellanos and veteran keeper Sean Johnson, finally secured some silverware by winning the MLS Cup on penalty kicks. In late July 2022, it was reported that NYC mayor Eric Adams planned to approve a new stadium to be built near Citi Field.

Originally the New York[=/=]New Jersey [=MetroStars=] (later just the [=MetroStars=], with no region identifier), they are the only MLS team to have [[ProductPlacement their sponsor]], who also owns the club, included in the team name. Three-time Supporters' Shield winners (2013, 2015, 2018). They were the last club of Thierry Henry, who retired as a player after the 2014 season but returned to MLS in 2019 as the head coach in Montreal, stepping down from that role after the 2020 season. Also notable for having a severe case of EveryYearTheyFizzleOut (like cans of Red Bull) when they're in good years, especially as of late. Typically, the Red Bulls will field one of the most skilled and talented squads in the league, but fail to make the cup. They also have one of the most developed soccer academies in US soccer, as well as one of the best USL Championship team (New York Red Bulls II). The Red Bulls' 2018 Supporters' Shield win set the MLS record for most points attained in a single season (71) as well as the most wins in the post-shootout era (22). They still hold the wins record (now shared with the Revs), but the points record fell the next season to LAFC. Another side that has a de facto partnership with an NWSL side, with NJ/NY Gotham FC also making Red Bull Arena its home.

An expansion team started in 2010 and is based in the riverside suburb of Chester with a stadium having a beautiful view of the nearby Commodore Barry Bridge. A ''lot'' of their culture is related to Creator/BenjaminFranklin and UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution — they have 13 stars on the crest, their name is a reference to the union of the Thirteen Colonies, they put a snake on the crest to reference Franklin's famous "Join or Die" political cartoon, their oldest and biggest supporters group is called the Sons of Ben... you get the idea. Prior to the Union's establishment in 2008, Philadelphia was the largest media market without an MLS franchise, holding this distinction for nearly a decade. During the league's COVID-19 hiatus in 2020, NBA superstar Kevin Durant became a new minority investor in the team. That season also saw the Union win their first trophy in the form of the Supporters' Shield, only to flame out in their first playoff match. The Union had a ''far'' more gut-wrenching loss in the 2022 MLS Cup final against Los Angeles FC, scoring what appeared to be the championship-winning goal in stoppage time of extra time, only to see LAFC equalize at the death and win on penalties. While Philly doesn't have an NWSL side, it ''did'' host the aforementioned NJ/NY Gotham FC for one home game in both 2021 and 2022.[[note]]Presumably, Gotham wanted to cultivate a South Jersey fanbase. However, they played all of their 2023 home games in North Jersey.[[/note]]

The first Canadian team to join MLS, having started play in 2007. Though their MLS career started out rather undistinguished (until 2016, they had never finished higher than 11th in the league), they have been more successful in the Canadian Championship (currently contested by the country's three MLS teams, all Canadian Premier League teams, and two champions of lower-level Canadian leagues), winning four years in a row from 2009-2012. Rather unlucky in the league for many years, as they were known for purchasing great new players and performing well in the regular season, but missing the playoffs by one or two spots; however, they overcame this in the 2016 playoffs to become the first Canadian team to reach the MLS Cup game, beating national rivals Montreal in the Eastern Conference final. The next year, TFC became the first Canadian team to claim the Supporters' Shield ''and'' the MLS Cup. In addition, because they also won the Canadian Championship, it means that TFC became the first MLS team to achieve a domestic treble. American international Michael Bradley ended his playing career here, playing for his father from 2021–2023. Italy international Lorenzo Insigne joined after the 2021–22 Serie A season. Played the first part of the 2021 season at Orlando City's stadium.

An expansion team in 2006[[note]]in the same way that the Baltimore Ravens are an "expansion team" in the NFL. They were the ''original'' San Jose Earthquakes, having moved to Houston due to stadium issues.[[/note]]. Originally named "Houston 1836" to reflect the year Houston was founded and to have a European-style name along the lines of Schalke 04. However, the name displeased the Hispanic community in Houston, who related 1836 with the war for Texas independence. "Dynamo" comes from Houston's energy industry and many former Soviet Union-era clubs such as Dynamo Moscow. Under the management of former US international player Dominic Kinnear, who spent nearly a decade with the club from 2006-2014[[note]]a full decade including the two years Kinnear spent managing the club when they were the original San Jose Earthquakes[[/note]], they immediately won two MLS Cups, but then went more than a decade without further silverware until claiming the US Open Cup in 2018. Another MLS team with an official DistaffCounterpart, namely the Houston Dash. The ownership team includes former boxing great and current promoter Oscar De La Hoya and Los Angeles Clippers superstar James Harden (who bought into the team when he was with the Houston Rockets).

Five-time MLS Cup champions, their most recent Cup broke a tie with D.C. United for most decorated team. Made big news in 2007 by signing UsefulNotes/DavidBeckham, and later in 2015 by signing Steven Gerrard, 2017 by signing Jonathan dos Santos, 2018 by signing Zlatan Ibrahimović, and 2020 by signing Javier "Chicharito" Hernández (all are now gone). As a result of this, and other major signings, possibly the best known MLS team in Europe before Inter Miami signed Messi. Also home to Landon Donovan for most of his MLS career (2005–2014, plus a short comeback in 2016). Team operator Philip Anschutz was instrumental in Major League Soccer's survival in its early years, having owned not only the LA Galaxy, but he also previously held stakes in the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, D.C. United, Houston Dynamo, New York Red Bulls, and San Jose Earthquakes; the MLS Cup trophy is named in Anschutz' honor for his contributions to the league and U.S. Soccer. Their stadium has been the temporary home to two teams in that other type of football. The NFL's Los Angeles Chargers played here from their return to LA in 2017 until the new [=SoFi=] Stadium opened in Inglewood in 2020. College football's San Diego State Aztecs, which had played in the Chargers' old stadium, played here in 2020 and 2021 while the new Snapdragon Stadium was built on the site of the old stadium. While the Galaxy's 2023 season was forgettable, the team did set a new MLS single-game attendance record, taking its home match in its local rivalry with LAFC to the Rose Bowl and drawing over 82,000.

A 2018 expansion team which replaced Chivas USA as the Greater Los Angeles market's second team. Unlike the Galaxy, LAFC plays in the Los Angeles city limits. British people, think of Galaxy as Manchester United and LAFC as Manchester City. LAFC's ownership group includes names like Vincent Tan[[note]]Yes, the infamous owner of [[UsefulNotes/EnglishPremierLeague Cardiff City]][[/note]], [[UsefulNotes/NotablePlayersOfTheNBA Magic Johnson]], Mia Hamm, and Creator/WillFerrell. The team's home of BMO Stadium is adjacent to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on the site formerly occupied by the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. LAFC was originally intended to start play in 2017, but stadium delays caused their debut to be put off a year. However, this meant that unlike many of LAFC's late 2010s/early 2020s expansion contemporaries, who have spent at least part of their first season in a temporary facility, LAFC played in its new digs from the start. Captained by Mexico international Carlos Vela, who scored an MLS record of 34 goals in 2019, breaking Josef Martínez' record from the previous season. Speaking of records set in 2019, LAFC claimed the crown for points earned in a season with 72, one more than the Red Bulls' record total from the season before; however, the Revs would take the points record two years later. In 2022, LAFC made a number of high-profile signings, including attacker Gareth Bale, formerly of Real Madrid and the all-time leading goal scorer for Wales; European Championship-winning Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, formerly of Juventus; and former Barcelona striker Cristian Tello. Said signings helped them to the 2022 Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup, with Bale scoring the goal that sent the MLS Cup final to penalties.[[note]]This turned out to be Bale's final club goal, as he fully retired after captaining Wales (aka Cymru) in that year's World Cup.[[/note]] LAFC made another run to the Cup final the next year, only to lose out to the Crew. Yet another side with a de facto NWSL partner, with its stadium also hosting Angel City FC.

Joined the league in 2011, replacing the United Soccer Leagues team of the same name. Has found quite a fanbase, hosted the 2014 All-Star game and won their first MLS Cup in 2015. The Timbers had been another MLS team with an official DistaffCounterpart, namely Portland Thorns FC, which was a source of controversy in 2021 regarding the owners of both clubs' handling of sexual abuse allegations against former Thorns head coach Paul Riley and domestic violence allegations against Timbers striker Andy Polo. Timbers owner Merritt Paulson soon sold the Thorns. Providence Park is the only MLS-specific stadium to use synthetic turf rather than natural grass[[note]]Toronto's BMO Field also originally used synthetic turf before switching to grass in 2010; however, the arrival of the CFL's Argonauts in 2016 necessitated the partial use of synthetic turf again due to a Canadian football field being significantly longer than its American cousin[[/note]], since the stadium has also served as the home of the [[UsefulNotes/CollegiateAmericanFootball FCS Portland State Vikings]] of the [[UsefulNotes/CollegiateAmericanFootballConferences Big Sky Conference]]. The Vikings have now moved their home games to a smaller venue in suburban Hillsboro, but the Timbers have so far stayed with synthetic turf.

One of the first expansion teams, along with the now-defunct Chivas USA, to be established after the contraction of the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion FC in 2001. Based in Utah, the "Real" in its name is meant to associate themselves with Real Madrid as well as having a European-sounding name. It was not until 2006 when Real Salt Lake and ''Los Blancos'' established a mutual partnership, with RSL and Real Madrid meeting twice a year for a friendly (one at home and one away), the training of RSL players at Santiago Bernabeu, and the establishment of a Real Madrid youth academy in Salt Lake City. Replaced Sporting Kansas City as the (then) fourth MLS team with an official DistaffCounterpart in the 2017 offseason; Real launched Utah Royals FC in the 2018 season to replace the defunct FC Kansas City in the NWSL. RSL saw major turmoil in 2020 when the principal owner was found to have had a history of racial comments, with said owner essentially being forced to sell out. The NWSL side ceased operations, with the team's player-related assets being acquired by a group in... Kansas City. However, the NWSL offered Real's new ownership an option to return to that league, and the new RSL group took them up on it. The Royals (without the "FC") will return in the 2024 season.

A 2008 expansion team that replaced the original San Jose Earthquakes team that moved to Houston after the 2005 season. Officially a continuation of the original team in terms of history and records, they are the 2001 and 2003 MLS Cup Champions, as well as the 2005 and 2012 MLS Supporters' Shield Champions. They played some of their better-drawing games in Oakland their first few years back due to the stadium issues that were still present. However, a voter referendum for a new stadium in San Jose went their way and they opened their new digs, now known as [=PayPal=] Park, in 2015. The Quakes will soon become another team sharing its stadium with an NWSL side, with expansion team Bay FC moving in for its first season in 2024. Originally known as the San Jose Clash, the Earthquakes adopted their current name from the original NASL franchise of the same name just after the conclusion of the 1999 season. Chris Wondolowski ended his career here in 2021 as the league's all-time goal scoring leader, passing Landon Donovan in 2019.

The first club to be promoted to MLS from a lower-division league, joining MLS in 2009. Has had a good run in the league so far, leading the league in ticket sales each year until Atlanta United came along, winning the US Open Cup four times (including three in a row), and also claiming the Supporters' Shield in 2014. While local businessman Adrian Hanauer has been the principal owner since 2002, the ownership group includes plenty of star power. Shortly before the team joined MLS, comedian and game show host Creator/DrewCarey and Seahawks and [[UsefulNotes/NationalBasketballAssociation Portland Trail Blazers]] owner Paul Allen (one of the founders of Microsoft) joined the group; Allen's interest passed to his sister after his 2018 death. In 2019, a group of 11 local families purchased the interest of a retiring minority owner; the most notable new members of the group were then-Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, his wife Music/{{Ciara}}, and hip-hop artist Music/{{Macklemore}}, with former Seattle Mariners baseball star Ken Griffey Jr. joining in 2020. The first club of U.S. international defender [=DeAndre=] Yedlin, who left in 2015 for a successful spell in the UsefulNotes/EnglishPremierLeague at Tottenham and Newcastle, and the final team of Clint Dempsey, captain of the U.S. national team before his retirement after the 2018 season. Before a disastrous 2022 season, the Sounders had the distinction of making the MLS Cup playoffs in all of their MLS seasons. So far, that season seems to be a blip on the radar, if their 2023 playoff appearance is any indication. During the 2023–24 offseason, the Sounders bought the NWSL side then known as OL Reign from the parent company of prominent French club Olympique Lyonnais, shortly thereafter restoring the NWSL team's original name of Seattle Reign FC. This marks the second time the Sounders have had a stake in the Reign; they held a minority interest before OL bought the Reign after the 2019 season. The Reign also plays at Lumen Field, having moved there in 2022 after a three-season interlude in Tacoma.

Formerly the Kansas City Wizards (shortened to the Wiz in their (and the league's) inaugural season), they adopted the "Sporting" name in association with European club names like Sporting Lisbon. Winners of two MLS Cups (2000 and 2013), plus the Supporters' Shield in 2000 and the US Open Cup in 2004, 2012, 2015 and 2017. Most notable for defeating Manchester United in a friendly on July 25, 2010. Their home stadium is in Kansas City, Kansas, whereas most franchises in the Kansas City area play their home games in Kansas City, Missouri (which is the larger of the two). From 2015 through 2017, the club also had a DistaffCounterpart in FC Kansas City, though that club was separately owned. FCKC folded after the 2017 season and was effectively replaced by the aforementioned Utah Royals. The Royals later folded and were effectively replaced by a new Kansas City side, now known as Kansas City Current, that had no common ownership with FCKC. While SKC and the Current have separate ownership, the Current moved into SKC's stadium in 2022 and played there through the 2023 season, with the NWSL team opening its own new stadium in 2024.

For decades, St. Louis has been one of the hotbeds of U.S. soccer, and the city has long been trying to get MLS' interest. In 2009, one group had all approvals for a new stadium across the Mississippi in Collinsville, Illinois, but MLS wasn't impressed with the group's financial resources. Other attempts were made through the 2010s, which accelerated after the [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague Rams]] left for Los Angeles in 2016. The city's bid for a team looked to have died in 2017 when city voters turned down a tax package to fund a new stadium. However, IT billionaire Jim Kavanaugh, part of the previous ownership group and also principal owner of Saint Louis FC, the city's USLC side, didn't give up. He recruited several female members of the Taylor family, principal owners of the Enterprise Holdings car rental company, as lead investors in a new ownership group. The group got initial approval for a new stadium in downtown St. Louis, in large part because their stadium plan almost totally used their own funds; the only new taxes for the stadium are being paid by fans attending the team's games. In August 2019, MLS officially announced that St. Louis City SC (in short "City SC") would join the league, with a target date of 2022 for the team's debut (though that would be put off to 2023, mainly due to stadium delays brought on by COVID-19). The combination of COVID-19 and the impending entry of City SC led Kavanaugh to fold Saint Louis FC at the end of the 2020 season, meaning that (1) the city was to be without pro soccer for two years and (2) City SC would have to establish its own reserve side. Both points ended up being addressed with the launch of the Next Pro side [=City2=] in 2022. The ownership group is most notable as the first in MLS in which women hold a majority interest. City SC came in with a bang, topping the Western Conference table in its first season, but flamed out in Round One, being swept by its cross-state rival[[note]]Technically interstate, but most of the KC metro population is on the Missouri side, with KCMO being much larger than KCK.[[/note]] Sporting KC.

San Diego was awarded the 30th expansion slot in May 2023, and the club unveiled its identity as San Diego FC that October. The ownership group is led by British-Egyptian businessman Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, the first Native American nation to have a stake in a US pro soccer franchise. Other investors include current [[UsefulNotes/MajorLeagueBaseball San Diego Padres]] superstar Manny Machado. Like St. Louis, San Diego had the displeasure of having its NFL team, the Chargers, move to Los Angeles, which led to several parties submitting bids for MLS expansion to fill the void, including former MLS star Landon Donovan, who was part-owner of the now-defunct USL Championship side San Diego Loyal SC. MLS had been interested in placing a club in San Diego since the league's formation, playing the 1999 MLS All-Star Game at Qualcomm Stadium (aka San Diego Stadium) and even considering placing the now-defunct Chivas USA in the city, but San Diego's lack of a suitable stadium at the time hindered that effort. The team will play at San Diego State's Snapdragon Stadium, which was built on part of the former site of San Diego Stadium; while the venue is not a true soccer-specific stadium, it was designed to accommodate an MLS franchise. Snapdragon Stadium is also home to NWSL side San Diego Wave FC.

MLS' first attempt at a second team in the Los Angeles market. Before the 2014 season, it was under the same ownership as its then-parent club, the Mexican team Club Deportivo Guadalajara, whose nickname is "Chivas" (Spanish for goats). It was regarded by both Guadalajara and Chivas USA fans as the B-team of CD Guadalajara, making the former the only football club in the world with a reserves team playing in another country's top level league. Controversially known in the 2013 season for their push to have a team of all Mexican and Mexican-American heritage just like the Guadalajara Chivas, with two dismissed non-Latino youth coaches filing a discrimination lawsuit. Shortly before the 2014 season, the team was bought by MLS. After two seasons of abysmal numbers,[[note]]Hint: they were outdrawn by half the pro minor leagues of soccer[[/note]] the league decided to fold Chivas USA, and instead sold the franchise rights to an investor group led by venture capitalist Henry Nguyen. The replacement, Los Angeles FC, began play in 2018 and did not inherit any of Chivas' records or history, making that franchise effectively dead in MLS' eyes.

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The first Canadian team to join MLS, having started play in 2007. Though their MLS career started out rather undistinguished (until 2016, they had never finished higher than 11th in the league), they have been more successful in the Canadian Championship (currently contested by the country's three MLS teams, all Canadian Premier League teams, and two champions of lower-level Canadian leagues), winning four years in a row from 2009-2012. Rather unlucky in the league for many years, as they were known for purchasing great new players and performing well in the regular season, but missing the playoffs by one or two spots; however, they overcame this in the 2016 playoffs to become the first Canadian team to reach the MLS Cup game, beating national rivals Montreal in the Eastern Conference final. The next year, TFC became the first Canadian team to claim the Supporters' Shield ''and'' the MLS Cup. In addition, because they also won the Canadian Championship, it means that TFC became the first MLS team to achieve a domestic treble. American international Michael Bradley ended his playing career here, playing for his father from 2021–2023. Italy international Lorenzo Insigne joined after the 2021–22 Serie A season. Played the first part of the 2021 season at Orlando City's Exploria Stadium.

-->'''Stadium:''' Exploria Stadium[[note]]Capacity: 25,500; formerly Orlando City Stadium[[/note]]

For decades, St. Louis has been one of the hotbeds of U.S. soccer, and the city has long been trying to get MLS' interest. In 2009, one group had all approvals for a new stadium across the Mississippi in Collinsville, Illinois, but MLS wasn't impressed with the group's financial resources. Other attempts were made through the 2010s, which accelerated after the [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague Rams]] left for Los Angeles in 2016. The city's bid for a team looked to have died in 2017 when city voters turned down a tax package to fund a new stadium. However, IT billionaire Jim Kavanaugh, part of the previous ownership group and also principal owner of Saint Louis FC, the city's USLC side, didn't give up. He recruited several female members of the Taylor family, principal owners of the Enterprise Holdings car rental company, as lead investors in a new ownership group. The group got initial approval for a new stadium in downtown St. Louis, in large part because their stadium plan almost totally used their own funds; the only new taxes for the stadium are being paid by fans attending the team's games. In August 2019, MLS officially announced that St. Louis City SC (in short "City SC") would join the league, with a target date of 2022 for the team's debut (though that would be put off to 2023, mainly due to stadium delays brought on by COVID-19). The combination of COVID-19 and the impending entry of City SC led Kavanaugh to fold Saint Louis FC at the end of the 2020 season, meaning that (1) the city was to be without pro soccer for two years and (2) City SC would have to establish its own reserve side. Both points ended up being addressed with the launch of the Next Pro side [=City2=] in 2022. The ownership group is most notable as the first in MLS in which women hold a majority interest. City SC came in with a bang, topping the Western Conference table in its first season, but flamed out in Round One, being swept by its cross-state rival[[note]]Technically interstate, but most of the KC metro population is in KCMO.[[/note]] Sporting KC.

San Diego was awarded the 30th expansion slot in May 2023, and the club unveiled its identity as San Diego FC that October. The ownership group is led by British-Egyptian businessman Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, the first Native American nation to have a stake in a US pro soccer franchise. Other investors include current [[UsefulNotes/MajorLeagueBaseball San Diego Padres]] superstar Manny Machado. Like St. Louis, San Diego had the displeasure of having its NFL team, the Chargers, move to Los Angeles, which led to several parties submitting bids for MLS expansion to fill the void, including former MLS star Landon Donovan, who is part-owner of the USL Championship side San Diego Loyal SC[[note]]SD Loyal SC will cease operations at the conclusion of its 2023 season, due to the impending arrival of MLS to San Diego as well as COVID-related revenue losses incurred during their inaugural 2020 campagin[[/note]]. MLS had been interested in placing a club in San Diego since the league's formation, playing the 1999 MLS All-Star Game at Qualcomm Stadium (aka San Diego Stadium) and even considering placing the now-defunct Chivas USA in the city, but San Diego's lack of a suitable stadium at the time hindered that effort. The team will play at San Diego State's Snapdragon Stadium, which was built on part of the former site of San Diego Stadium; while the venue is not a true soccer-specific stadium, it was designed to accommodate an MLS franchise. Snapdragon Stadium is also home to NWSL side San Diego Wave FC.

After several years in limbo due to stadium issues, the Miami franchise was finally made official in January 2018 and in September of the same year, the club's name was unveiled: Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami.[[note]]The club's short name, Inter Miami, has drawn ire from Italian Serie A side Inter Milan.[[/note]] The club was initially backed by retired English football icon UsefulNotes/DavidBeckham, his business partner Simon Fuller (creator of the ''[[Series/AmericanIdol Idol]]'' franchise), and Miami-based Bolivian telecom billionaire Marcelo Claure. In December 2017, the ownership group gained further financial clout with the addition of Miami construction magnates Jorge and José Mas and Japanese telecom billionaire Masayoshi Son (a business partner of Claure). Beckham exercised an option in his original MLS contract to buy an expansion team at a reduced price.[[note]]Beckham's expansion fee was $25 million, while the owners for NYCFC, Orlando City, Atlanta United, LAFC, and Minnesota United paid between $70 million to $100 million, the owners of FC Cincinnati and Nashville SC each paid $150 million (Jimmy Haslam also paid the same price to take over the Columbus Crew from Anthony Precourt), and St. Louis City SC paid $200 million, and Charlotte FC paid $325 million.[[/note]] After three failed stadium proposals, Miami Beckham United then planned to build their new stadium in the Overtown neighborhood. The Miami-Dade government had previously endorsed FIU's[[note]]Florida International University[[/note]] on-campus football stadium as a short-term solution. The league sought to have the Miami team ready in 2018, to launch alongside LAFC; however, with the league's announcement of expansion for 2020 and intense competition for new franchises, Beckham's group could have lost their franchise rights if a stadium was not secured in time. More recently, rumors emerged in spring 2017 that the Beckham group may abandon Miami in favor of Las Vegas; however, in June 2017, the group acquired the last parcel of land necessary to build their stadium, and that October, a local judge dismissed a lawsuit seeking to halt construction. In July 2018, Beckham unveiled alternate plans for a stadium as part of a larger mixed-use development, dubbed Miami Freedom Park, on the site of the city-owned Melreese Country Club, near Miami International Airport. The Melreese site was approved by Miami-Dade voters in a November 2018 referendum and was approved by the Miami-Dade council in April 2022, with construction on the Freedom Park stadium starting in 2023 and its opening set for 2025. In late January 2019, Inter Miami announced plans to redevelop the Lockhart Stadium site to serve as their permanent training ground; the development also includes a new 18,000-seat stadium which will host Inter Miami's future USL/Next Pro reserve side (later unveiled as Fort Lauderdale CF, and since renamed Inter Miami CF II) while also serving as an interim home for the first team until the Freedom Park Stadium opens. The club received unanimous approval from the Fort Lauderdale city council to redevelop the Lockhart Stadium site in April 2019 and demolished the old Lockhart Stadium a month later; the replacement became known as Inter Miami CF Stadium and is now DRV PNK Stadium. Inter Miami II started play in League One in 2020. After a disastrous start to the 2023 season, Inter fired its head coach, Beckham's former Manchester United and England teammate Phil Neville, and then made perhaps the biggest MLS signing at least since that of Beckham, if not in league history, by picking up Argentine legend Lionel Messi fresh off a World Cup win.[[note]]Messi owns several properties in the Miami area and frequently vacations there. Also of note, the Argentina national team is soon to open a satellite training center in the Miami area.[[/note]] Inter also moved to provide Messi with even more of a comfort zone by hiring Tata Martino, a former ''Albiceleste'' and Barcelona manager, as head coach; signing two of his old Barça teammates, Spanish internationals Jordi Alba (who captains ''La Roja'') and Sergio Busquets; and also picking up two young Argentine talents. US international [=DeAndre=] Yedlin is also on the squad. Past stars include former England international defender Kieran Gibbs and Messi's former international teammate Gonzalo Higuaín (both now retired). Messi's arrival during the Leagues Cup flipped the script on Inter's 2023 season; he proceeded to score 10 goals in his seven Cup games on Inter's way to its first-ever trophy. While the Herons' disastrous start, combined with international duty for several key players, fixture congestion, and an ill-timed injury to Messi, kept them out of the playoffs, things appear to be looking up in South Florida.

A 2015 expansion team, they are the first club based in Florida and the Southeastern US since the contraction of the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion FC after the 2001 season. Their ascent came at the tail end of a whirlwind grassroots rise as a third-division minor league team. The final club of Brazilian Ballon d'Or winner (Ricardo) Kaká, who retired after the 2017 season, and currently home to former Brazilian international striker Alexandre Pato. Also one of three MLS clubs with an official DistaffCounterpart in the National Women's Soccer League; they own and operate the Orlando Pride, which joined the NWSL in 2016.[[note]]In contrast to MLS teams that partner with separately owned NWSL sides, which are mentioned in the team descriptions.[[/note]]

Joined the league in 2011, replacing the United Soccer Leagues team of the same name. Has found quite a fanbase, hosted the 2014 All-Star game and won their first MLS Cup in 2015. The Timbers had been another MLS team with an official DistaffCounterpart, namely Portland Thorns FC, which was a source of controversy in 2021 regarding the owners of both clubs' handling of sexual abuse allegations against former Thorns head coach Paul Riley and domestic violence allegations against Timbers striker Andy Polo. Timbers owner Merritt Paulson has since put the Thorns up for sale. Providence Park is the only MLS-specific stadium to use synthetic turf rather than natural grass[[note]]Toronto's BMO Field also originally used synthetic turf before switching to grass in 2010; however, the arrival of the CFL's Argonauts in 2016 necessitated the partial use of synthetic turf again due to a Canadian football field being significantly longer than its American cousin[[/note]], since the stadium has also served as the home of the [[UsefulNotes/CollegiateAmericanFootball FCS Portland State Vikings]] of the [[UsefulNotes/CollegiateAmericanFootballConferences Big Sky Conference]]. The Vikings have now moved their home games to a smaller venue in suburban Hillsboro, but the Timbers have so far stayed with synthetic turf.

One of the first expansion teams, along with the now-defunct Chivas USA, to be established after the contraction of the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion FC in 2001. Based in Utah, the "Real" in its name is meant to associate themselves with Real Madrid as well as having a European-sounding name. It was not until 2006 when Real Salt Lake and ''Los Blancos'' established a mutual partnership, with RSL and Real Madrid meeting twice a year for a friendly (one at home and one away), the training of RSL players at Santiago Bernabeu, and the establishment of a Real Madrid youth academy in Salt Lake City. Replaced Sporting Kansas City as the fourth MLS team with an official DistaffCounterpart in the 2017 offseason; Real launched Utah Royals FC in the 2018 season to replace the defunct FC Kansas City in the NWSL. RSL saw major turmoil in 2020 when the principal owner was found to have had a history of racial comments, with said owner essentially being forced to sell out. The NWSL side ceased operations, with the team's player-related assets being acquired by a group in... Kansas City. However, the NWSL offered Real's new ownership an option to return to that league, and the new RSL group took them up on it. The Royals (without the "FC") will return in the 2024 season.

The first club to be promoted to MLS from a lower-division league, joining MLS in 2009. Has had a good run in the league so far, leading the league in ticket sales each year until Atlanta United came along, winning the US Open Cup four times (including three in a row), and also claiming the Supporters' Shield in 2014. While local businessman Adrian Hanauer has been the principal owner since 2002, the ownership group includes plenty of star power. Shortly before the team joined MLS, comedian and game show host Creator/DrewCarey and Seahawks and [[UsefulNotes/NationalBasketballAssociation Portland Trail Blazers]] owner Paul Allen (one of the founders of Microsoft) joined the group; Allen's interest passed to his sister after his 2018 death. In 2019, a group of 11 local families purchased the interest of a retiring minority owner; the most notable new members of the group were then-Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, his wife Music/{{Ciara}}, and hip-hop artist Music/{{Macklemore}}, with former Seattle Mariners baseball star Ken Griffey Jr. joining in 2020. The first club of U.S. international defender [=DeAndre=] Yedlin, who left in 2015 for a successful spell in the UsefulNotes/EnglishPremierLeague at Tottenham and Newcastle, and the final team of Clint Dempsey, captain of the U.S. national team before his retirement after the 2018 season. Before a disastrous 2022 season, the Sounders had the distinction of making the MLS Cup playoffs in all of their MLS seasons. So far, that season seems to be a blip on the radar, if their 2023 playoff appearance is any indication. Briefly had a loose connection, specifically shared ownership, with the NWSL side Seattle Reign FC ([[IHaveManyNames later known as Reign FC and OL Reign]]), which moved from Seattle to Tacoma after the 2018 season. That ended when the parent company of prominent French club Olympique Lyonnais bought the then-Reign FC in the 2019–20 offseason, soon renaming that team OL Reign. Though for 2022, OL Reign ended up moving back to Seattle and into Lumen Field, and OL brought back the original Seattle Reign name in 2024.

-->'''Current Head Coach:''' Dean Smith[[note]](obviously not ''[[UsefulNotes/{{Basketball) that]]'' Dean Smith, who passed away in 2015)[[/note]]

-->'''Shirt Sponsor:''' Motorola

-->'''Shirt Sponsor:''' Leidos

-->'''Shirt Sponsor:''' XBTO

-->'''Shirt Sponsor:''' Transamerica

-->'''Shirt Sponsor:''' TBA

-->'''Shirt Sponsor:''' MD Anderson[[labelnote:*]]in full MD Anderson Cancer Center[[/labelnote]]

-->'''Shirt Sponsor:''' Alaska Airlines

-->'''Shirt Sponsor:''' Zulily

-->'''Shirt Sponsor:''' TBA

-->'''Shirt Sponsor:''' Bell Canada

-->'''Current Head Coach:''' Hernán Losada

-->'''Current Head Coach:''' Christian Lattanzio
-->'''Current Captain:''' Guzmán Corujo

-->'''Current Head Coach:''' Ezra Hendrickson

-->'''Current Head Coach:''' ''Vacant''

-->'''Current Captain:''' Dax [=McCarty=]

-->'''Current Head Coach:''' Bruce Arena

-->'''Current Captain:''' Maxime Chanot

-->'''Current Head Coach:''' Gerhard Struber

-->'''Current Captain:''' Mauricio Pereyra

A 2015 expansion team, they are the first club based in Florida and the Southeastern US since the contraction of the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion FC after the 2001 season. Their ascent came at the tail end of a whirlwind grassroots rise as a third-division minor league team. The final club of Brazilian Ballon d'Or winner (Ricardo) Kaká, who retired after the 2017 season, and currently home to former Brazilian international striker Alexandre Pato. Also one of two (soon to be three) MLS clubs with an official DistaffCounterpart in the National Women's Soccer League; they own and operate the Orlando Pride, which joined the NWSL in 2016.[[note]]In contrast to MLS teams that partner with separately owned NWSL sides, which are mentioned in the team descriptions.[[/note]]

-->'''Current Head Coach:''' Bob Bradley
-->'''Current Captain:''' Michael Bradley

The first Canadian team to join MLS, having started play in 2007. Though their MLS career started out rather undistinguished (until 2016, they had never finished higher than 11th in the league), they have been more successful in the Canadian Championship (currently contested by the country's three MLS teams, all Canadian Premier League teams, and two champions of lower-level Canadian leagues), winning four years in a row from 2009-2012. Rather unlucky in the league for many years, as they were known for purchasing great new players and performing well in the regular season, but missing the playoffs by one or two spots; however, they overcame this in the 2016 playoffs to become the first Canadian team to reach the MLS Cup game, beating national rivals Montreal in the Eastern Conference final. The next year, TFC became the first Canadian team to claim the Supporters' Shield ''and'' the MLS Cup. In addition, because they also won the Canadian Championship, it means that TFC became the first MLS team to achieve a domestic treble. Home of American international Michael Bradley (son of the current TFC head coach). Italy international Lorenzo Insigne joined after the 2021–22 Serie A season. Played the first part of the 2021 season at Orlando City's Exploria Stadium.

-->'''Current Captain:''' Alexander Ring

-->'''Current Head Coach:''' Robin Fraser
-->'''Current Captain:''' Jack Price

-->'''Current Captain:''' Jesús Ferreira

Formerly the Dallas Burn, they are another one of the 10 charter clubs of MLS. They changed their name upon transferring to a soccer-specific ground, Pizza Hut Park (now Toyota Stadium), in 2005. The team is owned by Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt. His father Lamar Hunt was one of MLS' key investors, and the Hunt family also previously owned Sporting Kansas City and the Columbus Crew; the U.S. Open Cup is named in honor of Lamar Hunt for his contributions to MLS and U.S. Soccer. Won their first Supporters' Shield in 2016.

An expansion team in 2006[[note]]in the same way that the Baltimore Ravens are an "expansion team" in the NFL. They were the ''original'' San Jose Earthquakes, having moved to Houston due to stadium issues.[[/note]]. Originally named "Houston 1836" to reflect the year Houston was founded and to have a European-style name along the lines of Schalke 04. However, the name displeased the Hispanic community in Houston, who related 1836 with the war for Texas independence. "Dynamo" comes from Houston's energy industry and many former Soviet Union-era clubs such as Dynamo Moscow. Under the management of former US international player Dominic Kinnear, who spent nearly a decade with the club from 2006-2014[[note]]a full decade including the two years Kinnear spent managing the club when they were the original San Jose Earthquakes[[/note]], they immediately won two MLS Cups, but then went more than a decade without further silverware until claiming the US Open Cup in 2018. The other MLS team with an official DistaffCounterpart, namely the Houston Dash. The ownership team includes former boxing great and current promoter Oscar De La Hoya and Los Angeles Clippers superstar James Harden (who bought into the team when he was with the Houston Rockets).

-->'''Current Captain:''' Javier "Chicharito" Hernández

Five-time MLS Cup champions, their most recent Cup broke a tie with D.C. United for most decorated team. Made big news in 2007 by signing UsefulNotes/DavidBeckham, and later in 2015 by signing Steven Gerrard, 2017 by signing Jonathan dos Santos, 2018 by signing Zlatan Ibrahimović, and 2020 by signing Javier "Chicharito" Hernández (with only Chicharito now playing for the team, currently as captain). As a result of this, and other major signings, possibly the best known MLS team in Europe before Inter Miami signed Messi. Also home to Landon Donovan for most of his MLS career (2005–2014, plus a short comeback in 2016). Team operator Philip Anschutz was instrumental in Major League Soccer's survival in its early years, having owned not only the LA Galaxy, but he also previously held stakes in the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, D.C. United, Houston Dynamo, New York Red Bulls, and San Jose Earthquakes; the MLS Cup trophy is named in Anschutz' honor for his contributions to the league and U.S. Soccer. Their stadium has been the temporary home to two teams in that other type of football. The NFL's Los Angeles Chargers played here from their return to LA in 2017 until the new [=SoFi=] Stadium opened in Inglewood in 2020. College football's San Diego State Aztecs, which had played in the Chargers' old stadium, played here in 2020 and 2021 while the new Snapdragon Stadium was built on the site of the old stadium. While the Galaxy's 2023 season was forgettable, the team did set a new MLS single-game attendance record, taking its home match in its local rivalry with LAFC to the Rose Bowl and drawing over 82,000.

-->'''Current Head Coach:''' Adrian Heath

-->'''Current Head Coach:''' Giovanni Savarese

-->'''Current Captain:''' Damir Kreilach

-->'''Current Captain:''' Nicolás Lodeiro

The first club to be promoted to MLS from a lower-division league, joining MLS in 2009. Has had a good run in the league so far, leading the league in ticket sales each year until Atlanta United came along, winning the US Open Cup four times (including three in a row), and also claiming the Supporters' Shield in 2014. While local businessman Adrian Hanauer has been the principal owner since 2002, the ownership group includes plenty of star power. Shortly before the team joined MLS, comedian and game show host Creator/DrewCarey and Seahawks and [[UsefulNotes/NationalBasketballAssociation Portland Trail Blazers]] owner Paul Allen (one of the founders of Microsoft) joined the group; Allen's interest passed to his sister after his 2018 death. In 2019, a group of 11 local families purchased the interest of a retiring minority owner; the most notable new members of the group were then-Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, his wife Music/{{Ciara}}, and hip-hop artist Music/{{Macklemore}}, with former Seattle Mariners baseball star Ken Griffey Jr. joining in 2020. The first club of U.S. international defender [=DeAndre=] Yedlin, who left in 2015 for a successful spell in the UsefulNotes/EnglishPremierLeague at Tottenham and Newcastle, and the final team of Clint Dempsey, captain of the U.S. national team before his retirement after the 2018 season. Before a disastrous 2022 season, the Sounders had the distinction of making the MLS Cup playoffs in all of their MLS seasons. So far, that season seems to be a blip on the radar, if their 2023 playoff appearance is any indication. Briefly had a loose connection with the NWSL side OL Reign ([[IHaveManyNames formerly Seattle Reign FC and Reign FC]]), which moved from Seattle to Tacoma after the 2018 season, namely some shared ownership. That ended when the parent company of prominent French club Olympique Lyonnais bought the then-Reign FC in the 2019–20 offseason, soon renaming that team OL Reign. Though for 2022, OL Reign ended up moving back to Seattle and into Lumen Field.

As of the ongoing 2023 MLS season, MLS is guaranteed a minimum of five berths in the CONCACAF[[note]]Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football[[/note]] Champions Cup[[note]]CONCACAF's counterpart of the UsefulNotes/UEFAChampionsLeague and UsefulNotes/CopaLibertadores[[/note]] (known in the past as the CONCACAF [[IHaveManyNames Champions' Cup and Champions League]]). For the first time, these berths are now open to teams from either the US or Canada. The MLS Cup winner enters in the round of 16, and the Supporters' Shield winner, the regular-season champion in the other conference, and the next two teams in the Supporters' Shield standings enter in the first round. The United States, which had four direct berths in the final competition under the Champions League name in 2023, now has only ''one'' direct berth—that given to the winner of the US Open Cup.[[note]]The United States Soccer Federation's equivalent to UsefulNotes/TheFACup[[/note]] which is also contested by lower division professional and amateur teams sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation.[[note]]Since 2016, any professional lower division team either majority-owned by a higher division team or whose player roster is managed by a higher division team is ineligible. Amateur teams that have similar relationships with MLS teams are still allowed to enter, but can only meet their affiliated side in the cup final.[[/note]] The Open Cup winner enters the Champions Cup in the first round. That said, since MLS launched in 1996, only one team outside MLS has won the Open Cup. Canada goes from one berth in the Champions League to ''three'' in the Champions Cup—two for its top domestic level, the Canadian Premier League (specifically the teams that top the regular-season table and win the championship playoffs), and one for the winner of the Canadian Championship, the country's equivalent to the US Open Cup[[note]]Like the US, any professional lower division club owned or managed directly by a higher level club is disqualified.[[/note]] that features Canada's MLS sides, all CPL sides, and select teams from lower-level semi-pro and amateur leagues. [[ButWaitTheresMore That's not all.]] Three berths are awarded by performance in the Leagues Cup, a summer tournament that has expanded in 2023 to involve all MLS and Liga MX (Mexican top flight) sides. The Leagues Cup winner enters in the round of 16, while the runner-up and third-place teams enter in the first round.[[note]]Liga MX gets six automatic berths. The league crowns two champions each season, as it conducts a split-season format known as "Apertura and Clausura" (the two Spanish words mean "opening" and "closing"). The champion that's higher in the league table for the entire season enters in the round of 16, and the other enters in the first round. The runners-up in the Apertura and Clausura, plus the next two teams in the aggregate season table not already qualified, enter in the first round. The remaining berths are awarded by performance in the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup (three) and the CONCACAF Central American Cup (six), the newly launched club championships for CONCACAF's other two regional zones (the US, Canada, and Mexico form one zone).[[/note]] In all cases, if an MLS team earns qualification by more than one method, the affected berth is given to the highest-ranked team in the Supporters' Shield standings that has failed to qualify.\\\

-->'''Trophies Won:''' 2008 & 2020 MLS Cup, 2004, 2008 & 2009 Supporters' Shield, 2002 US Open Cup, 2021 Campeones Cup
-->'''2023 Position:''' Eastern Conference: 3rd. Overall: 3rd. Playoffs: vs. Los Angeles FC in MLS Cup

One of the ten charter clubs, the Crew are notable for celebrating the working-class side of their fanbase. Won the MLS Cup in 2008 and 2020, as well as three Supporters' Shields. The team is credited with building the first MLS-specific stadium, with other teams following suit. In October 2017, then-team operator Anthony Precourt announced his intention to move the club to Austin, Texas in 2019 if he didn't get a new stadium built in downtown Columbus. This potential move not only angered Crew supporters, with some rival supporter groups showing their disapproval as well, but it also threw a monkey wrench into San Antonio's expansion efforts.[[note]] After meeting with MLS higher-ups in 2015, Spurs Sports and Entertainment made a substantial investment -- $18 million -- to start San Antonio FC & purchase Toyota Field for them to play on... however, MLS neglected to mention that Precourt held an option to move the Crew to Austin after acquiring the club in 2013. The two cities are only 80 miles (130 km) from each other.[[/note]] The city of Columbus and state of Ohio also filed suit, citing a state law that had been passed in the wake of the even more controversial relocation of the Cleveland Browns. The Crew's situation resonated with the Browns ownership, and they entered into talks with MLS and Precourt to buy the Crew. Just before the end of 2018, a settlement was reached: Columbus and the state of Ohio dropped their suit; the Browns owners bought the Crew and kept the team in Columbus, pledging over $200 million for a new Crew stadium in downtown Columbus (eventually known as Lower.com Field); and Precourt got a new MLS team for Austin, with a stadium deal in that city having been inked while the negotiations with the Browns were nearing their end. 2020 was planned to be the final season for Historic Crew Stadium (Mapfre Stadium from 2015–2020), with the stadium site being redeveloped as the Crew's new training ground and home of their Next Pro and academy sides; however, the Crew played their first three home matches of the 2021 season in their old ground before the new one opened. Early in the 2021 season, the current owners announced they would rebrand the team as "Columbus SC"... and got fan reaction similar to that received by the six English Premier League teams that announced they would leave the UEFA Champions League for a proposed European Super League. In other words, "extremely negative" ''doesn't begin'' to describe fan sentiment. The "Columbus SC" branding lasted only a week (about 5 days longer than the proposed ESL did), with the owners returning to the original "Columbus Crew", without the "SC", although the crest intended for the rebrand, which is shaped like Ohio's state flag, was retained with minor tweaks.

-->'''2023 Position:''' Western Conference: 3rd. Overall: 8th. Playoffs: vs. Columbus Crew in MLS Cup

A 2018 expansion team which replaced Chivas USA as the Greater Los Angeles market's second team. Unlike the Galaxy, LAFC plays in the Los Angeles city limits. British people, think of Galaxy as Manchester United and LAFC as Manchester City. LAFC's ownership group includes names like Vincent Tan[[note]]Yes, the infamous owner of [[UsefulNotes/EnglishPremierLeague Cardiff City]][[/note]], [[UsefulNotes/NotablePlayersOfTheNBA Magic Johnson]], Mia Hamm, and Creator/WillFerrell. The team's home of BMO Stadium is adjacent to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on the site formerly occupied by the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. LAFC was originally intended to start play in 2017, but stadium delays caused their debut to be put off a year. However, this meant that unlike many of LAFC's late 2010s/early 2020s expansion contemporaries, who have spent at least part of their first season in a temporary facility, LAFC played in its new digs from the start. Captained by Mexico international Carlos Vela, who scored an MLS record of 34 goals in 2019, breaking Josef Martínez' record from the previous season. Speaking of records set in 2019, LAFC claimed the crown for points earned in a season with 72, one more than the Red Bulls' record total from the season before; however, the Revs would take the points record two years later. In 2022, LAFC made a number of high-profile signings, including attacker Gareth Bale, formerly of Real Madrid and the all-time leading goal scorer for Wales; European Championship-winning Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, formerly of Juventus; and former Barcelona striker Cristian Tello. Said signings helped them to the 2022 Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup, with Bale scoring the goal that sent the MLS Cup final to penalties.[[note]]This turned out to be Bale's final club goal, as he fully retired after captaining Wales (aka Cymru) in that year's World Cup.[[/note]] Yet another side with a de facto NWSL partner, with its stadium also hosting Angel City FC.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/columbus_crew.png]]

-->'''2023 Position:''' Eastern Conference: 3rd. Overall: 3rd. Playoffs: At FC Cincinnati in conference final

-->'''2023 Position:''' Eastern Conference: 1st. Overall: 1st. Playoffs: Hosting Columbus Crew in conference final

-->'''2022 Position:''' Western Conference: 4th. Overall: 9th. Playoffs: At Los Angeles FC in conference final

-->'''2023 Position:''' Western Conference: 3rd. Overall: 8th. Playoffs: Hosting Houston Dynamo FC in conference final

-->'''2023 Position:''' Eastern Conference: 3rd. Overall: 3rd. Playoffs: At Orlando City SC in conference semifinals

-->'''2023 Position:''' Eastern Conference: 1st. Overall: 1st. Playoffs: Hosting Philadelphia Union in conference semifinals

-->'''2023 Position:''' Eastern Conference: 2nd. Overall: 2nd. Playoffs: Hosting Columbus Crew in conference semifinals

-->'''2023 Position:''' Eastern Conference: 4th. Overall: 5th. Playoffs: At FC Cincinnati in conference semifinals

-->'''2022 Position:''' Western Conference: 4th. Overall: 9th. Playoffs: Hosting Sporting Kansas City in conference semifinals

-->'''2023 Position:''' Western Conference: 3rd. Overall: 8th. Playoffs: At Seattle Sounders FC in conference semifinals

-->'''2023 Position:''' Western Conference: 2nd. Overall: 7th. Playoffs: Hosting Los Angeles FC in conference semifinals

-->'''2023 Position:''' Western Conference: 9th. Overall: 16th. Playoffs: At Houston Dynamo FC in conference semifinals

However, like the US national team, it is beginning to, slowly, get respect, with European players like Steven Gerrard ([[TheCaptain talismanic captain]] of [[UsefulNotes/EnglishPremierLeague Liverpool FC, second most successful club in English history]], [[TheAce considered by his peers to be the best player in his position on the planet in his prime]] and winner of just about every trophy short of the Premier League itself - and he was one slip away from winning that, too) a major 2015 acquisition of LA Galaxy, firmly insisting that he hadn't come to just see his career out and wanted to win trophies. On top of that, players that go to play in the MLS are often still in demand in Europe, with AC Milan and Paris St. Germain, two of the biggest clubs in Europe, taking UsefulNotes/DavidBeckham on loan in the MLS off-season; Frank Lampard forming a key part of Manchester City's team after New York City FC loaned him back; Landon Donovan having several highly successful stints at Everton FC, a well-regarded English club which was the long term home of US goalkeeper Tim 'Secretary of Defence' Howard, and becoming a fan favourite; Zlatan Ibrahimović, who came from Man United to the Galaxy about a month into the 2018 season and ended the season as a finalist for league MVP, being a speculated target of several big European sides before signing what was reported to be the richest MLS contract at that time to stay in LA; and most recently in 2023, World Cup winner and candidate for all-time greatest Lionel Messi left French side PSG and refused a '''''billion-dollar''''' offer from Saudi Arabia to join Inter Miami in the largest MLS contract of all time.[[note]]How large? Messi's [[https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37892322/messi-turning-point-draconian-mls-roster-rules reported salary of $50–$60 million]] was more than the ''combined'' 2023 roster salaries of CF Montréal, the New York Red Bulls, Orlando City, Real Salt Lake, and St. Louis City.[[/note]]\\

Now, the US is seen as the sleeping giant of football, thanks to increasing awareness of the game thanks to television coverage of UsefulNotes/EnglishPremierLeague, which has the advantage of a similar culture/appealing to America's rampant Anglophilia, and a sprinkling of US players, the growing success of the national team (now regarded as a disciplined second tier team that can be a real threat to traditional power houses England, Germany and the Netherlands) a growing Hispanic population which is football mad and as a result, many of the big [[ArbitrarilyLargeBankAccount (and rich)]] European teams regularly come on tour to the US, some, like Manchester City, forging links with MLS clubs (meaning that in time, we're likely to see talented young players from Europe being blooded in the MLS) while other teams set up academies to pick up talented players.[[note]] In doing so, possibly tapping into a vein of talent that traditional American sports don't, since American football in particular often prioritises size, speed and power. Soccer on the other hand, is much more flexible: while one or all of those things helps, if you're technically skilled enough, like Spain legend Xavi, mercurial Argentine playmaker Juan Román Riquelme and David Beckham in his later years, you don't need any of them. Though goalkeepers, centre-backs and centre-forwards ('target men', meant to provide an aerial threat from crosses and to knock long balls down for onrushing team mates) are expected to be tall (and sometimes not even then: Jorge Campos, Mexico goalkeeper at two World Cups, including US '94, was only 5'6", and World Cup winning Italy Captain Fabio Cannavaro, regarded as one of the best centre-backs of all time, was only 5'9"), short players are often successful. The aforementioned Lionel Messi for instance, 7-time La Liga winner, 4-time [[UsefulNotes/UEFAChampionsLeague Champions League]] winner, 3 time Copa del Rey winner (the Spanish domestic cup competition), unprecedented 4-time winner of the Ballon D'Or (awarded to the best player in the world, voted for by national team captains and coaches) at the age of 29 - so then still in his prime - and widely considered to be the best player not just of his time but ''in all of history'', had growth hormone deficiency as a child and even after treatment is only 5'7". Lorenzo Insigne, an Italian international winger who joined Toronto FC after the 2021–22 Serie A season, is even smaller at ''5'4"''.[[/note]] In short, for the MLS and UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball in the United States as a whole, the future looks bright.\\

'''Major League Soccer''' ('''MLS''') is the UsefulNotes/UnitedStates' and UsefulNotes/{{Canada}}'s[[note]]Technically Canada's sanctioned top-tier league is the ''Canadian Premier League'' (CPL), although by all other metrics (budgets, facilities, media, players, etc.), the CPL is in the same tier as the USL Championship, the American second division. [[/note]] top-tier professional [[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball soccer]] league. Its predecessor league, the North American Soccer League (NASL) closed its doors in 1984. MLS was founded in 1993 as a condition FIFA imposed on the US Soccer Federation in exchange for allowing the United States to host the 1994 [[UsefulNotes/TheWorldCup World Cup]]. MLS operates more like the other North American professional sports leagues. Unlike almost every other men's (or women's) association football league in the world, it currently does not have a relegation/promotion system. Each of the teams in the league are franchises granted by the league, as opposed to being completely individual entities like their European counterparts. Australia's A-League Men is the only other men's soccer league to operate the same way;[[note]]Apart from countries that are too small to support more than one league level. New Zealand's top level doesn't have promotion and relegation, but has annual regional qualifying, giving all teams the chance to qualify for the top league.[[/note]] both countries' top women's leagues, the National Women's Soccer League in the States and A-League Women in Australia, also use this model.[[note]]While the Canadian Premier League currently has no promotion and relegation, the league organizers have publicly stated that they intend to create a promotion/relegation system once enough teams enter.[[/note]] Also, unlike any of the traditional major leagues of the US and Canada ([[UsefulNotes/MajorLeagueBaseball MLB]], the [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague NFL]], the [[UsefulNotes/NationalBasketballAssociation NBA]], and the [[UsefulNotes/NationalHockeyLeague NHL]]), MLS operates on a "single-entity" model, in which all teams—and even (technically) player contracts—are owned by the league itself. The team operators, while they do have much of the same control that team owners do in other major leagues, are actually shareholders in the league. From 2005 to 2008, MLS operated a reserve league, with each franchise [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin fielding its reserve side]] in that circuit. That league was relaunched in 2011, but by 2013 its schedule been integrated with that of the third-tier league then known as USL Pro (later the United Soccer League and now the second-level USL Championship), and by 2015 the Reserve League was folded and all MLS teams were required to place a reserve side in the USLC or affiliate with an independently-owned side in that league. However, this requirement had never been strictly enforced, and by 2019 a few MLS teams had started fielding reserve sides in USL League One, a new third-level league run by the same body that runs the USLC. MLS announced in 2020 that it would relaunch the Reserve League in 2021, but COVID-19 put that plan on hold. MLS later tweaked this plan, announcing a new developmental league, unveiled as MLS Next Pro, that launched in 2022 as a third-level league (the same level as USL League One). Next Pro started with 21 teams, 20 of which are directly owned MLS reserve sides and the other independently owned. In the 2023 season, Next Pro features reserve sides for all MLS teams except CF Montréal and D.C. United; the latter originally planned to link up with Next Pro, but ended up not doing so for the time being.\\\

[[quoteright:308:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/51faa8d1686b75202679156bce19b678.png]]

-->'''2023 Position:''' Eastern Conference: 6th. Overall: 10th. Playoffs: vs. Columbus Crew in Round One

-->'''2023 Position:''' Eastern Conference: 3rd. Overall: 3rd. Playoffs: vs. Atlanta United in Round One

-->'''2023 Position:''' Eastern Conference: 2nd. Overall: 2nd. Playoffs: Hosting Columbus Crew–Atlanta United FC winner in conference semifinals

-->'''2022 Position:''' Western Conference: 4th. Overall: 9th. Playoffs: vs. Sporting Kansas City in conference semifinals

-->'''2023 Position:''' Western Conference: 7th. Overall: 14th. Playoffs: vs. Seattle Sounders FC in Round One

-->'''2022 Position:''' Western Conference: 4th. Overall: 9th. Playoffs: vs. Real Salt Lake in Round One

-->'''2023 Position:''' Western Conference: 3rd. Overall: 8th. Playoffs: vs. Seattle Sounders FC–FC Dallas winner in conference semifinals

-->'''2022 Position:''' Western Conference: 5th. Overall: 11th. Playoffs: vs. Houston Dynamo FC in Round One

-->'''2023 Position:''' Western Conference: 2nd. Overall: 7th. Playoffs: vs. FC Dallas in Round One

-->'''2023 Position:''' Western Conference: 9th. Overall: 16th. Playoffs: At Houston Dynamo FC–Real Salt Lake winner in conference semifinals