History
Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, and began play in 1996 after the USA hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Originally represented by 10 teams, MLS has witnessed incredible growth, welcoming 12 new clubs to the league since 2015. Commissioner Don Garber has held his current role at MLS since 1999.
Teams
In 2026, 30 clubs compete in MLS play with fifteen teams competing in the Eastern Conference and 15 in the Western Conference.
2026 MLS Season
The 2026 MLS regular season begins on February 21, 2026 and will conclude on Decision Day, November 7. Each of the 30 MLS clubs will play 34 matches in the MLS regular season, 17 at home and 17 away. Clubs will play conference opponents twice (28 games), once at home and once away. Each club will play six different cross-conference opponents.
Soccer Stadiums
MLS is home to world-class stadiums and training facilities, having opened 12 new stadiums built for soccer in the past 10 years. Inter Miami CF will open their new stadium, Miami Freedom Park, in April 2026 with more to come in New York City (2027) and Chicago (2028) in the next few years.
MLS on Apple TV
About Major League Soccer
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer -- celebrating its 31st season in 2026 -- features 30 clubs throughout the United States and Canada. All MLS and Leagues Cup matches can be watched on the Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, and game consoles, and the web at tv.apple.com, and features the most expansive and accessible lineup of programming ever for MLS fans. For more information about MLS, visit mlssoccer.com. For more information about the Apple TV app, visit apple.com/apple-tv-app.
MLS is the Most Globally-Diverse Men’s Professional League in North America
With players from 79 countries across six continents represented on 2024 rosters, Major League Soccer features the most geographically diverse and youthful player pool of any men’s professional league across North America.
Beyond North America, MLS continues to be the most globally representative league among the top men’s soccer leagues around the world, including the English Premier League (69 countries represented), France’s Ligue 1 (68), Italy’s Serie A (65), Spain’s La Liga (60), and Germany’s Bundesliga (54).
Record-Setting 2022 FIFA World Cup Representation
Major League Soccer was represented by a league-record 37 players at the World Cup in Qatar – the most of any league in the Western Hemisphere and only eclipsed globally by the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 in overall number of players called in to the World Cup. Atlanta United’s Thiago Almada of Argentina became the first active MLS player to be a member of the victorious World Cup squad.
Club Valuations
Per a Sportico report in January 2025, MLS clubs were valued at an average of $721 million, which is up 31% from Sportico’s first valuations in 2021. In 2025, five different MLS clubs were valued at more than $1 billion.
