Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer (MLS) is the premier soccer league in the United States and Canada, founded in 1993 as a prerequisite for the United States hosting the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The league played its inaugural season in 1996 and has grown exponentially in stature, popularity, and quality.

Structure and Format:
MLS currently features 29 teams, split into the Eastern and Western conferences. Each conference has its unique regular-season standings and playoffs. The high-stakes postseason culminates in the MLS Cup, the league's championship match, held every year in late November or early December.

Single Entity Structure:
One unique feature of MLS is its single-entity structure, where the league owns all the clubs and player contracts. Investors or "owner-operators" manage individual teams but also have a stake in the league, streamlining its business model and helping maintain competitive balance.

Fixed Membership:
MLS has a fixed membership and is one of the few top-tier soccer leagues worldwide without a promotion and relegation system.

Talent and Competition:
Over the years, MLS has attracted emerging local talent and international stars thanks to the Designated Player Rule. This rule allows teams to sign high-profile players whose salaries don't entirely count against the team's salary cap. Soccer legends like David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Lionel Messi have all played in MLS, raising its profile on the global stage.

Tournaments and Cups:
In addition to the regular season and playoffs, MLS teams participate in competitions like the U.S. Open Cup, the Canadian Championship, and the CONCACAF Champions League.