MLS

Major League Soccer (MLS) is the top-level men's professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It was founded in 1993 as part of the U.S. bid to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup and began play in 1996. The league operates under a single-entity structure in which investor-operators own teams and the league signs players to contracts.

The season runs from late winter or early spring through the fall, followed by the MLS Cup Playoffs that determine the league champion. A regular-season table also awards the Supporters' Shield to the team with the best record. Teams are organized in Eastern and Western Conferences, and the number of clubs has grown through expansion to include franchises across the United States and Canada.

MLS employs a salary cap and a Designated Player rule to allow clubs to sign high-profile players above the cap. The single-entity model and shared revenue help control costs. MLS NEXT Pro serves as a reserve and development league, while clubs operate youth academies that feed players into MLS or higher levels. Homegrown signings are common.

Governance is by a commissioner and a board of governors, with the MLS Players Association representing players. National broadcast deals have included ESPN and ABC, and, since 2023, Apple TV's MLS Season Pass, along with regional rights. MLS teams also compete in the U.S. Open Cup and, for some clubs, in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Since its inception, MLS has contributed to the growth of soccer in the United States and Canada through expansion, stadium investment, and youth development. Notable clubs include Los Angeles Galaxy, Seattle Sounders FC, Toronto FC, and CF Montréal, among others. The league continues to expand and evolve to broaden its footprint and competitive level.