Eastern Conference (MLS)
The Eastern Conference is one of Major League Soccer's two conferences.
2019 standings
Members
Current
Conference Lineups
1996–97
- Columbus Crew
- D.C. United
- New England Revolution
- New York/New Jersey MetroStars
- Tampa Bay Mutiny
- Creation of Major League Soccer
1998–99
- Columbus Crew
- D.C. United
- MetroStars
- Miami Fusion
- New England Revolution
- Tampa Bay Mutiny
- The New York/New Jersey MetroStars changed their name to simply the MetroStars
- The Miami Fusion were added in the 1998 expansion
2000–01 (as Eastern Division)
- D.C. United
- MetroStars
- Miami Fusion
- New England Revolution
- The Eastern Conference changed to the Eastern Division with the creation of the new Central Division
- The Columbus Crew and Tampa Bay Mutiny moved into the new Central Division
2002–04
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew
- D.C. United
- MetroStars
- New England Revolution
- The Eastern Division changed back to the Eastern Conference following the contraction of the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny, resulting in the disbanding of the Central Division
- The Miami Fusion were contracted after the season
- The Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew moved in from the Central Division
2005
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew
- D.C. United
- Kansas City Wizards
- MetroStars
- New England Revolution
- The Kansas City Wizards moved in from the Western Conference
2006
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew
- D.C. United
- Kansas City Wizards
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- The MetroStars changed their name to the New York Red Bulls.
2007–09
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew
- D.C. United
- Kansas City Wizards
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- Toronto FC
- Toronto FC was added as an expansion franchise.
2010
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew
- D.C. United
- Kansas City Wizards
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- Philadelphia Union
- Toronto FC
- Philadelphia Union was added as an expansion franchise.
2011
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew
- D.C. United
- Houston Dynamo
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- Philadelphia Union
- Sporting Kansas City
- Toronto FC
- The Kansas City Wizards changed their name to Sporting Kansas City.
- The Houston Dynamo moved from the Western Conference to the Eastern Conference.
2012–14
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew
- D.C. United
- Houston Dynamo
- Montreal Impact
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- Philadelphia Union
- Sporting Kansas City
- Toronto FC
- Montreal Impact was added as an expansion franchise
2015–16
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew SC
- D.C. United
- Montreal Impact
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- New York City FC
- Orlando City SC
- Philadelphia Union
- Toronto FC
- New York City FC and Orlando City SC added as expansion franchises.
- Sporting Kansas City and Houston Dynamo move to Western Conference
- Columbus Crew adds "SC" to the official team name.
2017–18
- Atlanta United FC
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew SC
- D.C. United
- Montreal Impact
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- New York City FC
- Orlando City SC
- Philadelphia Union
- Toronto FC
- Atlanta United FC added as an expansion franchise.
2019
- Atlanta United FC
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew SC
- FC Cincinnati
- D.C. United
- Montreal Impact
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- New York City FC
- Orlando City SC
- Philadelphia Union
- Toronto FC
- FC Cincinnati added as an expansion franchise.
2020
- Atlanta United FC
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew SC
- FC Cincinnati
- D.C. United
- Inter Miami CF
- Montreal Impact
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- New York City FC
- Orlando City SC
- Philadelphia Union
- Toronto FC
- Inter Miami CF added as an expansion franchise.
- Nashville SC was added for the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament.
Eastern Conference Playoff champions by year
W – Western Conference team.
Eastern Conference regular season champions by year
| Season | Team | Record | Playoffs result |
| 1996 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 20–12–0^ | Lost Conference Finals |
| 1997 | D.C. United | 21–11–0^ | Won MLS Cup Finals |
| 1998 | D.C. United | 24–8–0^ | Lost MLS Cup Finals |
| 1999 | D.C. United | 23–9–0^ | Won MLS Cup Finals |
| 2000 | MetroStars | 17–12–3 | Lost Semifinals |
| 2001 | Miami Fusion† | 16–5–5 | Lost Semifinals |
| 2002 | New England Revolution | 12–14–2 | Lost MLS Cup Finals |
| 2003 | Chicago Fire | 15–7–8 | Lost Conference Finals |
| 2004 | Columbus Crew | 12–5–13 | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 2005 | New England Revolution | 17–7–8 | Lost MLS Cup Finals |
| 2006 | D.C. United | 15–7–10 | Lost Conference Finals |
| 2007 | D.C. United | 16–7–7 | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 2008 | Columbus Crew | 17–7–6 | Won MLS Cup Finals |
| 2009 | Columbus Crew | 13–7–10 | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 2010 | New York Red Bulls | 15–9–6 | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 2011 | Sporting Kansas City | 13–9–12 | Lost Conference Finals |
| 2012 | Sporting Kansas City | 18–7–9 | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 2013 | New York Red Bulls | 17–9–8 | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 2014 | D.C. United | 17–9–8 | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 2015 | New York Red Bulls | 18–10–6 | Lost Conference Finals |
| 2016 | New York Red Bulls | 16–9–9 | Lost Conference Semifinals |
| 2017 | Toronto FC | 20–5–9 | Won MLS Cup Finals |
| 2018 | New York Red Bulls | 22–7–5 | Lost Conference Finals |
| 2019 | New York City FC | 18–6–10 | Lost Conference Semifinals |
^ – MLS did not have draws until the 2000 season.
† – Miami Fusion were declared winners of the Eastern Division in 2001 after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks forced the cancellation of the rest of the regular season. The MLS Cup Playoffs began on September 20.
MLS Cup Champions produced
- 1996: D.C. United
- 1997: D.C. United
- 1999: D.C. United
- 2004: D.C. United
- 2008: Columbus Crew
- 2013: Sporting Kansas City
- 2017: Toronto FC
- 2018: Atlanta United FC