List of Major League Soccer seasons


is the premier professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. As of 2019, it consists of 24 teams: 21 in the United States and 3 in Canada. The league has played since 1996. Each year, it plays a league which determines entry into the playoffs. The league is divided into two conferences, the Eastern Conference and Western Conference. In 2000 and 2001, there was also a Central Conference. The team with the overall best regular-season record is awarded the MLS Supporters' Shield, one of three major domestic trophies in North American soccer. In 2010 and 2011, the league played as a double round robin, with each team playing each other team one home and away—creating a balanced schedule. With an unsuitable number of teams beginning in 2012, the league has moved to an unbalanced schedule weighted towards a team's respective conference.
The postseason consists of a 14-team, four-round knockout. The top team in each conference enters in the overall quarterfinal round, while the remaining teams from each conference playoff for a spot in that round. The MLS Cup is a single match final with the winner becoming league champion of the year. Six times a team has won the league double: winning both the MLS Cup and the Supporters' Shield in the same season. In 2017, Toronto FC became the first team to win a domestic treble. The MLS Golden Boot is awarded each year to the player with the most goals in the regular season, and the best overall player is awarded the Landon Donovan MVP Award.

List of seasons

The following is a list of all MLS seasons. It contains the number of teams, the number of regular-season games played per team, the champion—winner of the MLS Cup, the winners of the regular-season Eastern Conference, the Western Conference, and for 2000 and 2001, the defunct Central Division, the winner of the Most Valuable Player Award, the top scorer, and the regular-season average attendance.
Winner of the Supporters' Shield
*Winner of the league double
‡Winner of the domestic treble

SeasonTeamsGamesChampionEasternWesternCentralMVPTop scorer Att.Ref
19961032D.C. UnitedTampa Bay MutinyLos Angeles Galaxy—Carlos ValderramaRoy Lassiter 17,406
19971032D.C. United*D.C. UnitedKansas City Wizards—PrekiJaime Moreno 14,619
19981232Chicago FireD.C. UnitedLos Angeles Galaxy—Marco EtcheverryStern John 14,312
19991232D.C. United*D.C. UnitedLos Angeles Galaxy—Jason KreisStern John
Jason Kreis
Roy Lassiter
14,282
20001232Kansas City Wizards*MetroStarsKansas City WizardsChicago FireTony MeolaMamadou Diallo 13,756
20011226–27San Jose EarthquakesMiami Fusion F.C.Los Angeles GalaxyChicago FireAlex Pineda ChacónAlex Pineda Chacón 14,961
20021028Los Angeles Galaxy*New England RevolutionLos Angeles Galaxy—Carlos RuizCarlos Ruiz 15,822
20031030San Jose EarthquakesChicago FireSan Jose Earthquakes—PrekiCarlos Ruiz
Taylor Twellman
14,898
20041030D.C. UnitedColumbus CrewKansas City Wizards—Amado GuevaraBrian Ching
Eddie Johnson
15,559
20051232Los Angeles GalaxyNew England RevolutionSan Jose Earthquakes—Taylor TwellmanTaylor Twellman 15,108
20061232Houston DynamoD.C. UnitedFC Dallas—Christian GómezJeff Cunningham 15,504
20071330Houston DynamoD.C. UnitedChivas USA—Luciano EmílioLuciano Emílio 16,770
20081430Columbus Crew*Columbus CrewHouston Dynamo—Guillermo Barros SchelottoLandon Donovan 16,460
20091530Real Salt LakeColumbus CrewLA Galaxy—Landon DonovanJeff Cunningham 16,037
20101630Colorado RapidsNew York Red BullsLA Galaxy—David FerreiraChris Wondolowski 16,675
20111834LA Galaxy*Sporting Kansas CityLA Galaxy—Dwayne De RosarioDwayne De Rosario
Chris Wondolowski
17,872
20121934LA GalaxySporting Kansas CitySan Jose Earthquakes—Chris WondolowskiChris Wondolowski 18,807
20131934Sporting Kansas CityNew York Red BullsPortland Timbers—Mike MageeCamilo Sanvezzo 18,608
20141934LA GalaxyD.C. UnitedSeattle Sounders—Robbie KeaneBradley Wright-Phillips 19,148
20152034Portland TimbersNew York Red BullsFC Dallas—Sebastian GiovincoSebastian Giovinco
Kei Kamara
21,574
20162034Seattle Sounders FCNew York Red BullsFC Dallas—David VillaBradley Wright-Phillips 21,692
20172234Toronto FC‡Toronto FCSeattle Sounders FC—Diego ValeriNemanja Nikolić 22,112
20182334Atlanta UnitedNew York Red BullsSporting Kansas City—Josef MartínezJosef Martínez 21,875
20192434Seattle Sounders FCNew York City FCLos Angeles FC—Carlos VelaCarlos Vela 21,265