Major League Soccer (MLS) is the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada.
It was founded in 1993 and currently consists of 27 teams, with plans to expand to 30 teams in the near future.
The league has a unique structure compared to other major soccer leagues around the world. Instead of a promotion and relegation system, where teams can move up or down to different divisions based on their performance, all teams in MLS are considered equal and compete against each other in a single league. Additionally, the league operates with a salary cap and a “single-entity” system, which means that the league owns all of the teams and players, rather than individual team owners.
The regular season runs from March to October, with each team playing 34 matches. The top teams in the league then advance to the playoffs, which culminate in the MLS Cup final. The team that wins the final is crowned the champion of the league.
MLS has seen a significant growth in popularity in recent years, with increasing numbers of fans attending matches and watching on television. This is due in part to the league’s efforts to attract top international talent, as well as the success of the US Men’s National Team in recent international competitions.
The league has also made significant efforts to improve the standard of play on the field, with a focus on developing young American talent and investing in new stadiums and training facilities.
In addition to the domestic league, MLS also operates a number of competitions with teams from other countries, including the CONCACAF Champions League, which features the top teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean, and the Leagues Cup, a competition between teams from MLS and Liga MX.
Overall, MLS has established itself as a top-tier professional soccer league and continues to grow in popularity and competitiveness. With many talented players and teams, it offers exciting and competitive matches for fans to enjoy.