List of Major League Soccer Teams

Major League Soccer (MLS) was formed as a limited liability company in 1995. This was to honor a deal with FIFA who had awarded the US the rights to host the 1994 world cup. The first game was played in 1996 between DC United FC and San Jose Clash. MLS has come along way since its inception from the down times of its first five years to being the most popular and profitable franchise in American professional sports.

Top 3 Teams

Seattle Sounders FC

The Sounders are the defending champions of the MLS Cup and is a major franchise in the Major League soccer. Founded in 2007, the Sounders have won the league six times since making their maiden appearance in the Top Flight Competition. Home games are played at the Century Link Field Stadium. Adrian Hanauer is the owner of the team on account of his majority shares in the club. Seattle Sounders is proudly sponsored by Microsoft which has its logo appear on its playing kits. The team has also been setting records in the MLS due to its impressive attendances by fans in every season, and they get good television rights deals too. As a result, the Sounders is ranked among the valuable brands.

Los Angeles Galaxy FC

The Galaxy is the most decorated team in the MLS and the most successful since it was founded in 1994. Based in California Los Angeles, the Galaxy has been crowned champions for a record five times on different occasions. It has also won the CONCACAF title in 2000 to be the only team after DC United to win the regional competition in America. The Galaxy has also won the Supporters Shield four times and the Lamar Hunt Open Cup two times. Football stars from European leagues have played here. David Beckham joined the Galaxy in 2007 and the former England and Liverpool Captain, Steven Gerad joined the team in 2015 before retiring. Homegrown stars like Landon Donovan have made their careers here too. The Galaxy plays its home games at the StubHub Center Stadium in California.

Toronto FC

Founded in 2005, the Canadian team has played in the MLS since 2007. Popularly known as the Reds, the team is currently the holder of the supporters shield in 2017 and had the most points in a season with sixty-nine. The BMO Stadium is their home ground and it was expanded in 2010 before the start of that season. This stadium is the largest soccer facility in Canada as it serves as the national stadium. Despite not winning the MLS league, it has won the Canadian championship six times. Just as their nickname suggests, their colors are red. The Reds are under the ownership by Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment and is coached by Greg Vanney.

​ Future of the MLS

The MLS has expanded to 22 teams and its membership is fixed. This means that no member can be relegated or promoted at the end of a season and making it the only league in the world not to do so. It remains unclear if it would change its format to suit the FIFA calendar from its March to October format. The competition from the NFL, NBA, and NHL ensures that the MLS will have to innovate for the future just to maintain and attract new subscribers.