Summary
Major League Soccer (USA1) is currently comprised of 26 clubs, 25 from the United States and 3 from Canada (Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver). USA1 expanded to 28 teams for the 2022 season with the addition of Charlotte FC and is currently split into the Eastern (14 teams) and Western (14 teams) Conferences. Major League Soccer plans to grow to 30 teams with the addition of St. Louis City SC in 2023 and Sacramento Republic FC (in a season to be determined). At the end of the 2022 regular season, the USA1 teams listed below qualify for the following non-league play:
- 2023 CONCACAF Champions League (CNCFCL):
- 2022 USA1 MLS Cup champion
- 2022 USA1 Supporter's Shield champion (non-champion with the most points)
- 2022 USA1 MLS Eastern/Western Conference champion with the most points
- 2023 Leagues Cup:
- 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place 2022 USA1 Eastern Conference teams
- 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place 2022 USA1 Western Conference teams
If one of the USA1 teams listed above wins the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup (USACUP1), the next best USA1 team without a 2022 CNCFCL berth will receive a 2022 CNCFCL berth. If one or more of the teams listed above are Canadian teams, then the the next best 2022 USA1 United States-based team(s) without a berth will receive a 2023 CNCFCL berth.
Leagues Pyramid - United States
| Abbrev | League | # of Teams |
|---|---|---|
| USA1 | Major League Soccer | 228 |
| USA2 | USL Championship | 27 |
| USA3 | USL League One | - |
| USA4 | USL League Two | - |
Competition Structure
Season | # of Teams | ||
| Regular 26 Feb 2022 - 9 Oct 2022 | Playoffs 22 October 2022 - 5 Nov 2022 | 28: United States (25), Canada (3) | |
Season Format
Each team currently plays an "unbalanced" schedule of 34 regular season matches, with 26 Conference matches and 8 Nonconference matches. With the United States and Canada being very large countries, the current USA1 schedule cuts down on travel time and puts a premium on building regional rivalries. Conference standings and play-offs also nullifies any advantages/disadvantages that teams in one conference might have over another. Table ranking ties are broken by (1) total wins, (2) goal difference, (3) total goals scored, (4) disciplinary points, (5) away goals difference, (6) away goals scored, (7) home goals scored, (8) home goals difference, then (9) coin toss or a draw (3 or more clubs tied).
Playoffs
The 2022 USA1 Playoffs start immediately after the 2022 USA1 Regular season. The Top 7 teams in each conference qualify for the Playoffs. In the 1st Round, from each conference the 2nd place team hosts the 7th place team, the 3rd place team hosts the 6th place team, and the 4th place team hosts the 5th place team in "Knockout" matches. In the 2nd round, the Conference Semifinals, 1st place hosts the lowest seed Knockout match winner and the highest seeded 1st Round winner hosts the remaining 1st Round winner. In each match, if it is still tied after regular time, two 15 minute overtime periods are played. If still tied after the overtime periods, penalty kicks are taken. The 2022 USA1 Cup Final is a single Championship match played at the Home field of the championship finalist with the most points acquired during the 2022 USA1 Regular season.
Relegation
There is no Promotion/Relegation between the USA1 and the USA2.
More Info...
Audi 2022 MLS Cup Final
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
 | 22 | Philadelphia Union | Banc of California Stadium | |||
| Los Angeles FC wins on PKs (4-3) | ||||||
Conference Finals
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| 30 | Austin FC | Banc of California Stadium | |||
| MLS Cup - Western Conference Final | ||||||
| 31 | New York City FC | Subaru Park | |||
| MLS Cup - Eastern Conference Final | ||||||
Conference Semifinals
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| 10 | FC Cincinnati | Subaru Park | |||
| MLS Cup - Eastern Conference Semifinal | ||||||
| 32 | LA Galaxy | Banc of California Stadium | |||
| MLS Cup - Western Conference Semifinal | ||||||
 | 13 | New York City FC | Saputo Stadium | |||
| MLS Cup - Eastern Conference Semifinal | ||||||
Conference Quarterfinals
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
 | 12 | FC Cincinnati | Red Bull Arena (Harrison) | |||
| MLS Cup - Eastern Conference Quarterfinal | ||||||
| 10 | Nashville SC | Dignity Health Sports Park | |||
| MLS Cup - Western Conference Quarterfinal | ||||||
| 31 | Real Salt Lake | Q2 Stadium | |||
| MLS Cup - Western Conference Quarterfinal | ||||||
| 20 | Orlando City SC | Saputo Stadium | |||
| MLS Cup - Eastern Conference Quarterfinal | ||||||
| 30 | Inter Miami CF | Yankee Stadium | |||
| MLS Cup - Eastern Conference Quarterfinal | ||||||
 | 54 | Minnesota United | Toyota Stadium (Frisco) | |||
| MLS Cup - Western Conference Quarterfinal | ||||||
| League | Home | Road | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| EASTERN | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 19 -10-5 | 67 | - | 72 | 26 | 46 | 17 | 12 -5-0 | 41 | 49 | 9 | 40 | 17 | 7 -5-5 | 26 | 23 | 17 | 6 |
| 2 | CF Montréal | 34 | 20 -5-9 | 65 | - | 63 | 50 | 13 | 17 | 9 -3-5 | 30 | 30 | 21 | 9 | 17 | 11 -2-4 | 35 | 33 | 29 | 4 |
| 3 | New York City | 34 | 16 -7-11 | 55 | - | 57 | 41 | 16 | 17 | 10 -4-3 | 34 | 37 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 6 -3-8 | 21 | 20 | 22 | -2 |
| 4 | New York Red Bull | 34 | 15 -8-11 | 53 | - | 50 | 41 | 9 | 17 | 6 -5-6 | 23 | 26 | 22 | 4 | 17 | 9 -3-5 | 30 | 24 | 19 | 5 |
| 5 | FC Cincinnati | 34 | 12 -13-9 | 49 | - | 64 | 56 | 8 | 17 | 6 -6-5 | 24 | 37 | 27 | 10 | 17 | 6 -7-4 | 25 | 27 | 29 | -2 |
| 6 | Inter Miami CF | 34 | 14 -6-14 | 48 | - | 47 | 56 | -9 | 17 | 10 -3-4 | 33 | 34 | 28 | 6 | 17 | 4 -3-10 | 15 | 13 | 28 | -15 |
| 7 | Orlando City SC | 34 | 14 -6-14 | 48 | - | 44 | 53 | -9 | 17 | 9 -0-8 | 27 | 26 | 28 | -2 | 17 | 5 -6-6 | 21 | 18 | 25 | -7 |
| 8 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 10 -16-8 | 46 | - | 46 | 41 | 5 | 17 | 7 -6-4 | 27 | 22 | 15 | 7 | 17 | 3 -10-4 | 19 | 24 | 26 | -2 |
| 9 | New England | 34 | 10 -12-12 | 42 | - | 47 | 50 | -3 | 17 | 7 -6-4 | 27 | 22 | 16 | 6 | 17 | 3 -6-8 | 15 | 25 | 34 | -9 |
| 10 | Charlotte FC | 34 | 13 -3-18 | 42 | - | 44 | 52 | -8 | 17 | 10 -1-6 | 31 | 28 | 16 | 12 | 17 | 3 -2-12 | 11 | 16 | 36 | -20 |
| 11 | Atlanta United | 34 | 10 -10-14 | 40 | - | 48 | 54 | -6 | 17 | 8 -5-4 | 29 | 31 | 24 | 7 | 17 | 2 -5-10 | 11 | 17 | 30 | -13 |
| 12 | Chicago Fire | 34 | 10 -9-15 | 39 | - | 39 | 48 | -9 | 17 | 6 -5-6 | 23 | 18 | 17 | 1 | 17 | 4 -4-9 | 16 | 21 | 31 | -10 |
| 13 | Toronto | 34 | 9 -7-18 | 34 | - | 49 | 66 | -17 | 17 | 7 -3-7 | 24 | 30 | 29 | 1 | 17 | 2 -4-11 | 10 | 19 | 37 | -18 |
| 14 | DC United | 34 | 7 -6-21 | 27 | - | 36 | 71 | -35 | 17 | 4 -4-9 | 16 | 22 | 34 | -12 | 17 | 3 -2-12 | 11 | 14 | 37 | -23 |
| WESTERN | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Los Angeles FC | 34 | 21 -4-9 | 67 | - | 66 | 38 | 28 | 17 | 13 -2-2 | 41 | 39 | 15 | 24 | 17 | 8 -2-7 | 26 | 27 | 23 | 4 |
| 2 | Austin FC | 34 | 16 -8-10 | 56 | - | 65 | 49 | 16 | 17 | 8 -6-3 | 30 | 42 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 8 -2-7 | 26 | 23 | 26 | -3 |
| 3 | FC Dallas | 34 | 14 -11-9 | 53 | - | 48 | 37 | 11 | 17 | 10 -4-3 | 34 | 28 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 4 -7-6 | 19 | 20 | 22 | -2 |
| 4 | Nashville SC | 34 | 13 -11-10 | 50 | - | 52 | 41 | 11 | 17 | 6 -6-5 | 24 | 30 | 21 | 9 | 17 | 7 -5-5 | 26 | 22 | 20 | 2 |
| 5 | LA Galaxy | 34 | 14 -8-12 | 50 | - | 58 | 51 | 7 | 17 | 8 -4-5 | 28 | 35 | 25 | 10 | 17 | 6 -4-7 | 22 | 23 | 26 | -3 |
| 6 | Minnesota United | 34 | 14 -6-14 | 48 | - | 48 | 51 | -3 | 17 | 8 -5-4 | 29 | 27 | 20 | 7 | 17 | 6 -1-10 | 19 | 21 | 31 | -10 |
| 7 | Real Salt Lake | 34 | 12 -11-11 | 47 | - | 43 | 45 | -2 | 17 | 9 -5-3 | 32 | 27 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 3 -6-8 | 15 | 16 | 30 | -14 |
| 8 | Portland Timbers | 34 | 11 -13-10 | 46 | - | 53 | 53 | 0 | 17 | 8 -6-3 | 30 | 28 | 19 | 9 | 17 | 3 -7-7 | 16 | 25 | 34 | -9 |
| 9 | Colorado Rapids | 34 | 11 -10-13 | 43 | - | 46 | 57 | -11 | 17 | 10 -5-2 | 35 | 29 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 1 -5-11 | 8 | 17 | 42 | -25 |
| 10 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 34 | 12 -7-15 | 43 | - | 40 | 57 | -17 | 17 | 10 -3-4 | 33 | 25 | 20 | 5 | 17 | 2 -4-11 | 10 | 15 | 37 | -22 |
| 11 | Seattle Sounders | 34 | 12 -5-17 | 41 | - | 47 | 46 | 1 | 17 | 9 -3-5 | 30 | 29 | 19 | 10 | 17 | 3 -2-12 | 11 | 18 | 27 | -9 |
| 12 | Sporting KC | 34 | 11 -7-16 | 40 | - | 42 | 54 | -12 | 17 | 9 -2-6 | 29 | 25 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 2 -5-10 | 11 | 17 | 37 | -20 |
| 13 | Houston Dynamo | 34 | 10 -6-18 | 36 | - | 43 | 56 | -13 | 17 | 6 -5-6 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 2 | 17 | 4 -1-12 | 13 | 19 | 34 | -15 |
| 14 | San Jose Earthquakes | 34 | 8 -11-15 | 35 | - | 52 | 69 | -17 | 17 | 7 -6-4 | 27 | 31 | 27 | 4 | 17 | 1 -5-11 | 8 | 21 | 42 | -21 |
Playoffs - 1st Round Playoffs - Play-in Round | ||||||||||||||||||||
Results
 | 22 | San Jose Earthquakes | Lumen Field |
| 31 | Portland Timbers | America First Field |
| 20 | Vancouver Whitecaps | Alliannz Field (MN) |
| 01 | Nashville SC | Banc of California Stadium |
 | 13 | LA Galaxy | PNC Stadium |
| 21 | Sporting KC | Toyota Stadium (Frisco) |
| 11 | Colorado Rapids | Q2 Stadium |
| 40 | Toronto FC | Subaru Park |
| 21 | Columbus Crew | Exploria Stadium |
| 20 | Charlotte FC | Red Bull Arena (Harrison) |
| 13 | CF Montréal | DRV PNK Stadium |
 | 25 | FC Cincinnati | Audi Field (DC) |
 | 11 | New England | Soldier Field |
 | 12 | New York City FC | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| 41 | Orlando City SC | DRV PNK Stadium |
| 22 | Columbus Crew | Bank of America Stadium |
| 12 | Houston Dynamo | GEODIS Park |
| 10 | Seattle Sounders | Children's Mercy Park |
| 12 | Los Angeles FC | Providence Park |
| 21 | Orlando City SC | Citi Field |