Major League Soccer
FIFA Region
CONCACAF
Season
2021
Location
United States
Abbreviation
USA1

Summary

Major League Soccer (USA1) is currently comprised of 27 clubs, 24 from the United States and 3 from Canada (Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver). USA1 expanded to 27 teams for the 2021 season with the addition of Austin FC and is currently split into the Eastern (14 teams) and Western (13 teams) Conferences. Major League Soccer plans to grow to 30 teams with the addition Charlotte FC in 2022, St. Louis City SC in 2023, and Sacramento Republic FC in a season to be determined. At the end of the 2021 regular season, the USA1 teams listed below qualify for the following non-league play:

  • 2022 CONCACAF Champions League (CNCFCL):
    • 2021 USA1 MLS Cup champion
    • 2021 USA1 Supporter's Shield champion (non-champion with the most points)
    • 2021 USA1 MLS Eastern/Western Conference champion with the most points
  • 2022 Leagues Cup:
    • 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place 2021 USA1 Eastern Conference teams
    • 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place 2021 USA1 Western Conference teams

If one or more of the teams listed above are Canadian teams, then the the next best 2021 USA1 United States-based team(s) without a berth will receive a 2022 CNCFCL berth.

Leagues Pyramid - United States

Abbrev League # of Teams
USA1 Major League Soccer 27
USA2 USL Championship 31
USA3 USL League One -

Competition Structure

Season

# of Teams

Regular
26 Feb 2021 - 9 Oct 2021
Playoffs
20 Nov 2021 - 15 Dec 2021
 27: United States (24), Canada (3)

Season Format

Each team currently plays an "unbalanced" schedule of 34 regular season matches, with 32 Conference matches and 2 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.

Playoffs

The 2021 USA1 Playoffs start immediately after the 2021 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 2021 USA1 Cup Final is a single Championship match played at the Home field of the championship finalist with the most points acquired during the 2021 USA1 Regular season.

Relegation

There is no Promotion/Relegation between the USA1 and the USA2.


More Info...


Audi 2021 MLS Cup

DateHome Status RoadVenue
Sat - 11 Dec 2021
 Portland Timbers 11 New York CityProvidence Park
 New York City wins on PKs (4-2) 

Conference Finals

DateHome Status RoadVenue
Sat - 4 Dec 2021
Sun - 5 Dec 2021

Conference Semifinals

DateHome Status RoadVenue
Thu - 25 Nov 2021
 Colorado Rapids 01 Portland TimbersDick's Sporting Goods Park
Sun - 28 Nov 2021
 Sporting KC 12 Real Salt LakeChildren's Mercy Park
Tue - 30 Nov 2021
 New England 22 New York CityGillette Stadium
 New York City advances on PKs (5-3) 

Conference Quarterfinals

DateHome Status RoadVenue
Sat - 20 Nov 2021
 Sporting KC 31 Vancouver WhitecapsChildren's Mercy Park
Sun - 21 Nov 2021
 New York City 20 Atlanta UnitedYankee Stadium
Tue - 23 Nov 2021
 Nashville SC 31 Orlando City SCNissan Stadium
 Seattle Sounders 00 Real Salt Lake Lumen Field
 Real Salt Lake advances on PKs (6-5) 

 LeagueHomeRoad
POSMPW - D - LPTSCPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGDMPW - D - LPTSGFGAGD
EASTERN
1New England 3422 -7-573-6541241712 -3-2393118131710 -4-334342311
2Philadelphia Union 3414 -12-854-4835131711 -3-336251015173 -9-5182325-2
3Nashville SC 3412 -18-454-553322178 -9-033351817174 -9-42120155
4New York City 3414 -9-1151-5636201710 -4-334371324174 -5-8171923-4
5Atlanta United 3413 -12-951-45378179 -5-332251411174 -7-6192023-3
6Orlando City SC 3413 -12-951-50482178 -7-231291811175 -5-7202130-9
7New York Red Bull 3413 -9-1248-39336178 -6-33019118175 -3-9182022-2
8DC United 3414 -5-1547-565421711 -1-534321715173 -4-10132437-13
9Columbus Crew 3413 -8-1347-464511710 -3-433332211173 -5-9141323-10
10Montreal Impact 3412 -10-1246-46442179 -4-43129236173 -6-8151721-4
11Inter Miami CF 3412 -5-1741-3653-17177 -2-8232635-9175 -3-9181018-8
12Chicago Fire 349 -7-1834-3654-18177 -5-52623185172 -2-1381336-23
13Toronto 346 -10-1828-3966-27174 -7-6192427-3172 -3-1291539-24
14FC Cincinnati 344 -8-2220-3774-37171 -5-1181729-12173 -3-11122045-25
WESTERN
1Colorado Rapids 3417 -10-761-513516179 -7-134311417178 -3-6272021-1
2Seattle Sounders 3417 -9-860-533320178 -5-429281513179 -4-43125187
3Sporting KC 3417 -7-1058-584018179 -5-332321715178 -2-72626233
4Portland Timbers 3417 -4-1355-565241711 -2-435352213176 -2-9202130-9
5Minnesota United 3413 -10-1149-4244-21710 -3-433241410173 -7-7161830-12
6Vancouver Whitecaps 3412 -13-949-454501710 -3-43325178172 -10-5162028-8
7Real Salt Lake 3414 -6-1448-55541179 -4-43130219175 -2-10172533-8
8LA Galaxy 3413 -9-1248-5054-4178 -5-42929227175 -4-8192132-11
9Los Angeles FC 3412 -9-1345-53512178 -6-330342311174 -3-10151928-9
10San Jose Earthquakes 3410 -11-1341-4654-8175 -5-72025241175 -6-6212130-9
11FC Dallas 347 -12-1533-4756-9175 -7-52225214172 -5-10112235-13
12Austin FC FC 349 -4-2131-3556-21177 -2-82327252172 -2-138831-23
13Houston Dynamo 346 -12-1630-3654-18176 -6-5242122-1170 -6-1161532-17
Playoffs - 1st Round
Playoffs - Play-in Round

Results

Sun - 7 Nov 2021
 Sporting KC 01 Real Salt LakeChildren's Mercy Park
 Portland Timbers 30 Austin FCProvidence Park
 LA Galaxy 33 Minnesota UnitedDignity Health Sports Park
 Colorado Rapids 52 Los Angeles FCDick's Sporting Goods Park
 Toronto 13 DC UnitedBMO Field
 New England 01 Inter Miami CFGillette Stadium
 Columbus Crew 20 Chicago FireLower.com Field
Wed - 3 Nov 2021
 Real Salt Lake 13 Portland TimbersRio Tinto Stadium
 Austin FC 31 Sporting KCQ2 Stadium
 New York Red Bull 00 Atlanta UnitedRed Bull Arena (Harrison)
Tue - 2 Nov 2021
 Los Angeles FC 11 Vancouver WhitecapsBanc of California Stadium
Mon - 1 Nov 2021
 Seattle Sounders 11 LA Galaxy Lumen Field
Sun - 31 Oct 2021