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
Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue |
Portland Timbers | 11 | New York City | Providence Park | |||
New York City wins on PKs (4-2) |
Conference Finals
Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue |
Portland Timbers | 20 | Real Salt Lake | Providence Park |
Philadelphia Union | 12 | New York City | Subaru Park |
Conference Semifinals
Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue |
Colorado Rapids | 01 | Portland Timbers | Dick's Sporting Goods Park |
Sporting KC | 12 | Real Salt Lake | Children's Mercy Park |
Philadelphia Union | 20 | Nashville SC | Subaru Park |
New England | 22 | New York City | Gillette Stadium | |||
New York City advances on PKs (5-3) |
Conference Quarterfinals
Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue |
Philadelphia Union | 10 | New York Red Bull | Subaru Park |
Sporting KC | 31 | Vancouver Whitecaps | Children's Mercy Park |
New York City | 20 | Atlanta United | Yankee Stadium |
Portland Timbers | 31 | Minnesota United | Providence Park |
Nashville SC | 31 | Orlando City SC | Nissan Stadium |
Seattle Sounders | 00 | Real Salt Lake | Lumen Field | |||
Real Salt Lake advances on PKs (6-5) |
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 | New England | 34 | 22 -7-5 | 73 | - | 65 | 41 | 24 | 17 | 12 -3-2 | 39 | 31 | 18 | 13 | 17 | 10 -4-3 | 34 | 34 | 23 | 11 |
2 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 14 -12-8 | 54 | - | 48 | 35 | 13 | 17 | 11 -3-3 | 36 | 25 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 3 -9-5 | 18 | 23 | 25 | -2 |
3 | Nashville SC | 34 | 12 -18-4 | 54 | - | 55 | 33 | 22 | 17 | 8 -9-0 | 33 | 35 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 4 -9-4 | 21 | 20 | 15 | 5 |
4 | New York City | 34 | 14 -9-11 | 51 | - | 56 | 36 | 20 | 17 | 10 -4-3 | 34 | 37 | 13 | 24 | 17 | 4 -5-8 | 17 | 19 | 23 | -4 |
5 | Atlanta United | 34 | 13 -12-9 | 51 | - | 45 | 37 | 8 | 17 | 9 -5-3 | 32 | 25 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 4 -7-6 | 19 | 20 | 23 | -3 |
6 | Orlando City SC | 34 | 13 -12-9 | 51 | - | 50 | 48 | 2 | 17 | 8 -7-2 | 31 | 29 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 5 -5-7 | 20 | 21 | 30 | -9 |
7 | New York Red Bull | 34 | 13 -9-12 | 48 | - | 39 | 33 | 6 | 17 | 8 -6-3 | 30 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 17 | 5 -3-9 | 18 | 20 | 22 | -2 |
8 | DC United | 34 | 14 -5-15 | 47 | - | 56 | 54 | 2 | 17 | 11 -1-5 | 34 | 32 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 3 -4-10 | 13 | 24 | 37 | -13 |
9 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 13 -8-13 | 47 | - | 46 | 45 | 1 | 17 | 10 -3-4 | 33 | 33 | 22 | 11 | 17 | 3 -5-9 | 14 | 13 | 23 | -10 |
10 | Montreal Impact | 34 | 12 -10-12 | 46 | - | 46 | 44 | 2 | 17 | 9 -4-4 | 31 | 29 | 23 | 6 | 17 | 3 -6-8 | 15 | 17 | 21 | -4 |
11 | Inter Miami CF | 34 | 12 -5-17 | 41 | - | 36 | 53 | -17 | 17 | 7 -2-8 | 23 | 26 | 35 | -9 | 17 | 5 -3-9 | 18 | 10 | 18 | -8 |
12 | Chicago Fire | 34 | 9 -7-18 | 34 | - | 36 | 54 | -18 | 17 | 7 -5-5 | 26 | 23 | 18 | 5 | 17 | 2 -2-13 | 8 | 13 | 36 | -23 |
13 | Toronto | 34 | 6 -10-18 | 28 | - | 39 | 66 | -27 | 17 | 4 -7-6 | 19 | 24 | 27 | -3 | 17 | 2 -3-12 | 9 | 15 | 39 | -24 |
14 | FC Cincinnati | 34 | 4 -8-22 | 20 | - | 37 | 74 | -37 | 17 | 1 -5-11 | 8 | 17 | 29 | -12 | 17 | 3 -3-11 | 12 | 20 | 45 | -25 |
WESTERN | ||||||||||||||||||||
1 | Colorado Rapids | 34 | 17 -10-7 | 61 | - | 51 | 35 | 16 | 17 | 9 -7-1 | 34 | 31 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 8 -3-6 | 27 | 20 | 21 | -1 |
2 | Seattle Sounders | 34 | 17 -9-8 | 60 | - | 53 | 33 | 20 | 17 | 8 -5-4 | 29 | 28 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 9 -4-4 | 31 | 25 | 18 | 7 |
3 | Sporting KC | 34 | 17 -7-10 | 58 | - | 58 | 40 | 18 | 17 | 9 -5-3 | 32 | 32 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 8 -2-7 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 3 |
4 | Portland Timbers | 34 | 17 -4-13 | 55 | - | 56 | 52 | 4 | 17 | 11 -2-4 | 35 | 35 | 22 | 13 | 17 | 6 -2-9 | 20 | 21 | 30 | -9 |
5 | Minnesota United | 34 | 13 -10-11 | 49 | - | 42 | 44 | -2 | 17 | 10 -3-4 | 33 | 24 | 14 | 10 | 17 | 3 -7-7 | 16 | 18 | 30 | -12 |
6 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 34 | 12 -13-9 | 49 | - | 45 | 45 | 0 | 17 | 10 -3-4 | 33 | 25 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 2 -10-5 | 16 | 20 | 28 | -8 |
7 | Real Salt Lake | 34 | 14 -6-14 | 48 | - | 55 | 54 | 1 | 17 | 9 -4-4 | 31 | 30 | 21 | 9 | 17 | 5 -2-10 | 17 | 25 | 33 | -8 |
8 | LA Galaxy | 34 | 13 -9-12 | 48 | - | 50 | 54 | -4 | 17 | 8 -5-4 | 29 | 29 | 22 | 7 | 17 | 5 -4-8 | 19 | 21 | 32 | -11 |
9 | Los Angeles FC | 34 | 12 -9-13 | 45 | - | 53 | 51 | 2 | 17 | 8 -6-3 | 30 | 34 | 23 | 11 | 17 | 4 -3-10 | 15 | 19 | 28 | -9 |
10 | San Jose Earthquakes | 34 | 10 -11-13 | 41 | - | 46 | 54 | -8 | 17 | 5 -5-7 | 20 | 25 | 24 | 1 | 17 | 5 -6-6 | 21 | 21 | 30 | -9 |
11 | FC Dallas | 34 | 7 -12-15 | 33 | - | 47 | 56 | -9 | 17 | 5 -7-5 | 22 | 25 | 21 | 4 | 17 | 2 -5-10 | 11 | 22 | 35 | -13 |
12 | Austin FC FC | 34 | 9 -4-21 | 31 | - | 35 | 56 | -21 | 17 | 7 -2-8 | 23 | 27 | 25 | 2 | 17 | 2 -2-13 | 8 | 8 | 31 | -23 |
13 | Houston Dynamo | 34 | 6 -12-16 | 30 | - | 36 | 54 | -18 | 17 | 6 -6-5 | 24 | 21 | 22 | -1 | 17 | 0 -6-11 | 6 | 15 | 32 | -17 |
Playoffs - 1st Round Playoffs - Play-in Round |
Results
Vancouver Whitecaps | 11 | Seattle Sounders | BC Place Stadium |
Sporting KC | 01 | Real Salt Lake | Children's Mercy Park |
San Jose Earthquakes | 11 | FC Dallas | PayPal Park |
Portland Timbers | 30 | Austin FC | Providence Park |
LA Galaxy | 33 | Minnesota United | Dignity Health Sports Park |
Colorado Rapids | 52 | Los Angeles FC | Dick's Sporting Goods Park |
Montreal Impact | 02 | Orlando City SC | Stade Saputo |
New York City | 11 | Philadelphia Union | Yankee Stadium |
New England | 01 | Inter Miami CF | Gillette Stadium |
Nashville SC | 11 | New York Red Bull | Nissan Stadium |
Columbus Crew | 20 | Chicago Fire | Lower.com Field |
FC Cincinnati | 12 | Atlanta United | TQL Stadium |
Real Salt Lake | 13 | Portland Timbers | Rio Tinto Stadium |
Austin FC | 31 | Sporting KC | Q2 Stadium |
Montreal Impact | 20 | Houston Dynamo | Stade Saputo |
New York Red Bull | 00 | Atlanta United | Red Bull Arena (Harrison) |
Los Angeles FC | 11 | Vancouver Whitecaps | Banc of California Stadium |
Seattle Sounders | 11 | LA Galaxy | Lumen Field |
Philadelphia Union | 20 | FC Cincinnati | Subaru Park |