MLS News, Stats, and Match Previews
SportsBoom is your partner for all things MLS news, scores, standings, and results. It’s an incredible all-inclusive hub for all the coverage you need in the Major League Soccer environment. This is the premier standard of men’s professional soccer in the USA. It all began in the 1990s but has quickly grown into a continentally recognized league with over 30 registered clubs and an increased global footprint.
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How the MLS Season Works
For fans of the beautiful game around the globe, this will be slightly different, but you can learn to appreciate the style and structure this tournament offers.
Regular Season
The regular season sees teams play around 34 matches. These results, much like many other American sports structures, determine the seeding a team will hold going into the playoff stage.
You must also take note of these anecdotes associated with the league:
- The team with the best overall regular-season record wins the Supporters’ Shield.
- Standings are tracked by conference, but overall league tables remain important for awards and qualification paths.
Playoffs and MLS Cup
Once the regular season comes to an end, teams qualify for the cup playoffs. This is a knockout stage that leads to the biggest prize in the United States. The MLS Cup Final. It is essentially one soccer match, which sees the winner crowned as league champion.
Biggest MLS Team Rivalries and Derbies
Many see the rivalries and derbies as games that allow the MLS to keep up with global leagues in terms of interest, but again, the American version comes with its own sort of flavour.
El Trafico (LA Galaxy vs LAFC)
The clash of Los Angeles sees the original house of glamour and might meet the new and improved expansion powerhouse. It isn’t one to miss on the MLS calendar.
Hudson River Derby (New York City FC vs New York Red Bulls)
A rivalry built on a difference in philosophy and culture among the fans. New York is an absolute melting pot, and the support for these two differing teams is no different.
MLS Stars and Legends
The MLS has enjoyed both household names within the United States and global icons, which have slowly but surely increased the profile of the league.
Domestic Legends
- Landon Donovan – Arguably the face of the early MLS and a clutch performer for both club and country.
- Clint Dempsey – A creative force who set a new standard for American attackers.
Global Powerhouses
- David Beckham – The cultural shift that raised the MLS’s profile worldwide.
- Thierry Henry – Introduced European star power into the American game.
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Delivered instant relevance and unforgettable moments.
- Lionel Messi (without question an era-defining arrival) – His contract simply symbolizes MLS’s pull as a destination for the world’s elite.
The Future of MLS
There is no doubt that the MLS continues to grow both on and off the soccer field. While they are able to maintain global credibility and consistent development, this league will continue to go from strength to strength.
Global Growth
The league has begun to attract more and more high-profile players to American shores, and this, in turn, increases the league's visibility across the soccer world.
Expansion and New Markets
There are more and more franchises evident in the league, stadiums are being built and improved everywhere you look, and as a result, investment into the league only skyrockets.
Style, Youth, and Analytics
The development from grassroots soccer in the United States all the way through to the MLS has seen a seismic shift – one which is likely to drastically improve after the FIFA World Cup.
Academies and various tactical innovations have reshaped how the game is played, but also how teams engage with young talent in their club.