Counting the Clubs: How Many MLS Teams Are There?

The Number of Teams in the MLS

Since the MLS’ (Major League Soccer) first season began in 1996, a number of teams have called the league their home. At the league’s start, there were only ten teams playing. They included:

• Columbus Crew
• San Jose Clash (now the San Jose Earthquakes)
• New England Revolution
• Kansas City Wiz (now Sporting Kansas City)
• Tampa Bay Mutiny
• Washington D.C. United
• Colorado Rapids
• Metrostars (now the New York Red Bulls)
• LA Galaxy
• Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas)

The Tampa Bay Mutiny went on to fold just a few years later, while some other original teams have since gone through extensive rebranding. After those first teams were off the ground, it was time for some major MLS expansion. Over the years, teams have been added all over both the USA and Canada. 

How Many MLS Teams Are There Today?

There are currently 29 active teams in the MLS, but that number is temporary. In fact, it was recently decided that a 30th team will be founded sooner rather than later. While both San Diego and Las Vegas were in contention for this coveted 30th expansion team, San Diego won out in the end. As a result, this new Californian expansion club is expected to join the MLS in 2025.

What Teams Are in the MLS?

Californian soccer fans looking for a team outside of Los Angeles can now root for the Sacramento Republic. Those in the northern US are regularly treated to games featuring Minnesota United. For a slightly more wholesome activity in sin city, head to a Las Vegas Lights FC game. Floridian fans cheer on either Inter Miami CF or Orlando City SC.

On the other side of the country, Pacific Northwesterners get to follow the Portland Timbers or Seattle Sounders. If you take a trip further north and a bit east, you can check out a Vancouver Whitecaps game. Other Canadian soccer teams include Toronto FC and CF Montréal.

Since Texas is so vast, it’s only fitting that they would have multiple football clubs at their disposal. The Houston Dynamo, Austin FC, and FC Dallas all play throughout the Lonestar State.

Fans from Tennessee can check out the beloved Nashville SC in action. Just one state to the east, Charlotte FC positively lights up the field. Georgia has its own team that boasts plenty of southern pride in Atlanta United, 

Don’t worry; we didn’t forget about all of you Midwesterners. The MLS has plenty to show in your region of the states, too. MLS franchises from St. Louis City SC to FC Cincinnati to the Chicago Fire all play there.

Teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference duke it out each year for the MLS Cup. The MLS season typically runs from February or March through October, at which point the playoffs will begin. 

How Many Teams Do Other American Sports Leagues Have?

After hearing how many teams this soccer league has at its disposal, the next question is frequently about the number of teams in other leagues. Does the MLS stack up to other American leagues, or do they have some catching up to do?

The truth is that the MLS is in great company with its number of teams. The most popular leagues in the states all have similar totals. As opposed to the current 29 (soon to be 30) teams in the MLS, the NBA and MLB each have 30. Meanwhile, both the NFL and the NHL currently have 32 franchises.

Though the MLS will reach 30 teams in 2025, that doesn’t mean that they’re ready to stop expanding entirely. There are plans to potentially continue adding new teams to the roster, allowing even more people to get in on the fun and get out to see an MLS game.

What Are the Best Teams in the MLS?

Okay, maybe saying these teams are the “best” in the MLS isn’t completely fair to the rest of the league. After all, there are so many different metrics you can use to measure what makes a team truly great. 

Are you only thinking about a club’s record since the beginning of the league? Or maybe you are more concerned with how that team has performed in recent years. You could follow a few players avidly and become fans of anywhere they end up. Then, many of us base who we follow on where we live and the team closest to us.

This is all to say that there is no one way to qualify an MLS team as “the best.” Instead, we will take this chance to highlight some of the most prominent and popular teams in the league. If your team doesn’t make the list, don’t worry! We’d discuss every club if we could, but unfortunately, the internet is only so big.

Los Angeles Galaxy

One of the original teams when the MLS first launched in 1996, the LA Galaxy has remained at the top of its game for much of its run ever since. They hold the most MLS titles in the league and have won the cup five times since their inception.

The team has hosted a number of phenomenal stars during its time in the MLS, helping the Galaxy truly earn its name. Some of their best-known athletes are likely Zlatan Ibrahimović and David Beckham, both of whom lead LA to countless victories.

Los Angeles Football Club

It might seem odd to have two football teams so close to one another, but the LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC more than make do. Actually, when these two teams play each other, it’s an event that rings out through much of Southern California. As well as being called the LA Derby, the rivalry between LAFC and the Los Angeles Galaxy has playfully been dubbed “El Tráfico.” 

Why did the rivalry earn that name? Anyone who’s dared to traverse the 405 after a game will tell you the answer.

New York City FC

Like Los Angeles, New York also has two separate teams for just one city. This can create harsh rivalries that enliven the sport and keep fans engaged. New York City FC and The New York Red Bulls are no exception to that rule. 

NYCFC was founded in 2013 and went on to play their first game against Orlando City SC in 2015. They’re a newer addition to the league, but they hit their stride and managed to win the MLS Cup in 2021 versus the Portland Timbers. Rather than playing at a soccer-specific stadium, New York City FC shares a stadium with the New York Yankees.

Advantages of Buying Soccer Tickets With TickPick

No matter which of the active MLS teams is your favorite, rest assured that you can find tickets to their games on TickPick. Not only do we have tickets to anything from sporting events to comedy shows to concerts and more, but we ensure a fantastic experience for customers every step of the way.

Buying tickets shouldn’t be a guessing game. We firmly believe that what you see should be exactly what you get, which is why we never have any hidden or service fees to contend with. Instead, the price listed is the price you pay. Transparency is a crucial part of our identity, which is why we’re so proud to offer our BuyerTrust Guarantee.

This guarantee is our promise that you will get your tickets with plenty of time to spare before the event. In case it’s canceled, you’ll receive a 100% refund or could even choose to get a 105% credit on TickPick.

With our BestPrice Guarantee, know that you won’t find a cheaper price anywhere else. If you do find one within a half hour of buying your tickets with us, we will give you a 110% credit of the difference to use on any other TickPick tickets.

Join the Club

There are so many ways to enjoy soccer outside of watching the FIFA World Cup every four years or the Premier League across the pond. There’s no better time to go out to see an MLS game than the present. 

With our low prices, seasoned soccer fans can see more matches in person than ever before. New fans, on the other hand, can dive headfirst into the sport, knowing that tickets will never break the bank. 

In between games, be sure to check out TickPick’s listings for all sorts of other live events!