How many games are in an MLS season and how long is one MLS season?

How many games are in an MLS season and how long is one MLS season?

Kevin Omuya, Jackline Wangare
updated at February 13, 2024 at 11:54 AM

How many games are in an MLS season? A typical season in Major League Soccer comprises 34 games. Typically, the number of games ranges from 34 to 42, with an additional eight games scheduled for teams that qualify for the playoffs. Major League Soccer is widely regarded as North America's premier professional soccer league, owing to its captivating matches and ardent fan base.

how many total games are there in an mls season
Mateusz Bogusz (19) of Los Angeles FC battles Raheem Edwards (44) of Los Angeles Galaxy during the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 match between Los Angeles FC and Los Angeles Galaxy at BMO Stadium on May 23, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Shaun Clark
Source: Getty Images

There are a total of 34 matches that have been scheduled. A balanced distribution of teams fosters fair competition, enabling every team to showcase their skills to their loyal fan base while simultaneously navigating the challenges of playing in unfamiliar territories. Optimal interaction between clubs and their supporters is achieved through an equitable distribution of home and away games.

What does MLS mean?

MLS stands for Major League Soccer. It is a professional soccer league based in the United States and Canada. MLS was established in 1993 and began play in 1996 to promote and develop the sport of soccer in the region.

How many games are in an MLS season?

In a standard season, every team participates in 34 matches. There are 34 partners, each engaging in 17 home and 17 away competitions. To acquire the most recent statistical information regarding the number of games played, it is crucial to consider the possibility of alterations to both the timetable and structure.

How long is one MLS season?

The exact duration may exhibit variation on an annual basis. The duration of a typical season ranges from early March to late October. This time frame encompasses all games that take place during the postseason. It is essential to consider that variables such as the playoff format and interruptions due to international breaks may impact the magnitude.

How many games are played in an MLS season?

Home games are played in an MLS season?
Philip Quinton (2) of the Columbus Crew kicks the ball past Jackson Hopkins (25) of DC United during a match at Lower.com Field on March 4, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. Photo: Kirk Irwin
Source: Getty Images

In Major League Soccer, 34 matches are played by each of the 29 clubs. The set of 34 games is equally distributed between home and away fixtures, wherein every MLS soccer teams competes in 17 home and 17 away matches.

When does the MLS season start?

The commencement of the MLS regular season is scheduled for late February, while its conclusion is set for early October. Typically, the Cup Final is scheduled for November seventh after the commencement of playoffs in late October.

The customary commencement of the season is typically observed in the early part of March. It is important to remember that the beginning of the year might shift from one year to the next. For individuals looking for the latest schedule, it is best to frequently consult the league's official website or other reliable sources.

When does the MLS season end?

When does the MLS season end?
Carlos Vela (10) of Los Angeles FC dribbles past a defender during a game against Austin FC at Banc of California Stadium on October 29, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Jason Allen
Source: Getty Images

The regular season traditionally ends in October. However, the exact end date may vary from year to year, depending on the scheduling and any changes made by the league.

How many games are there in an MLS season in 2023?

There will be 378 regular season matches in 2023. Twenty-eight games (14 home and 14 away) will be spread out across 27 weeks for each team, up from 24 games in 2022.

What are the newest teams in MLS 2023?

St. Louis City are the only new expansion club for the 2023 season.

How many games are there in MLS before playoffs?

Eighteen teams total qualified for the postseason, with the top nine teams from each conference qualifying based on their point differential from the 34-game regular season. Each league's top seven teams will advance automatically to the quarterfinals.

What is the schedule for the MLS playoffs?

Under the current format, only the best seven teams in each conference (East and West) make the playoffs. The top-seeded team does not play in the opening round, whereas the other 11 teams do. The Eastern Conference winner will play the Western Conference winner in a match for the MLS Cup after the conclusion of the Conference Finals.

The playoffs always start with the higher seed travelling to play the lower basis. The winning team gets to host the Cup Final at their home field. Officials from Major League Soccer believe more people will attend if the championship game is played in one of the clubs' home stadiums, despite concerns about transferring the event to a neutral site.

Can MLS teams play in the Champions League?

MLS teams have the opportunity to participate in the CONCACAF Champions League, akin to the UEFA Champions League. Every season, four MLS teams secure their spots.

These spots are earned through various avenues: two US teams are selected based on regular season performance, one from the Western Conference and one from the Eastern Conference. The third American team to qualify is the MLS Cup winner, while the fourth can qualify by winning the US Open Cup, which is the American equivalent of the FA Cup.

In cases where a team qualifies through multiple berths or is taken by a Canadian MLS team, the Champions League spot is then awarded to the next best-performing US team in the overall table.

How many games in MLS before playoffs?
Chris Donovan (25) of Philadelphia Union fights off Denis Bouanga (99) of Los Angeles FC during the MLS Cup Final game at Banc of California Stadium on November 5, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Jason Allen
Source: Getty Images

Which MLS team has the most championships?

The LA Galaxy hold the title as the most successful team in MLS history, boasting an impressive record of five MLS Cups and four Supporters' Shields. Additionally, DC United has also secured four Supporters' Shields in their MLS history.

Which MLS soccer team has the most fans?

During the 2022 MLS season, Atlanta United led the way with the highest average attendance, drawing 47,116 fans to their matches. They call the Mercedes-Benz Stadium their home, the league's largest stadium, accommodating 72,035 spectators. This stadium is shared with the NFL team, the Atlanta Falcons.

Which player has the highest MLS scores?

The player with the most goals scored in Major League Soccer was Chris Wondolowski. He is an American soccer player who spent much of his MLS career with the San Jose Earthquakes. He holds the record for scoring 174 goals.

MLS standings

Here is a table of the current MLS standings. The top nine teams from both the Eastern and Western Conferences earn qualification for the MLS Cup playoffs.

Eastern Conference 2023/24

Position

Teams

Games played

Matches won

Draw

Matches lost

Goals for

Goals against

Goal differential

Points

1

FC Cincinnati

34

20

9

5

57

39

+18

69

2

Orlando City SC

34

18

9

7

55

39

+16

63

3

Columbus Crew

34

16

9

9

67

46

+21

57

4

Philadelphia

34

15

10

9

57

41

+16

55

5

New England

34

15

10

9

58

46

+12

55

6

Atlanta

34

13

12

9

66

53

+13

51

7

Nashville SC

34

13

10

11

39

32

+7

49

8

New York

34

11

10

13

36

39

-3

43

9

Charlotte FC

34

10

13

11

45

52

-7

43

10

Montreal

34

12

5

17

36

52

-16

41

11

New York City FC

34

9

14

11

35

39

-4

41

12

D.C.

34

10

10

14

45

49

-4

40

13

Chicago

34

10

10

14

39

51

-12

40

14

Inter Miami CF

34

9

7

18

41

54

-13

34

15

Toronto FC

34

4

10

20

26

59

-33

22

Western Conference 2023/24

Position

Team

Games played

Matches won

Draw

Matches lost

Goals for

Goals against

Goal differential

Points

1

St. Louis City

34

17

5

12

62

45

+17

56

2

Seattle

34

14

11

9

41

32

+9

53

3

Los Angeles FC

34

14

10

10

54

39

+15

52

4

Houston

34

14

9

11

51

38

+13

51

5

Real Salt Lake

34

14

8

12

48

50

-2

50

6

Vancouver

34

12

12

10

55

48

+7

48

7

FC Dallas

34

11

13

10

41

37

+4

46

8

Sporting KC

34

12

8

14

48

51

-3

44

9

San Jose

34

10

14

10

39

43

-4

44

10

Portland

34

11

10

13

46

58

-12

43

11

Minnesota

34

10

11

13

46

51

-5

41

12

Austin FC

34

10

9

15

49

55

-6

39

13

Los Angeles

34

8

12

14

51

67

-16

36

14

Colorado

34

5

12

17

26

54

-28

27

Which league has the most games per season?

Major League Baseball has the most games per season. One can partake in the exhilaration of Major League Baseball, a professional sports league consisting of 30 equally distributed teams between the National League and the American League. MLB has 162 games, the most extended duration among the four major American sports, providing an exhilarating experience.

How many games are in an MLS season? The season in Major League Soccer is long and full of exciting moments for players and spectators. The MLS provides a level playing field for teams to compete against one another by scheduling 34 games per team, split evenly between home and away games. The teams have plenty of opportunity to find their footing, display their talents, and compete for a postseason berth during the season, which begins in early March and ends in late October or early November.

Sportsbrief.com published an article about Iddrisu Baba. The Ghanaian star plays as a defensive midfielder for La Liga club Almería, on loan from Mallorca and the Ghana national team.

The Almería midfielder has taken part in every one of the team's 10 La Liga games in the 2023/2024 season and accumulated over 671 minutes of playing time. Check out his latest stats in the article.

Authors
Kevin Omuya photo
Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.
Jackline Wangare photo
Jackline Wangare
Jackline Simwa is a content writer at Sports Brief covering sports and lifestyle topics. Previously, she worked at The Campanile by Kenyatta University and as a Content Creator (Briefly.co.za, Legit.ng, Tuko.co.ke, Yen.com.gh).