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2018 Major League Soccer season

23rd season of Major League Soccer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2018 Major League Soccer season was the 23rd season of Major League Soccer, top division of soccer in the United States and Canada. The regular season began on March 3, 2018 and concluded on October 28, 2018. The MLS Cup Playoffs began on October 31, 2018 and concluded with MLS Cup 2018 on December 8, 2018. The league took a nine-day hiatus in early June for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, reduced from previous breaks.[1]

Season2018
Dates
  • March 3 – October 28
    (regular season)
  • October 31 – December 8
    (Playoffs)
Teams23
MLS CupAtlanta United FC (1st title)
Quick facts Season, Dates ...
Major League Soccer
Season2018
Dates
  • March 3 – October 28
    (regular season)
  • October 31 – December 8
    (Playoffs)
Teams23
MLS CupAtlanta United FC (1st title)
Supporters' ShieldNew York Red Bulls (3rd shield)
Champions League
(United States)
Atlanta United FC
Houston Dynamo
New York Red Bulls
Champions League
(Canada)
Toronto FC
Matches391
Goals1,249 (3.19 per match)
Top goalscorerJosef Martínez
(31 goals)
Best goalkeeperLuis Robles
(14 shutouts)
Biggest home win6 goals:
SKC 6–0 VAN
(April 20)
Biggest away win6 goals:
COL 0–6 RSL
(August 25)
Highest scoring8 goals:
MTL 3–5 LAFC
(April 21)
TOR 4–4 DC
(June 13)
RSL 6–2 LAG
(September 1)
TOR 5–3 LAG
(September 15)
Longest winning run9 games
Seattle Sounders FC
(July 21 – September 19)
Longest unbeaten run15 games
Portland Timbers
(April 14 – August 11)
Longest winless run13 games
Orlando City SC
(July 21 – October 21)
Longest losing run9 games
Orlando City SC
(May 13 – July 7)
Highest attendance72,243
ATL 1–1 SEA
(July 15)
Lowest attendance5,158
DC 2–2 HOU
(March 17)
Total attendance8,553,245
Average attendance21,875
2017
2019
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Los Angeles FC joined the league as an expansion franchise, while D.C. United debuted their new soccer-specific stadium, Audi Field.

Toronto FC were the defending Supporters' Shield champions and defending MLS Cup champions.

New York Red Bulls won their third Supporters' Shield, with a league record 71 points, while Atlanta United FC won their first MLS Cup in their second year in the league.

Teams

Stadiums and locations

More information Western Conference, Team ...
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  1. ^
    Non-soccer specific stadium and artificially reduced capacity.

Personnel and sponsorship

Note: All teams use Adidas as kit manufacturer.

  1. Kinnear was named interim head coach of the Galaxy on September 10 following Sigi Schmid's departure on that day.
  2. Torrent was named head coach of New York City FC on June 11 following Patrick Vieira's departure on that day to manage OGC Nice.
  3. Armas was named head coach of the Red Bulls on July 6 following Jesse Marsch's departure on that day to join the coaching staff of RB Leipzig.
  4. O'Connor was named head coach on June 29, but did not join Orlando City until July 1. Bobby Murphy, who had been named interim head coach on June 15 after Orlando City and Jason Kreis agreed to part ways, coached the team's June 30 match.
  5. Almeyda was named head coach on October 8, replacing interim head coach Steve Ralston, who took over after the Earthquakes fired Mikael Stahre on September 17.
  6. Dalrymple was named interim head coach after the Whitecaps parted ways with Carl Robinson on September 25.

Coaching changes

More information Team, Outgoing coach ...
Team Outgoing coach Manner of
departure
Date of
vacancy
Position in table Incoming coach Date of
appointment
Montreal Impact Canada Mauro Biello Fired October 23, 2017 Pre-season France Rémi Garde November 8, 2017
New England Revolution United States Tom Soehn (interim) End of interim period November 9, 2017 United States Brad Friedel November 9, 2017
Portland Timbers United States Caleb Porter Resigned November 17, 2017 Venezuela Giovanni Savarese December 18, 2017
San Jose Earthquakes United States Chris Leitch Returned to technical director role November 24, 2017 Sweden Mikael Stahre November 24, 2017
Colorado Rapids England Steve Cooke (interim) End of interim period November 29, 2017 England Anthony Hudson November 29, 2017
New York City FC France Patrick Vieira Signed by France Nice June 11, 2018 2nd in East, 4th overall Spain Domènec Torrent June 11, 2018
Orlando City SC United States Jason Kreis Mutual decision June 15, 2018 6th in East, 14th overall United States Bobby Murphy (interim) June 15, 2018
Orlando City SC United States Bobby Murphy (interim) End of interim period June 29, 2018 8th in East, 17th overall Republic of Ireland James O'Connor June 29, 2018
New York Red Bulls United States Jesse Marsch Signed by Germany RB Leipzig July 6, 2018 2nd in East, 3rd overall United States Chris Armas July 6, 2018
LA Galaxy Germany Sigi Schmid Resigned September 10, 2018 8th in West, 13th overall United States Dominic Kinnear (interim) September 10, 2018
San Jose Earthquakes Sweden Mikael Stahre Fired September 17, 2018 12th in West, 23rd overall United States Steve Ralston (interim) September 17, 2018
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Wales Carl Robinson Fired September 25, 2018 8th in West, 14th overall England Craig Dalrymple (interim) September 25, 2018
San Jose Earthquakes United States Steve Ralston (interim) End of interim period October 8, 2018 12th in West, 23rd overall Argentina Matías Almeyda October 8, 2018
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Regular season

Format

During the 2018 MLS regular season, each team played 34 games, including 17 home games and 17 away games. Teams faced each of their conference opponents (10 in the East, 11 in the West) twice during the season with one game at home and one game away. Western Conference teams played one additional intra-conference game and Eastern Conference teams played two. All teams faced each non-conference opponent once.

Eastern Conference

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 New York Red Bulls 34 22 7 5 62 33 +29 71 MLS Cup Conference Semifinals
2 Atlanta United FC 34 21 7 6 70 44 +26 69
3 New York City FC 34 16 10 8 59 45 +14 56 MLS Cup Knockout Round
4 D.C. United 34 14 11 9 60 50 +10 51
5 Columbus Crew 34 14 11 9 43 45 2 51
6 Philadelphia Union 34 15 14 5 49 50 1 50
7 Montreal Impact 34 14 16 4 47 53 6 46
8 New England Revolution 34 10 13 11 49 55 6 41
9 Toronto FC 34 10 18 6 59 64 5 36
10 Chicago Fire 34 8 18 8 48 61 13 32
11 Orlando City SC 34 8 22 4 43 74 31 28
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Source: MLS

Western Conference

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Sporting Kansas City 34 18 8 8 65 40 +25 62 MLS Cup Conference Semifinals
2 Seattle Sounders FC 34 18 11 5 52 37 +15 59
3 Los Angeles FC 34 16 9 9 68 52 +16 57 MLS Cup Knockout Round
4 FC Dallas 34 16 9 9 52 44 +8 57
5 Portland Timbers 34 15 10 9 54 48 +6 54
6 Real Salt Lake 34 14 13 7 55 58 3 49
7 LA Galaxy 34 13 12 9 66 64 +2 48
8 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 34 13 13 8 54 67 13 47
9 Houston Dynamo 34 10 16 8 58 58 0 38
10 Minnesota United FC 34 11 20 3 49 71 22 36
11 Colorado Rapids 34 8 19 7 36 63 27 31
12 San Jose Earthquakes 34 4 21 9 49 71 22 21
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Source: MLS

Overall standings

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 New York Red Bulls (S) 34 22 7 5 62 33 +29 71 CONCACAF Champions League
2 Atlanta United FC (C) 34 21 7 6 70 44 +26 69
3 Sporting Kansas City 34 18 8 8 65 40 +25 62
4 Seattle Sounders FC 34 18 11 5 52 37 +15 59
5 Los Angeles FC 34 16 9 9 68 52 +16 57
6 FC Dallas 34 16 9 9 52 44 +8 57
7 New York City FC 34 16 10 8 59 45 +14 56
8 Portland Timbers 34 15 10 9 54 48 +6 54
9 D.C. United 34 14 11 9 60 50 +10 51
10 Columbus Crew 34 14 11 9 43 45 2 51
11 Philadelphia Union 34 15 14 5 49 50 1 50
12 Real Salt Lake 34 14 13 7 55 58 3 49
13 LA Galaxy 34 13 12 9 66 64 +2 48
14 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 34 13 13 8 54 67 13 47
15 Montreal Impact 34 14 16 4 47 53 6 46
16 New England Revolution 34 10 13 11 49 55 6 41
17 Houston Dynamo 34 10 16 8 58 58 0 38 CONCACAF Champions League
18 Minnesota United FC 34 11 20 3 49 71 22 36
19 Toronto FC 34 10 18 6 59 64 5 36 CONCACAF Champions League
20 Chicago Fire 34 8 18 8 48 61 13 32
21 Colorado Rapids 34 8 19 7 36 63 27 31
22 Orlando City SC 34 8 22 4 43 74 31 28
23 San Jose Earthquakes 34 4 21 9 49 71 22 21
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Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goals scored; 7) away goal differential; 8) coin toss or drawing of lots
(C) MLS Cup Champion; (S) Supporters' Shield

MLS Cup Playoffs

Attendance

Average home attendances

As of October 29, 2018

Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.

More information Pos., Team ...
Pos. Team GP Cumulative High Low Mean
1Atlanta United FC17901,03372,24344,69653,002
2Seattle Sounders FC17690,89347,52139,46540,641
3Toronto FC17452,67530,79923,01126,628
4LA Galaxy17415,54327,06816,23124,444
5Minnesota United FC17406,34252,24218,05723,902
6Orlando City SC17405,73025,52722,33723,866
7New York City FC17394,58330,13918,58423,211
8Los Angeles FC17374,71622,71622,00022,042
9Vancouver Whitecaps FC17373,08927,86317,35721,946
10Portland Timbers17359,44821,14421,14421,144
11Sporting Kansas City17339,14821,06418,50819,950
12San Jose Earthquakes17323,54750,74315,64819,032
13New York Red Bulls17316,95625,21914,76818,644
14Real Salt Lake17316,28621,36316,01518,605
15Montreal Impact17315,66526,00515,48518,569
16New England Revolution17311,89736,57310,54718,347
17D.C. United17299,80320,5735,12817,635
18Houston Dynamo17287,40822,32013,09416,906
19Philadelphia Union17280,80519,01314,79516,518
20FC Dallas17263,70719,09613,14715,512
21Colorado Rapids17260,66017,83710,79015,333
22Chicago Fire17251,70821,9158,55114,806
23Columbus Crew17211,60319,1217,68312,447
 Total3918,553,24572,2435,12821,875
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Highest attendances

As of October 22, 2018

Regular season

More information Rank, Home team ...
Rank Home team Score Away team Attendance Date Week Stadium
1Atlanta United FC1–1Seattle Sounders FC72,243July 15, 201820Mercedes-Benz Stadium
2Atlanta United FC3–1D.C. United72,035March 11, 20182Mercedes-Benz Stadium
3Atlanta United FC2–0Real Salt Lake72,017September 22, 201830Mercedes-Benz Stadium
4Atlanta United FC4–0Orlando City SC71,932June 30, 201818Mercedes-Benz Stadium
5Atlanta United FC2–1Chicago Fire71,812October 22, 201834Mercedes-Benz Stadium
6Minnesota United FC1–3LA Galaxy52,242October 21, 201833TCF Bank Stadium
7San Jose Earthquakes3–3LA Galaxy50,743June 30, 201818Stanford Stadium
8Seattle Sounders FC2–3Portland Timbers47,521June 30, 201818CenturyLink Field
9Atlanta United FC3–1Columbus Crew45,303August 19, 201825Mercedes-Benz Stadium
10Atlanta United FC5–0Los Angeles FC45,207April 7, 20186Mercedes-Benz Stadium
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Player statistics

Goals

Hat-tricks

Assists

Shutouts

Awards

Individual awards

Best XI

Player of the Month

More information Month, Player ...
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Player and team of the week

  • Bold denotes league player of the week.
  • Italics denotes Audi player performance of the week.
More information Team of the week, Week ...
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Goal of the Week

Player transfers

SuperDraft

The MLS SuperDraft is an annual event, taking place in January of each year, in which the teams of Major League Soccer select players who have graduated from college or otherwise been signed by the league. The first two rounds of 2018 MLS SuperDraft were held on January 19 in Philadelphia. Rounds three and four of the 2018 SuperDraft were held via conference call on January 21. Los Angeles FC selected João Moutinho with the first overall pick.

Allocation ranking

The allocation ranking is the mechanism used to determine which MLS club has first priority to acquire a player who is in the MLS allocation list. The MLS allocation list contains select U.S. National Team players and players transferred outside of MLS garnering a transfer fee of at least $500,000. The allocations are ranked in reverse order of finish for the 2017 season, taking playoff performance into account.[116] As an expansion team, Los Angeles FC took the top spot.

Once the club uses its allocation ranking to acquire a player, it drops to the bottom of the list. A ranking can be traded provided that part of the compensation received in return is another club's ranking. At all times each club is assigned one ranking. The rankings reset at the end of each MLS season.

More information Original ranking, Current ranking ...
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  1. ^
    On December 10, 2017, FC Dallas acquired the number 1 allocation ranking, $250,000 in general allocation money (GAM), and $250,000 in targeted allocation money (TAM) from Los Angeles FC in exchange for the number 11 allocation ranking and Walker Zimmerman.
  2. ^
    On January 30, 2018, Orlando City acquired the number 1 allocation ranking from FC Dallas in exchange for the number 6 allocation ranking and $400,000 in targeted allocation money (TAM).
  3. ^
    On August 8, 2018, Portland acquired the number 1 allocation ranking from LA Galaxy in exchange for the number 16 allocation ranking, $75,000 in general allocation money (GAM), and $100,000 in 2019 targeted allocation money (TAM).

References

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