2026 Major League Soccer season

31st season of Major League Soccer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2026 Major League Soccer season is the ongoing 31st season of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is also the 48th overall season of a national first-division men's soccer league in the United States overseen by the United States Soccer Federation. The league has 30 clubs that are divided into the Eastern and Western conferences, each with 15 teams.

Season2026
Dates
  • February 21 – November 7
    (regular season)
  • November 18 – December 18
    (playoffs)
Teams30
Matches218
Quick facts Season, Dates ...
Major League Soccer
Season2026
Dates
  • February 21 – November 7
    (regular season)
  • November 18 – December 18
    (playoffs)
Teams30
Matches218
Goals720 (3.3 per match)
Top goalscorerHugo Cuypers
(13 goals)
Best goalkeeperHugo Lloris
(8 clean sheets)
Biggest home winVancouver 6–0 Minnesota
(March 15)
Los Angeles 6–0 Orlando
(April 4)
Portland 6–0 Kansas City
(May 9)
Biggest away winD.C. 0–4 Dallas
(April 4)
Highest scoring10 goals:
Miami 6–4 Philadelphia
(May 24)
Longest winning run6 matches:
San Jose
(March 21–April 25)
Longest unbeaten run9 matches:
Miami
(March 1–April 25)
Seattle
(March 7–May 13)
Longest winless run9 matches:
San Diego
(March 14–May 9)
Longest losing run6 matches:
Philadelphia
(February 21–April 11)
Highest attendance75,824
COL 2–3 MIA
(April 18)[1]
Lowest attendance11,004
DAL
(multiple)
2025
2027
All statistics correct as of May 24, 2026.
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The regular season is scheduled to run from February 21 to November 7, with 34 matches for each team, primarily against opponents in the same conference. A six-week break from May 25 to July 16 is planned for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The playoffs are scheduled to be played during an uninterrupted period in November and December that culminates in MLS Cup 2026, the league's postseason championship,[2] on December 18.[3] The 2026 season is the final full season played under the spring–autumn format, as MLS plans to transition to a summer–spring format beginning with the 2027–28 season. A shortened season with 14 matches is scheduled to be played in early 2027.[4]

All MLS matches during the regular season and playoffs are planned to be broadcast on Apple TV, an online streaming service operated by Apple Inc. It replaces MLS Season Pass, which was a standalone streaming service by Apple, used from 2023 to 2025.[5]

Inter Miami CF enters the season as reigning MLS Cup champions, while the Philadelphia Union enter as holders of the Supporters' Shield.

Teams

MLS had been expanding at the rate of nearly one team a year since 2005, when Real Salt Lake joined the league, through 2025, with the introduction of San Diego FC.[6][7] Commissioner Don Garber stated that the league would put a pause on expansion once reaching thirty teams until after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[6] As such, the 2026 MLS season represents the first season played without an expansion team added or planned in over twenty years.[6]

Stadiums and locations

Nu Stadium opened on April 4, 2026, as the new home stadium of Inter Miami CF.[8] In addition to their normal home venues, some teams have scheduled matches at other stadiums to increase capacity.

  1. ^
    Non-soccer specific stadium and artificially reduced capacity. Capacity may be increased to full capacity if demand requires.

Personnel and sponsorships


Note: All teams use Adidas as universal kit manufacturer. As part of Apple's broadcast contract, all MLS kits include Apple TV+ as a sleeve sponsor.[10]

More information Team, Head coach ...
Team Head coach Captain Shirt sponsor Sleeve sponsor
Atlanta United FC Argentina Gerardo Martino Paraguay Miguel Almirón American Family Insurance Emory Healthcare
Austin FC United States Davy Arnaud (interim) Spain Ilie Sánchez Yeti Siete Foods
Charlotte FC England Dean Smith England Ashley Westwood Ally Rugs.com
Chicago Fire FC United States Gregg Berhalter England Jack Elliot Carvana[11] Magellan Corporation
FC Cincinnati United States Pat Noonan United States Miles Robinson Mercy Health Kroger
Colorado Rapids England Matt Wells United States Keegan Rosenberry UCHealth Kiewit
Columbus Crew France Laurent Courtois (interim) United States Sean Zawadzki Nationwide DHL Supply Chain[12]
FC Dallas United States Eric Quill Brazil Ramiro Children's Health (Home)
UT Southwestern (Away)
D.C. United Switzerland René Weiler United States Lucas Bartlett Guidehouse Fruitist
Houston Dynamo FC United States Ben Olsen Brazil Artur MD Anderson
Inter Miami CF Argentina Guillermo Hoyos (interim) Argentina Lionel Messi Royal Caribbean Lowe's
LA Galaxy United States Greg Vanney Japan Maya Yoshida Herbalife RBC
Los Angeles FC Canada Marc Dos Santos United States Aaron Long BMO Bank[t 1] Ford
Minnesota United FC New Zealand Cameron Knowles New Zealand Michael Boxall Target[t 2] NutriSource
CF Montréal France Philippe Eullaffroy (interim) Canada Samuel Piette Bank of Montreal Telus
Nashville SC United States B.J. Callaghan Germany Hany Mukhtar Renasant Bank[t 3] Hyundai
New England Revolution Serbia Marko Mitrović Spain Carles Gil Gillette
New York City FC Netherlands Pascal Jansen Brazil Thiago Martins Etihad Airways[t 4] Judi Health
New York Red Bulls United States Michael Bradley Sweden Emil Forsberg Red Bull OANDA
Orlando City SC Argentina Martín Perelman (interim) Sweden Robin Jansson Orlando Health Exploria
Philadelphia Union United States Ryan Richter (interim) United States Alejandro Bedoya Bimbo Bakeries USA Independence Blue Cross
Portland Timbers Republic of Ireland Jack Cassidy (interim) Colombia Diego Chará Bank of America[13][t 5] Tillamook
Real Salt Lake United States Pablo Mastroeni Brazil Rafael Cabral Select Health Intermountain Health
San Diego FC United States Mikey Varas Denmark Jeppe Tverskov DirecTV[14] Adriana's Insurance
San Jose Earthquakes United States Bruce Arena Guinea-Bissau Ronaldo Vieira El Camino Health Habbas Law
Seattle Sounders FC United States Brian Schmetzer Switzerland Stefan Frei Providence[t 6] Emerald Queen Casino
Sporting Kansas City Switzerland Raphaël Wicky Serbia Dejan Joveljić Compass Minerals Saint Luke's
St. Louis City SC France Yoann Damet Switzerland Roman Bürki Purina BJC HealthCare
Toronto FC United States Robin Fraser Canada Jonathan Osorio Bank of Montreal LG
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Denmark Jesper Sørensen Scotland Ryan Gauld Telus[t 7] BLG
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  1. Rockstar sponsors training and special event jerseys
  2. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota sponsors training and special event jerseys
  3. Vanderbilt Health sponsors training and special event jerseys
  4. Montefiore Einstein sponsors training and special event jerseys
  5. Dutch Bros. Coffee sponsors training and special event jerseys
  6. Providence Swedish sponsors training and special event jerseys
  7. Bank of Montreal sponsors training and special event jerseys

Coaching changes

More information Team, Outgoing coach ...
TeamOutgoing coachManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming coachDate of appointment
Atlanta United FC Norway Ronny Deila Fired[15] October 19, 2025 Pre-season Argentina Gerardo Martino November 6, 2025[16]
Colorado Rapids United States Chris Armas End of contract[17] October 27, 2025 England Matt Wells December 23, 2025[18]
New York Red Bulls Germany Sandro Schwarz Mutual consent[19] United States Michael Bradley December 15, 2025[20]
New England Revolution Uruguay Pablo Moreira (interim) End of interim period November 7, 2025 Serbia Marko Mitrović November 7, 2025[21]
Los Angeles FC United States Steve Cherundolo Mutual consent[a] December 1, 2025 Canada Marc Dos Santos December 5, 2025[22]
Columbus Crew France Wilfried Nancy Signed by Celtic[23] December 3, 2025 Sweden Henrik Rydström December 31, 2025[24]
St. Louis City SC England David Critchley (interim) End of interim period December 16, 2025 France Yoann Damet December 16, 2025[25]
Sporting Kansas City United States Kerry Zavagnin (interim) End of interim period January 5, 2026 Switzerland Raphaël Wicky January 5, 2026[26]
Minnesota United FC Wales Eric Ramsay Signed by West Bromwich Albion[27] January 11, 2026 New Zealand Cameron Knowles January 12, 2026[28]
Orlando City SC Colombia Óscar Pareja Mutual consent[29] March 11, 2026 30th Argentina Martín Perelman (interim) March 11, 2026[29]
CF Montréal Italy Marco Donadel Fired[30] April 12, 2026 29th France Philippe Eullaffroy (interim) April 12, 2026[30]
Inter Miami CF Argentina Javier Mascherano Resigned[31] April 14, 2026 10th Argentina Guillermo Hoyos (interim) April 14, 2026
Columbus Crew Sweden Henrik Rydström Fired[32] May 17, 2026 26th France Laurent Courtois (interim) May 17, 2026
Austin FC Spain Nico Estévez Fired[33] May 18, 2026 24th United States Davy Arnaud (interim) May 18, 2026
Portland Timbers England Phil Neville Mutual consent[34] May 25, 2026 23rd Republic of Ireland Jack Cassidy (interim) June 5, 2026[35]
Philadelphia Union South Africa Bradley Carnell Mutual consent[36] May 27, 2026 30th United States Ryan Richter (interim) May 27, 2026
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  1. Announcement was made originally on April 18, 2025

Regular season

Conference standings

More information Pos, Pld ...
MLS Eastern Conference table (2026)
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Nashville SC 14 10 1 3 31 11 +20 33 Qualification for round one and the CONCACAF Champions Cup round one
2 Inter Miami CF 15 9 2 4 39 28 +11 31 Qualification for round one
3 Chicago Fire FC 14 8 4 2 27 16 +11 26
4 New England Revolution 14 8 5 1 22 18 +4 25
5 New York Red Bulls 15 6 5 4 25 32 7 22
6 Charlotte FC 15 6 6 3 24 23 +1 21
7 FC Cincinnati 15 5 5 5 36 37 1 20
8 New York City FC 15 5 6 4 25 21 +4 19 Qualification for the wild-card round
9 D.C. United 15 4 5 6 21 25 4 18
10 Columbus Crew 15 4 7 4 21 23 2 16
11 CF Montréal 14 4 8 2 22 31 9 14
12 Orlando City SC 15 4 9 2 23 44 21 14
13 Toronto FC 14 3 6 5 22 29 7 14
14 Atlanta United FC 14 3 9 2 14 23 9 11
15 Philadelphia Union 15 1 10 4 18 30 12 7
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Updated to match(es) played on May 24, 2026. Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)

More information Pos, Pld ...
MLS Western Conference table (2026)
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 14 10 2 2 34 12 +22 32 Qualification for round one and the CONCACAF Champions Cup round one
2 San Jose Earthquakes 15 10 3 2 34 15 +19 32 Qualification for round one
3 Real Salt Lake 14 8 4 2 26 19 +7 26
4 FC Dallas 15 7 4 4 30 22 +8 25
5 Los Angeles FC 15 7 5 3 24 17 +7 24
6 Seattle Sounders FC 13 7 3 3 17 11 +6 24
7 Houston Dynamo FC 14 7 6 1 19 23 4 22
8 Minnesota United FC 15 6 5 4 18 22 4 22 Qualification for the wild-card round
9 LA Galaxy 15 5 5 5 22 22 0 20
10 San Diego FC 15 4 6 5 30 27 +3 17
11 Colorado Rapids 15 5 9 1 25 24 +1 16
12 St. Louis City SC 14 4 6 4 16 20 4 16
13 Portland Timbers 14 4 8 2 22 28 6 14
14 Austin FC 15 3 7 5 19 31 12 14
15 Sporting Kansas City 14 3 9 2 14 36 22 11
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Updated to match(es) played on May 24, 2026. Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)

Overall table

The leading team in this table wins the Supporters' Shield.

More information Pos, Pld ...
Overall MLS standings table
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Nashville SC 14 10 1 3 31 11 +20 33 Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One[a]
2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 14 10 2 2 34 12 +22 32 Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One[b]
3 San Jose Earthquakes 15 10 3 2 34 15 +19 32 Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One[c]
4 Inter Miami CF 15 9 2 4 39 28 +11 31 Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One[d]
5 Chicago Fire FC 14 8 4 2 27 16 +11 26
6 Real Salt Lake 14 8 4 2 26 19 +7 26
7 New England Revolution 14 8 5 1 22 18 +4 25
8 FC Dallas 15 7 4 4 30 22 +8 25
9 Los Angeles FC 15 7 5 3 24 17 +7 24
10 Seattle Sounders FC 13 7 3 3 17 11 +6 24
11 Houston Dynamo FC 14 7 6 1 19 23 4 22
12 Minnesota United FC 15 6 5 4 18 22 4 22
13 New York Red Bulls 15 6 5 4 25 32 7 22
14 Charlotte FC 15 6 6 3 24 23 +1 21
15 LA Galaxy 15 5 5 5 22 22 0 20
16 FC Cincinnati 15 5 5 5 36 37 1 20
17 New York City FC 15 5 6 4 25 21 +4 19
18 D.C. United 15 4 5 6 21 25 4 18
19 San Diego FC 15 4 6 5 30 27 +3 17
20 Colorado Rapids 15 5 9 1 25 24 +1 16
21 Columbus Crew 15 4 7 4 21 23 2 16
22 St. Louis City SC 14 4 6 4 16 20 4 16
23 Portland Timbers 14 4 8 2 22 28 6 14
24 CF Montréal 14 4 8 2 22 31 9 14
25 Orlando City SC 15 4 9 2 23 44 21 14
26 Toronto FC 14 3 6 5 22 29 7 14
27 Austin FC 15 3 7 5 19 31 12 14
28 Atlanta United FC 14 3 9 2 14 23 9 11
29 Sporting Kansas City 14 3 9 2 14 36 22 11
30 Philadelphia Union 15 1 10 4 18 30 12 7
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Updated to match(es) played on May 24, 2026. Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Notes:
  1. As highest-ranked club in 2026 MLS Supporters' Shield not already qualified
  2. As second highest-ranked club in 2026 MLS Supporters' Shield not already qualified

Results table

More information ATL, AUS ...
Home \ Away ATL AUS CHI CIN CLB CLT COL DAL DCU HOU LAX LFC MIA MIN MTL NEW NSH NYC NYR ORL PHI POR RSL SEA SDC SJO SKC STL TOR VAN
Atlanta United FC 1–3 0–0 1–2 3–1 1–2 0–2 3–1 2–3
Austin FC a 1–0 2–0 1–2 0–0 2–2 1–2 2–0
Chicago Fire FC 1–0 2–3 1–2 3–0 1–0 1–3 5–0 2–1
FC Cincinnati 2–0 3–3 a 3–5 4–3 2–0 6–2 0–1
Columbus Crew 2–0 0–0 a 2–1 2–3 0–1 1–1 2–0 a
Charlotte FC 3–1 2–2 0–0 1–0 1–2 0–1 6–1 2–1 3–1
Colorado Rapids 1–2 6–2 4–1 2–3 2–0 a 0–1
FC Dallas a 4–3 2–2 0–1 0–0 3–1 3–3 1–1 3–2 2–3
D.C. United 1–3 0–4 1–2 4–4 a 3–2 1–0 1–1
Houston Dynamo FC a 2–1 1–0 a 0–2 3–2 0–1 1–0 1–0
LA Galaxy 3–0 1–1 a 1–2 1–1 2–1 a 1–2 1–1
Los Angeles FC 0–0 1–0 1–4 a 3–0 6–0 1–0 1–4 2–0
Inter Miami CF 2–2 1–1 2–2 3–4 6–4 2–0
Minnesota United FC 2–2 1–0 0–1 0–1 2–0 1–1 0–0
CF Montréal 0–2 1–0 4–1 2–0 1–2 2–2 a
New England Revolution 6–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 2–1 3–0 0–3 2–1
Nashville SC 4–2 2–2 3–2 3–1 4–1 2–1 5–0
New York City FC 4–4 3–0 1–2 3–1 0–2 2–3 a 5–0 1–1
New York Red Bulls 4–2 3–2 0–2 4–4 0–3 1–0 1–1
Orlando City SC 1–1 4–1 0–1 2–4 2–1 1–2 4–3
Philadelphia Union 1–2 1–1 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–1
Portland Timbers 3–2 1–1 2–1 a 1–3 6–0 1–4
Real Salt Lake 2–1 2–1 3–0 0–2 2–0 2–1 4–2 3–1
Seattle Sounders FC 2–0 2–1 0–2 a 1–1 3–2 4–1 a
San Diego FC 5–0 3–3 2–2 1–2 5–0 1–2 2–2 2–0 2–4
San Jose Earthquakes 2–0 5–1 2–3 a 0–1 3–0 3–0 1–1
Sporting Kansas City 2–2 1–4 3–1 1–2 1–1 0–1 1–3 a
St. Louis City SC 3–0 1–1 2–1 3–1 0–1 2–3 a
Toronto FC 1–2 3–3 1–1 2–1 3–2 2–4 a 1–1 3–3 1–1
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3–1 6–0 2–0 3–2 1–0 a 0–1 3–0 3–0
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Updated to match(es) played on May 24, 2026. Source: MLS
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Attendance

Average home attendances

As of May 24, 2026[37]
More information Rank, Team ...
Rank Team GP Cumulative High Low Mean
1Atlanta United FC8301,01453,86230,30637,627
2Seattle Sounders FC6186,90032,65928,72631,150
3Los Angeles FC8208,03175,67321,53129,719
4Charlotte FC9252,38735,61123,90328,043
5Nashville SC7188,87430,10924,38726,982
6Inter Miami CF6132,69726,71526,27726,539
7Colorado Rapids6154,77775,82414,56825,796
8FC Cincinnati7178,59125,51325,51325,513
9D.C. United7170,81072,02611,42324,376
10Vancouver Whitecaps FC8193,51527,58821,26124,189
11New York City FC8190,39145,84517,77023,799
12San Diego FC9213,85528,45919,19423,762
13Portland Timbers6139,51424,68622,21023,252
14St. Louis City SC6112,11522,42322,42322,423
15LA Galaxy7148,74925,02518,23221,250
16Real Salt Lake8166,53221,51220,29020,817
17Austin FC7145,16620,73820,73820,738
18Orlando City SC7138,00324,45315,65619,715
19Chicago Fire FC8157,34326,75215,84519,668
20Columbus Crew7137,55320,12118,90419,650
21Minnesota United FC7135,61819,71018,45819,374
22Toronto FC9173,97744,82813,75419,331
23Houston Dynamo FC7131,22720,85315,83818,747
24New England Revolution8148,88326,38514,28718,610
25Philadelphia Union6108,14018,75317,41018,023
26New York Red Bulls7121,70425,21913,30917,386
27San Jose Earthquakes7117,30418,25112,27616,758
28Sporting Kansas City7114,91518,52214,18816,416
29CF Montréal682,92416,01812,25113,821
30FC Dallas[a]999,03611,00411,00411,004
Total2184,750,54575,82411,00421,993
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Player statistics

As of matches played May 24, 2026[39]

Goals

Hat-tricks

More information Player, For ...
Player For Against Score Date
Croatia Petar Musa FC Dallas San Diego FC 3–3 (H) March 14
England Sam Surridge Nashville SC Orlando City SC 5–0 (H) March 21
Gabon Denis Bouanga Los Angeles FC Orlando City SC 6–0 (H) April 4
Israel Tai Baribo D.C. United New York Red Bulls 4–4 (A) April 22
Argentina Martín Ojeda Orlando City SC Inter Miami CF 4–3 (A) May 2
Brazil Evander FC Cincinnati Chicago Fire FC 3–2 (A) May 2
Austria Hannes Wolf New York City FC Columbus Crew 3–0 (H) May 10
United States Julian Hall New York Red Bulls Columbus Crew 3–2 (H) May 13
Germany Hany Mukhtar Nashville SC Los Angeles FC 3–2 (H) May 17
Ghana Prince Owusu CF Montréal D.C. United 4–4 (A) May 23
United States Milan Iloski Philadelphia Union Inter Miami CF 4–6 (A) May 24
Uruguay Luis Suárez Inter Miami CF Philadelphia Union 6–4 (H) May 24
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Notes

(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

Assists

Clean sheets

Awards

Team/Player of the Matchday

  • Bold denotes the Player of the Matchday.
More information Team of the Matchday, Matchday ...
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Goal of the Matchday

Player of the Month

More information Month, Player ...
MonthPlayerClubStatsRef.
February/March England Sam Surridge Nashville SC 4 matches played, 7 goals, 0 assists [88]
April Germany Timo Werner San Jose Earthquakes 3 matches played, 4 goals, 3 assists [89]
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Notes

  1. Construction at Toyota Stadium temporarily lowered attendance seating to about 11,000.[38]

References

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