2026 Major League Soccer season
31st season of Major League Soccer
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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.
- February 21 – November 7
(regular season) - November 18 – December 18
(playoffs)
| Season | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates |
|
| Teams | 30 |
| Matches | 159 |
| Goals | 506 (3.18 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Hugo Cuypers Petar Musa (10 goals each) |
| Best goalkeeper | Hugo Lloris (8 clean sheets) |
| Biggest home win | Vancouver 6–0 Minnesota (March 15) Los Angeles 6–0 Orlando (April 4) |
| Biggest away win | D.C. 0–4 Dallas (April 4) |
| Highest scoring | 8 goals: Colorado 6–2 Houston (April 11) New York 4–4 Cincinnati (April 22) Red Bulls 4–4 D.C. (April 22) |
| Longest winning run | 6 matches: San Jose (March 21–April 25) |
| Longest unbeaten run | 9 matches: Miami (March 1–April 25) |
| Longest winless run | 8 matches: San Diego (March 14–present) |
| Longest losing run | 6 matches: Philadelphia (February 21–April 11) |
| Highest attendance | 75,824 COL 2–3 MIA (April 18)[1] |
| Lowest attendance | 11,004 DAL (Multiple) |
← 2025 2027 →
All statistics correct as of May 3, 2026. | |
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.
- ^ 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]
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota sponsors training and special event jerseys
- Vanderbilt Health sponsors training and special event jerseys
- Montefiore Einstein sponsors training and special event jerseys
- Dutch Bros. Coffee sponsors training and special event jerseys
- Providence Swedish sponsors training and special event jerseys
- Bank of Montreal sponsors training and special event jerseys
Coaching changes
| Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta United FC | Fired[15] | October 19, 2025 | Pre-season | November 6, 2025[16] | ||
| Colorado Rapids | End of contract[17] | October 27, 2025 | December 23, 2025[18] | |||
| New York Red Bulls | Mutual consent[19] | December 15, 2025[20] | ||||
| New England Revolution | End of interim period | November 7, 2025 | November 7, 2025[21] | |||
| Los Angeles FC | Mutual consent[a] | December 1, 2025 | December 5, 2025[22] | |||
| Columbus Crew | Signed by Celtic[23] | December 3, 2025 | December 31, 2025[24] | |||
| St. Louis City SC | End of interim period | December 16, 2025 | December 16, 2025[25] | |||
| Sporting Kansas City | End of interim period | January 5, 2026 | January 5, 2026[26] | |||
| Minnesota United FC | Signed by West Bromwich Albion[27] | January 11, 2026 | January 12, 2026[28] | |||
| Orlando City SC | Mutual consent[29] | March 11, 2026 | 30th | March 11, 2026[29] | ||
| CF Montréal | Fired[30] | April 12, 2026 | 29th | April 12, 2026[30] | ||
| Inter Miami CF | Resigned[31] | April 14, 2026 | 10th | April 14, 2026 |
- Announcement was made originally on April 18, 2025
Regular season
Conference standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville SC | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 6 | +15 | 23 | Qualification for round one and the CONCACAF Champions Cup round one |
| 2 | New England Revolution | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 12 | +6 | 19 | Qualification for round one |
| 3 | Inter Miami CF | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 19 | +3 | 19 | |
| 4 | Chicago Fire FC | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 11 | +8 | 17 | |
| 5 | D.C. United | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 15 | −2 | 15 | |
| 6 | FC Cincinnati | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 25 | −3 | 15 | |
| 7 | Charlotte FC | 11 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 18 | 19 | −1 | 14 | |
| 8 | Toronto FC | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 20 | −2 | 14 | Qualification for the wild-card round |
| 9 | New York City FC | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 18 | +1 | 12 | |
| 10 | Columbus Crew | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 12 | |
| 11 | New York Red Bulls | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 27 | −11 | 12 | |
| 12 | Atlanta United FC | 11 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 18 | −6 | 10 | |
| 13 | Orlando City SC | 11 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 16 | 32 | −16 | 10 | |
| 14 | CF Montréal | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 23 | −9 | 9 | |
| 15 | Philadelphia Union | 11 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 17 | −8 | 6 |
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)
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose Earthquakes | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 7 | +19 | 28 | Qualification for round one and the CONCACAF Champions Cup round one |
| 2 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 6 | +20 | 25 | Qualification for round one |
| 3 | Los Angeles FC | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 8 | +11 | 21 | |
| 4 | Seattle Sounders FC | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 5 | +8 | 20 | |
| 5 | Minnesota United FC | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 16 | −2 | 20 | |
| 6 | Real Salt Lake | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 14 | +5 | 19 | |
| 7 | FC Dallas | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 15 | +5 | 16 | |
| 8 | Houston Dynamo FC | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 18 | −5 | 15 | Qualification for the wild-card round |
| 9 | Colorado Rapids | 11 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 22 | 19 | +3 | 13 | |
| 10 | LA Galaxy | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 17 | −1 | 13 | |
| 11 | Austin FC | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 19 | −3 | 13 | |
| 12 | San Diego FC | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 12 | |
| 13 | Portland Timbers | 10 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 21 | −8 | 10 | |
| 14 | St. Louis City SC | 10 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 18 | −9 | 6 | |
| 15 | Sporting Kansas City | 10 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 26 | −18 | 5 |
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.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose Earthquakes | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 7 | +19 | 28 | Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One[a] |
| 2 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 6 | +20 | 25 | Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One[b] |
| 3 | Nashville SC | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 6 | +15 | 23 | Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One[c] |
| 4 | Los Angeles FC | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 8 | +11 | 21 | Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One[d] |
| 5 | Seattle Sounders FC | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 5 | +8 | 20 | |
| 6 | Minnesota United FC | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 16 | −2 | 20 | |
| 7 | New England Revolution | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 12 | +6 | 19 | |
| 8 | Real Salt Lake | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 14 | +5 | 19 | |
| 9 | Inter Miami CF | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 19 | +3 | 19 | |
| 10 | Chicago Fire FC | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 11 | +8 | 17 | |
| 11 | FC Dallas | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 15 | +5 | 16 | |
| 12 | Houston Dynamo FC | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 18 | −5 | 15 | |
| 13 | D.C. United | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 15 | −2 | 15 | |
| 14 | FC Cincinnati | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 25 | −3 | 15 | |
| 15 | Charlotte FC | 11 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 18 | 19 | −1 | 14 | |
| 16 | Toronto FC | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 20 | −2 | 14 | |
| 17 | Colorado Rapids | 11 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 22 | 19 | +3 | 13 | |
| 18 | LA Galaxy | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 17 | −1 | 13 | |
| 19 | Austin FC | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 19 | −3 | 13 | |
| 20 | New York City FC | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 18 | +1 | 12 | |
| 21 | San Diego FC | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 12 | |
| 22 | Columbus Crew | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 12 | |
| 23 | New York Red Bulls | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 27 | −11 | 12 | |
| 24 | Atlanta United FC | 11 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 18 | −6 | 10 | |
| 25 | Portland Timbers | 10 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 21 | −8 | 10 | |
| 26 | Orlando City SC | 11 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 16 | 32 | −16 | 10 | |
| 27 | CF Montréal | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 23 | −9 | 9 | |
| 28 | St. Louis City SC | 10 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 18 | −9 | 6 | |
| 29 | Philadelphia Union | 11 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 17 | −8 | 6 | |
| 30 | Sporting Kansas City | 10 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 26 | −18 | 5 |
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:
- As 2026 MLS Supporters' Shield champions
- As highest-ranked club in 2026 MLS Supporters' Shield not already qualified
- As Eastern Conference regular season winners
- As second highest-ranked club in 2026 MLS Supporters' Shield not already qualified
Results table
Attendance
Average home attendances
- As of May 10, 2026[32]
| Rank | Team | GP | Cumulative | High | Low | Mean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta United FC | 8 | 301,014 | 53,862 | 30,306 | 37,627 |
| 2 | Seattle Sounders FC | 4 | 125,515 | 31,785 | 30,596 | 31,379 |
| 3 | Los Angeles FC | 7 | 208,031 | 75,673 | 21,531 | 29,719 |
| 4 | D.C. United | 4 | 123,284 | 72,026 | 14,040 | 30,821 |
| 5 | Colorado Rapids | 5 | 137,635 | 75,824 | 14,568 | 27,527 |
| 6 | Charlotte FC | 6 | 175,686 | 35,611 | 25,865 | 29,281 |
| 7 | Inter Miami CF | 4 | 79,298 | 26,609 | 26,277 | 26,433 |
| 8 | Nashville SC | 5 | 104,982 | 28,384 | 24,387 | 26,246 |
| 9 | FC Cincinnati | 5 | 127,565 | 25,513 | 25,513 | 25,513 |
| 10 | San Diego FC | 6 | 145,771 | 28,459 | 21,969 | 24,295 |
| 11 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 8 | 193,515 | 27,588 | 21,261 | 24,189 |
| 12 | New York City FC | 8 | 172,621 | 45,845 | 17,847 | 24,660 |
| 13 | Portland Timbers | 5 | 114,828 | 24,686 | 22,210 | 22,966 |
| 14 | St. Louis City SC | 4 | 89,692 | 22,423 | 22,423 | 22,423 |
| 15 | LA Galaxy | 6 | 125,111 | 25,025 | 18,232 | 20,852 |
| 16 | Real Salt Lake | 6 | 124,679 | 21,512 | 20,290 | 20,780 |
| 17 | Austin FC | 6 | 124,428 | 20,738 | 20,738 | 20,738 |
| 18 | Orlando City SC | 5 | 102,273 | 24,453 | 16,089 | 20,455 |
| 19 | Minnesota United FC | 5 | 97,322 | 19,710 | 18,749 | 19,464 |
| 20 | Columbus Crew | 6 | 117,771 | 20,121 | 18,904 | 19,629 |
| 21 | Houston Dynamo FC | 6 | 111,113 | 20,853 | 15,838 | 18,519 |
| 22 | Philadelphia Union | 5 | 90,635 | 18,753 | 17,410 | 18,127 |
| 23 | New England Revolution | 6 | 108,211 | 22,851 | 15,454 | 18,035 |
| 24 | Chicago Fire FC | 7 | 130,591 | 20,872 | 15,845 | 18,656 |
| 25 | Sporting Kansas City | 5 | 83,152 | 18,522 | 14,294 | 16,630 |
| 26 | New York Red Bulls | 5 | 82,369 | 20,414 | 13,309 | 16,474 |
| 27 | San Jose Earthquakes | 6 | 99,304 | 18,251 | 12,276 | 16,551 |
| 28 | Toronto FC | 9 | 173,977 | 44,828 | 13,754 | 19,331 |
| 29 | CF Montréal | 4 | 54,655 | 14,044 | 12,568 | 13,664 |
| 30 | FC Dallas[a] | 8 | 88,032 | 11,004 | 11,004 | 11,004 |
| Total | 158 | 3,426,361 | 75,824 | 11,004 | 21,686 | |
Player statistics
- As of matches played May 3, 2026[34]
Goals
Hat-tricks
| Player | For | Against | Score | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Dallas | San Diego FC | 3–3 (H) | March 14 | |
| Nashville SC | Orlando City SC | 5–0 (H) | March 21 | |
| Los Angeles FC | Orlando City SC | 6–0 (H) | April 4 | |
| D.C. United | New York Red Bulls | 4–4 (A) | April 22 | |
| Orlando City SC | Inter Miami CF | 4–3 (A) | May 2 | |
| FC Cincinnati | Chicago Fire FC | 3–2 (A) | May 2 |
- Notes
(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team
4 Scored 4 goals
Assists
| Rank | Player | Club | Assists[36] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles FC | 8 | |
| 2 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 7 | |
| Inter Miami CF | |||
| San Jose Earthquakes | |||
| 5 | San Diego FC | 6 | |
| New England Revolution | |||
| New York City FC | |||
| 8 | Orlando City SC | 5 | |
| Nashville SC | |||
| Seattle Sounders FC | |||
| Nashville SC | |||
| Austin FC | |||
| San Jose Earthquakes |
Clean sheets
Awards
Team/Player of the Matchday
- Bold denotes the Player of the Matchday.
Goal of the Matchday
| Goal of the Matchday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Matchday | Player | Club | Ref. |
| 1 | Columbus Crew | [60] | |
| 2 | Inter Miami CF | [61] | |
| 3 | Minnesota United FC | [62] | |
| 4 | Real Salt Lake | [63] | |
| 5 | St. Louis City SC | [64] | |
| 6 | Real Salt Lake | [65] | |
| 7 | Los Angeles FC | [66] | |
| 8 | Inter Miami CF | [67] | |
| 9 | Toronto FC | [68] | |
| 10 | Nashville SC | [69] | |
| 11 | Inter Miami CF | [70] | |
Player of the Month
| Month | Player | Club | Stats | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February/March | Nashville SC | 4 matches played, 7 goals, 0 assists | [71] | |
| April | San Jose Earthquakes | 3 matches played, 4 goals, 3 assists | [72] |