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
Matches159
Quick facts Season, Dates ...
Major League Soccer
Season2026
Dates
  • February 21 – November 7
    (regular season)
  • November 18 – December 18
    (playoffs)
Teams30
Matches159
Goals506 (3.18 per match)
Top goalscorerHugo Cuypers
Petar Musa
(10 goals each)
Best goalkeeperHugo Lloris
(8 clean sheets)
Biggest home winVancouver 6–0 Minnesota
(March 15)
Los Angeles 6–0 Orlando
(April 4)
Biggest away winD.C. 0–4 Dallas
(April 4)
Highest scoring8 goals:
Colorado 6–2 Houston
(April 11)
New York 4–4 Cincinnati
(April 22)
Red Bulls 4–4 D.C.
(April 22)
Longest winning run6 matches:
San Jose
(March 21–April 25)
Longest unbeaten run9 matches:
Miami
(March 1–April 25)
Longest winless run8 matches:
San Diego
(March 14–present)
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 3, 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 Spain Nico Estévez 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 Sweden Henrik Rydström 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 South Africa Bradley Carnell United States Alejandro Bedoya Bimbo Bakeries USA Independence Blue Cross
Portland Timbers England Phil Neville 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
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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 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
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Updated to match(es) played on May 3, 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 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
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Updated to match(es) played on May 3, 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 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
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Updated to match(es) played on May 3, 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 3–1 1–2 0–2 3–1 2–3
Austin FC a 1–0 2–0 1–2 0–0 2–2 2–0
Chicago Fire FC 1–0 2–3 1–2 3–0 1–0 5–0
FC Cincinnati 2–0 3–3 a 4–3 2–0 0–1
Columbus Crew 0–0 a 2–1 2–3 0–1 1–1 2–0 a
Charlotte FC 3–1 0–0 1–2 6–1 2–1
Colorado Rapids 6–2 4–1 2–3 2–0 a
FC Dallas a 4–3 2–2 0–1 0–0 3–3 1–1 3–2
D.C. United 0–4 1–2 a 3–2 1–0
Houston Dynamo FC a 2–1 1–0 a 0–2 3–2 0–1 1–0
LA Galaxy 3–0 a 1–2 1–1 2–1 a 1–2 1–1
Los Angeles FC 0–0 1–0 a 3–0 6–0 1–4 2–0
Inter Miami CF 2–2 1–1 2–2 3–4
Minnesota United FC 1–0 0–1 2–0 0–0
CF Montréal 1–0 4–1 1–2 a
New England Revolution 6–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 3–0
Nashville SC 4–2 3–1 4–1 5–0
New York City FC 4–4 1–2 3–1 0–2 2–3 a 5–0 1–1
New York Red Bulls 4–2 0–2 4–4 0–3 1–0 a
Orlando City SC 4–1 0–1 2–4 2–1 1–2
Philadelphia Union 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–1
Portland Timbers 3–2 1–1 2–1 a 1–4
Real Salt Lake 2–1 a 0–2 2–0 2–1 4–2 3–1
Seattle Sounders FC 2–0 2–1 a a 4–1 a
San Diego FC 2–2 1–2 5–0 1–2 2–2 2–0
San Jose Earthquakes 2–0 5–1 a 0–1 3–0 3–0
Sporting Kansas City 2–2 1–4 1–1 0–1 1–3 a
St. Louis City SC 1–1 3–1 0–1 2–3 a
Toronto FC 1–2 3–3 1–1 2–1 3–2 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 3, 2026. Source: MLS
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Attendance

Average home attendances

As of May 10, 2026[32]
More information Rank, Team ...
Rank Team GP Cumulative High Low Mean
1Atlanta United FC8301,01453,86230,30637,627
2Seattle Sounders FC4125,51531,78530,59631,379
3Los Angeles FC7208,03175,67321,53129,719
4D.C. United4123,28472,02614,04030,821
5Colorado Rapids5137,63575,82414,56827,527
6Charlotte FC6175,68635,61125,86529,281
7Inter Miami CF479,29826,60926,27726,433
8Nashville SC5104,98228,38424,38726,246
9FC Cincinnati5127,56525,51325,51325,513
10San Diego FC6145,77128,45921,96924,295
11Vancouver Whitecaps FC8193,51527,58821,26124,189
12New York City FC8172,62145,84517,84724,660
13Portland Timbers5114,82824,68622,21022,966
14St. Louis City SC489,69222,42322,42322,423
15LA Galaxy6125,11125,02518,23220,852
16Real Salt Lake6124,67921,51220,29020,780
17Austin FC6124,42820,73820,73820,738
18Orlando City SC5102,27324,45316,08920,455
19Minnesota United FC597,32219,71018,74919,464
20Columbus Crew6117,77120,12118,90419,629
21Houston Dynamo FC6111,11320,85315,83818,519
22Philadelphia Union590,63518,75317,41018,127
23New England Revolution6108,21122,85115,45418,035
24Chicago Fire FC7130,59120,87215,84518,656
25Sporting Kansas City583,15218,52214,29416,630
26New York Red Bulls582,36920,41413,30916,474
27San Jose Earthquakes699,30418,25112,27616,551
28Toronto FC9173,97744,82813,75419,331
29CF Montréal454,65514,04412,56813,664
30FC Dallas[a]888,03211,00411,00411,004
Total1583,426,36175,82411,00421,686
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Player statistics

As of matches played May 3, 2026[34]

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
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Notes

(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team
4 Scored 4 goals

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 [71]
April Germany Timo Werner San Jose Earthquakes 3 matches played, 4 goals, 3 assists [72]
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Notes

  1. Construction at Toyota Stadium temporarily lowered attendance seating to about 11,000.[33]

References

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