How Many Teams Are in MLS? (2026 Count)
MLS has 30 teams as of the 2026 season, with more on the way. Full list of every current club, conference breakdown, and upcoming expansion teams.
As of the 2026 MLS season, there are 30 teams in Major League Soccer, split between the Eastern Conference and Western Conference. San Diego FC joined as the 30th club in 2025, and the league has stated its intention to reach at least 32 teams, and possibly more. This guide lists every current MLS team, explains how the conferences are organized, covers the league's growth from 10 to 30 clubs, and looks at where the next teams are likely to come from. For the full history of every expansion team ever added, see our complete MLS expansion teams timeline. For the broader picture of league growth and what drives expansion, see our MLS expansion guide.
All 30 MLS Teams (2026 Season)
Eastern Conference (15 teams)
| Team | City | Stadium | Year Joined | |------|------|---------|-------------| | Atlanta United FC | Atlanta, GA | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | 2017 | | CF Montréal | Montreal, QC | Stade Saputo | 2012 | | Charlotte FC | Charlotte, NC | Bank of America Stadium | 2022 | | Chicago Fire FC | Chicago, IL | Soldier Field | 1998 | | Columbus Crew SC | Columbus, OH | Lower.com Field | 1996 | | D.C. United | Washington, D.C. | Audi Field | 1996 | | FC Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | TQL Stadium | 2019 | | Inter Miami CF | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Chase Stadium | 2020 | | Nashville SC | Nashville, TN | GEODIS Park | 2020 | | New England Revolution | Foxborough, MA | Gillette Stadium | 1996 | | New York City FC | New York, NY | Yankee Stadium | 2015 | | New York Red Bulls | Harrison, NJ | Red Bull Arena | 1996 | | Orlando City SC | Orlando, FL | Exploria Stadium | 2015 | | Philadelphia Union | Chester, PA | Subaru Park | 2010 | | Toronto FC | Toronto, ON | BMO Field | 2007 |
Western Conference (15 teams)
| Team | City | Stadium | Year Joined | |------|------|---------|-------------| | Austin FC | Austin, TX | Q2 Stadium | 2021 | | Colorado Rapids | Commerce City, CO | Dick's Sporting Goods Park | 1996 | | FC Dallas | Frisco, TX | Toyota Stadium | 1996 | | Houston Dynamo FC | Houston, TX | Shell Energy Stadium | 2006 | | LA Galaxy | Carson, CA | Dignity Health Sports Park | 1996 | | Los Angeles FC | Los Angeles, CA | BMO Stadium | 2018 | | Minnesota United FC | Saint Paul, MN | Allianz Field | 2017 | | Portland Timbers | Portland, OR | Providence Park | 2011 | | Real Salt Lake | Sandy, UT | America First Field | 2005 | | San Jose Earthquakes | San Jose, CA | PayPal Park | 1996 | | Seattle Sounders FC | Seattle, WA | Lumen Field | 2009 | | Sporting Kansas City | Kansas City, KS | Children's Mercy Park | 1996 | | St. Louis CITY SC | St. Louis, MO | CITYPARK | 2023 | | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Vancouver, BC | BC Place | 2011 | | San Diego FC | San Diego, CA | Snapdragon Stadium | 2025 |
Note: San Diego FC joined as the 30th active team in 2025, bringing the Western Conference to 15 and equalizing the conferences.
How the Conferences Work
MLS divides its teams into two conferences of 15 teams each. The conference structure affects both the regular season schedule and the playoffs:
Regular season. Each team plays 34 matches: home and away against every team in their own conference (28 matches) plus selected interconference matchups (6 matches). This format ensures every team plays every conference rival twice, which is important for standings integrity.
Playoffs. The top 9 teams from each conference qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs. The format includes a wild-card round, conference rounds, conference semifinals, conference finals, and the MLS Cup final. Home-field advantage is determined by regular season points.
Conference alignment. Teams are generally placed in conferences based on geography, with the Mississippi River as a rough dividing line. However, some placements are based on competitive balance or historical precedent. Nashville, for example, plays in the Eastern Conference despite being geographically closer to some Western Conference cities.
The Growth from 10 to 30 Teams
MLS's growth has not been a straight line. It has gone through distinct phases:
Phase 1: Survival (1996-2004)
MLS started with 10 teams in 1996, expanded to 12 in 1998 (adding Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion), then contracted back to 10 after the 2001 season when both the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny were folded. The league was losing substantial money and contraction was necessary for survival.
Phase 2: Cautious Growth (2005-2008)
The league added Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA in 2005, bringing the count to 12. Houston Dynamo arrived in 2006 (relocated from San Jose), Toronto FC in 2007, and San Jose returned in 2008. By the end of this phase, MLS had 14 teams.
Phase 3: Rapid Expansion (2009-2017)
This was the acceleration phase. Seattle (2009), Philadelphia (2010), Portland and Vancouver (2011), Montreal (2012), NYCFC and Orlando (2015), and Atlanta and Minnesota (2017) brought the league to 22 teams in just eight years.
Phase 4: The Final Push (2018-2025)
LAFC (2018), FC Cincinnati (2019), Inter Miami and Nashville (2020), Austin (2021), Charlotte (2022), St. Louis (2023), and San Diego (2025) pushed the count to 30. Chivas USA ceased operations in 2014, but LAFC effectively replaced their spot.
Three Canadian Teams
MLS is unique among major North American sports leagues in having a significant Canadian presence with three teams:
- Toronto FC (Eastern Conference, joined 2007)
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Western Conference, joined 2011)
- CF Montréal (Eastern Conference, joined 2012)
The Canadian teams participate fully in MLS but also compete in the Canadian Championship, which determines Canada's representative in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. This dual competition creates unique scheduling challenges and roster considerations for the Canadian clubs.
Teams That No Longer Exist
Two original or early MLS teams have been permanently dissolved:
- Tampa Bay Mutiny (1996-2001): Folded after the 2001 season due to financial losses and low attendance.
- Miami Fusion (1998-2001): Also folded after 2001 despite winning the Supporters' Shield that year. Miami would not get another MLS team until Inter Miami in 2020.
Additionally, Chivas USA (2005-2014) was purchased back by MLS and dissolved, with its assets and roster spots effectively transferred to the LAFC expansion project.
How MLS Compares to Other Leagues in Size
MLS's 30-team count puts it in line with other major North American leagues:
| League | Number of Teams | |--------|----------------| | NFL | 32 | | MLB | 30 | | NBA | 30 | | NHL | 32 | | MLS | 30 |
Globally, MLS is one of the largest top-division soccer leagues:
| League | Number of Teams | |--------|----------------| | MLS | 30 | | Indian Super League | 13 | | Liga MX | 18 | | Premier League | 20 | | La Liga | 20 | | Bundesliga | 18 | | Serie A | 20 | | Ligue 1 | 18 |
The difference is that most soccer leagues use promotion and relegation, meaning the number of teams in the top division is fixed but the teams themselves change each year. MLS does not use promotion/relegation -- all 30 teams remain in MLS regardless of performance.
Upcoming Expansion: Who Is Next?
MLS has confirmed it will grow beyond 30 teams. The timeline and destinations are still being finalized, but the most likely candidates include:
Strong candidates:
- Las Vegas: Has been actively discussed, with multiple ownership groups reportedly interested. The city's growth and existing sports infrastructure (NFL, NHL, WNBA) make it a natural fit.
- Phoenix / Scottsdale: Phoenix Rising FC in the USL Championship has laid groundwork. The metro area's size (5th largest in the US) makes it a prime candidate.
Possible candidates:
- Detroit: Has a passionate soccer fanbase and existing USL team (Detroit City FC).
- Sacramento: Sacramento Republic FC was previously awarded an MLS expansion slot that was later rescinded due to ownership and stadium complications.
- Indianapolis: A growing sports market with stadium development potential.
For deeper analysis of which cities are most likely to get teams and what the expansion fee landscape looks like, see our comprehensive MLS expansion guide.
Why MLS Keeps Growing
Several factors drive MLS's continued expansion:
Revenue. Each new expansion team pays a fee that is distributed among existing owners. At $400+ million per team, these fees represent a significant return on investment for early owners.
Market coverage. MLS aims to be in every major American and Canadian market. Gaps in the Sun Belt, Mountain West, and mid-size cities represent untapped potential.
Broadcast value. More teams in more markets means more local media coverage and a stronger case for national broadcast deals. The Apple TV partnership values broad geographic reach.
Soccer's growth in the US. Youth soccer participation, international soccer viewership, and general interest in the sport continue to grow in the United States. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to accelerate this trend significantly.
Competitive with other sports. As MLS reaches 30-32 teams, it achieves parity with the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL in terms of league size, reinforcing its status as a "fifth major league."
The 2026 World Cup effect. The FIFA World Cup coming to the United States, Mexico, and Canada in 2026 is expected to be a generational moment for soccer interest in North America. MLS is positioning itself to capture the wave of new fans and sponsors that the tournament will generate. Expansion into new markets before or shortly after the World Cup is a strategic priority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will MLS add promotion and relegation?
No. MLS has consistently stated that promotion and relegation is not part of the league's plans. The single-entity ownership structure and the significant expansion fees paid by club owners make a promotion/relegation system economically incompatible with MLS's current model. Clubs that paid $200-400 million for their spot in the league would face enormous financial risk if relegation were possible.
How many teams will MLS eventually have?
Commissioner Don Garber has suggested numbers as high as 36, though no official cap has been set. The practical limit likely depends on the available pool of qualified ownership groups, suitable markets with stadium plans, and the league's ability to maintain competitive balance as it grows. Most analysts expect MLS to settle between 32 and 36 teams.
Are any current MLS teams at risk of relocating?
MLS has not had a team relocation since the San Jose Earthquakes moved to Houston in 2005 (San Jose was later re-established). The league's current ownership stability and stadium investments make relocation unlikely for any existing club, though historically underperforming markets are occasionally discussed in speculative terms.
Can MLS support 30+ teams financially?
The Apple TV deal, which runs through 2032, was structured to accommodate league growth. Revenue from the deal is shared equally among all clubs, meaning new expansion teams benefit immediately. Combined with expansion fees, local sponsorships, and matchday revenue, the financial model supports continued growth as long as new markets can sustain competitive attendance.
The question is no longer whether MLS will keep growing, but how large it will ultimately get. What is certain is that MLS's trajectory from 10 teams fighting for survival to 30 clubs and counting is one of the most remarkable growth stories in American sports history.
This article was generated with the assistance of AI. Team counts, expansion fees, and historical details are based on official MLS announcements and verified sports reporting. Conference alignments reflect the 2026 season.