Timeline of Major League Soccer
The following is a timeline of organizational changes in 2025. This article includes expansions, contractions, renamings of clubs and conference realignment.
Graphical timeline
Early years (1996–1999)
1996 (10 teams)
The league operated its first inaugural season in
1996
with 10 teams and two conferences.
| Eastern | Western |
|---|---|
| Columbus Crew | Colorado Rapids |
| D.C. United | Dallas Burn
|
| New England Revolution | Kansas City Wiz
|
NY/NJ MetroStars
|
Los Angeles Galaxy
|
| Tampa Bay Mutiny | San Jose Clash
|
1997 (10 teams)
Kansas City Wizards
in the following season.
| Eastern | Western |
|---|---|
| Columbus Crew | Colorado Rapids |
| D.C. United | Dallas Burn
|
| New England Revolution | Kansas City Wizards
|
NY/NJ MetroStars
|
Los Angeles Galaxy
|
| Tampa Bay Mutiny | San Jose Clash
|
1998–1999: First expansion
1998–1999 (12 teams
The league expanded for the first time in
MetroStars
by the same season.
| Team's first season in MLS * |
| Eastern | Western |
|---|---|
| Columbus Crew | Chicago Fire * |
| D.C. United | Colorado Rapids |
| Miami Fusion * | Dallas Burn
|
| New England Revolution | Kansas City Wizards
|
| MetroStars | Los Angeles Galaxy
|
| Tampa Bay Mutiny | San Jose Clash
|
2000–2001: Three divisions
2000–2001 (12 teams)
In
San Jose Clash would also rebrand to the San Jose Earthquakes
.
| Team would fold after the 2001 season † |
| Eastern | Central | Western |
|---|---|---|
| D.C. United | Chicago Fire | Colorado Rapids |
MetroStars
|
Columbus Crew | Kansas City Wizards
|
| Miami Fusion † | Dallas Burn
|
Los Angeles Galaxy
|
| New England Revolution | Tampa Bay Mutiny † | San Jose Earthquakes |
2002–2006: League contraction
2002–2004 (10 teams)
Prior to the
1997 season, only with Chicago Fire
moving to the Eastern Conference.
| Team moved from the Central Division ‡ |
| Eastern | Western |
|---|---|
| Chicago Fire ‡ | Colorado Rapids |
| Columbus Crew ‡ | Dallas Burn ‡
|
| D.C. United | Kansas City Wizards
|
MetroStars
|
Los Angeles Galaxy
|
| New England Revolution | San Jose Earthquakes |
2005 (12 teams)
Kansas City Wizards
were subsequently moved to the Eastern Conference to even the conferences out.
| Team's first season in the MLS * |
| Team switched conferences ‡ |
| Team folded after the 2005 season † |
| Eastern | Western |
|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | Chivas USA * |
| Columbus Crew | Colorado Rapids |
| D.C. United | FC Dallas |
Kansas City Wizards ‡
|
Los Angeles Galaxy
|
MetroStars
|
Real Salt Lake * |
| New England Revolution | San Jose Earthquakes † |
2006 (12 teams)
The
Houston Dynamo
.
| Team relocated to Houston |
| Eastern | Western |
|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | Chivas USA |
| Columbus Crew | Colorado Rapids |
| D.C. United | FC Dallas |
Kansas City Wizards
|
Houston Dynamo *
|
| New York Red Bulls | Los Angeles Galaxy
|
| New England Revolution | Real Salt Lake |
2007–2014: Expansion into Canada
2007 (13 teams)
Toronto FC was added to the Eastern Conference during 2007 expansion, adding a team in Canada for the first time.
| Team's first season in the MLS * |
| Eastern | Western |
|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | Chivas USA |
| Columbus Crew | Colorado Rapids |
| D.C. United | FC Dallas |
Kansas City Wizards
|
Houston Dynamo
|
| New York Red Bulls | Los Angeles Galaxy
|
| New England Revolution | Real Salt Lake |
| Toronto FC * |
2008 (14 teams)
The
2008 season
after a 2-year hiatus.
| Team returned to the MLS |
| Eastern | Western |
|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | Chivas USA |
| Columbus Crew | Colorado Rapids |
| D.C. United | FC Dallas |
Kansas City Wizards
|
Houston Dynamo
|
| New England Revolution | Los Angeles Galaxy
|
| New York Red Bulls | Real Salt Lake |
| Toronto FC | San Jose Earthquakes ^ |
2009 (15 teams)
Seattle Sounders FC was added to the Western Conference for the 2009 season, succeeding USL First Division team of the same name.
| Team's first season in the MLS * |
| Eastern | Western |
|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | Chivas USA |
| Columbus Crew | Colorado Rapids |
| D.C. United | FC Dallas |
Kansas City Wizards
|
Houston Dynamo
|
| New England Revolution | LA Galaxy |
| New York Red Bulls | Real Salt Lake |
| Toronto FC | San Jose Earthquakes |
| Seattle Sounders FC * |
2010 (16 teams)
2010 season
.
| Team's first season in the MLS * |
| Eastern | Western |
|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | Chivas USA |
| Columbus Crew | Colorado Rapids |
| D.C. United | FC Dallas |
Kansas City Wizards
|
Houston Dynamo
|
| New England Revolution | LA Galaxy |
| New York Red Bulls | Real Salt Lake |
| Philadelphia Union * | San Jose Earthquakes |
| Toronto FC | Seattle Sounders FC |
2011 (18 teams)
The
Kansas City Wizards rebranded to Sporting Kansas City
prior to this season.
| Team's first season in the MLS * |
| Team switched conferences ‡ |
2012–2014
Montreal Impact was added to the Eastern Conference for the 2012 season, succeeding a USL First Division team of the same name
.
| Team's first season in the MLS * |
| Team folded after the 2014 season † |
| Eastern | Western |
|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | Chivas USA † |
| Columbus Crew | Colorado Rapids |
| D.C. United | FC Dallas |
Houston Dynamo
|
LA Galaxy |
Montreal Impact *
|
Portland Timbers |
| New England Revolution | Real Salt Lake |
| New York Red Bulls | San Jose Earthquakes |
| Philadelphia Union | Seattle Sounders FC |
| Sporting Kansas City | Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
| Toronto FC |
2015–present: Rapid expansion
2015–2016 (20 teams)
USL Pro team of the same name; subsequently Sporting Kansas City was relocated back to the Western Conference after 9 seasons to make both conferences even. Chivas USA
would fold prior to the 2015 season.
| Team's first season in the MLS * |
| Team switched conferences ‡ |
2017 (22 teams)
Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC were added to the Eastern and Western Conferences respectively; the latter of which was the successor to the NASL team of the same name.
| Team's first season in the MLS * |
2018 (23 teams)
Los Angeles FC was added to the Western Conference for the 2018 season.
| Team's first season in the MLS * |
2019 (24 teams)
USL
.
| Team's first season in the MLS * |
2020 (26 teams)
Chicago Fire SC rebranded to Chicago Fire FC.[1]
| Team's first season in the MLS * |
| Team's first season in the MLS, then switched conferences midseason *‡ |
2021 (27 teams)
Montreal Impact rebranded to Club de Foot Montréal.[2]
| Team's first season in the MLS * |
2022 (28 teams)
Charlotte FC was added to the Eastern Conference for the 2022 season; Nashville SC subsequently relocated to the Western Conference to even the conferences.
| Team's first season in the MLS * |
| Team switched conferences ‡ |
2023–2024 (29 teams)
St. Louis City SC was added to the Western Conference for the 2023 season; Nashville SC relocated to the Eastern Conference for a second time.
| Team's first season in the MLS * |
| Team switched conferences ‡ |
2025: Future expansion
2025 (30 teams)
San Diego FC will be added to the Western Conference for the 2025 season.[3]
| Team will play its first season in 2025 * |
See also
References
- ^ "Nashville SC will compete in the Eastern Conference when play resumes in the MLS Is Back Tournament on July 8". Nashville SC. 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
- ^ "Montreal MLS team rebrands as Club De Foot Montreal". CBC.ca. 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
- ^ "San Diego FC: MLS expansion team unveil name, crest & brand identity". MLSsoccer.com. 2023-10-21. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
| Eastern Conference | |
|---|---|
| Western Conference | |
| Future teams |
|
| Former teams |
|
| Personnel | |
| Competition | |
| Associated competitions | |
| Other | |
