MLS, 1996/97 - Present
+ ARCHIVE + NEWS ACCESS
Founded in 1996, Major League Soccer (MLS) is the U.S. Soccer sanctioned Division I outdoor professional soccer league in the United States and Canada.
NEWS ACCESS - MLS Conference & MLS Cup, please contact IMG for details
Other Information: International Sound cleared for all footage/programming.
*All footage/programming is licensed on a non-exclusive basis and subject to final approval.
Founded in 1996, Major League Soccer (MLS) is the U.S. Soccer sanctioned Division I outdoor professional soccer league in the United States and Canada.
There are 20 clubs participating in MLS, with 10 clubs competing in the Western Conference and 10 in the Eastern Conference. Twelve teams, the top 6 from each conference at the end of the regular season, qualify for the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs, and the champion will be crowned at one game final, the MLS Cup.
LA Galaxy is the league's most successful team and its first to claim five MLS Cup titles (2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014), surpassing D.C. United, winners of three of the first four MLS Cup titles (1996, 1997 & 1999) as well as the 2004 crown. Two more clubs have claimed multiple titles; the San Jose Earthquakes (2001, 2003) and Houston Dynamo (2006, 2007). They are joined on the list of MLS Cup champions by 2015 winners Portland Timbers, the Chicago Fire (1998), Colorado Rapids (2010), Columbus Crew (2008), Real Salt Lake (2009) and Sporting Kansas City (2013).
FAST FACTS
- + The winner of the Supporter's Shield, the MLS Club with the best regular season record, automatically wins a berth to the CONCACAF Champions League to represent the United States.
- + On December 6, 2015, Diego Valeri scored the fastest goal in MLS Cup history. He scored 27 seconds into the match.
- + L.A. Galaxy is the only club to win MLS Cup 5 times.
- + Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy) is the MLS All-Time Leading Goal Scorer. He scored 136 goals during his MLS career.