MLS

MLS stands for Major League Soccer, which is the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Established in 1993, the league began play in 1996 and has grown significantly in both the number of teams and popularity. MLS features a franchise system and operates under a single-entity structure, meaning the league itself owns the teams and players’ contracts. Each season, teams compete in regular-season matches followed by playoffs that culminate in the MLS Cup, the league’s championship game. MLS also has a well-defined structure for player acquisitions, including mechanisms like drafts, trades, and a designated player rule that allows teams to sign high-profile international players. The league has been a key factor in increasing the profile of soccer in North America and has contributed to the growth of youth soccer participation across the region.