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How many games do MLS teams play in a season?

  • The MLS Regular Season kicks off in late February every year
  • As of 2024, the MLS contains 29 clubs
  • All MLS teams play intra and cross-conference matches

By Amanda Langell

Here's how many games MLS teams play in a season.
Here's how many games MLS teams play in a season. / Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
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MLS teams play four less games in a season than clubs across the five biggest leagues in Europe.

Each season, Major League Soccer’s 29 teams begin a new campaign that ends with only one team
hoisting the coveted MLS Cup. The MLS Regular Season typically kicks off at the end of February and
lasts until October. Since MLS players compete during the summer, they often must choose
between their domestic club and international duty.

Although the schedule differs slightly each year, the number of games MLS teams play in a season
always remains the same.

Apr 30, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Union fans cheer for midfielder Daniel
Apr 30, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Union fans cheer for midfielder Daniel / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

How many games do MLS teams play in a season?

MLS teams play 34 games in a season. All 29 teams play 17 home games and 17 away games in the MLS Regular Season.

Unlike other prominent leagues in Europe, like the Premier League and La Liga, the MLS is broken up into two conferences—the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Although most matches on the calendar are intra-conference games, there are also 6 to 7 cross-conference matchups for each club.

For every win, a team receives three points. A draw rewards both clubs with only one point, and a loss
results in zero points. The top nine teams from each conference after 34 games qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs. The two teams that survive the MLS Cup Playoffs bracket meet in a championship game in early December.

MLS Eastern Conference teams

Here's all the MLS Eastern Conference teams:

  • Atlanta United
  • Charlotte FC
  • Chicago Fire FC
  • FC Cincinnati
  • Columbus Crew
  • D.C. United
  • Inter Miami CF
  • CF Montréal
  • Nashville SC
  • New England Revolution
  • New York Red Bulls
  • New York City FC
  • Orlando City
  • Philadelphia Union
  • Toronto FC

There are 15 total teams in the Eastern Conference.

MLS Western Conference teams

Here's all the MLS Western Conference teams:

  • Austin FC
  • Colorado Rapids
  • FC Dallas
  • Houston Dynamo FC
  • Sporting Kansas City
  • LA Galaxy
  • Los Angeles Football Club
  • Minnesota United
  • Portland Timbers
  • Real Salt Lake
  • San Jose Earthquakes
  • Seattle Sounders FC
  • St. Louis CITY SC
  • Vancouver Whitecaps FC

The Western Conference only contains 14 clubs.

Be sure to catch all the 2024 MLS action on Apple TV.

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