2024 Major League Soccer season
Season | 2024 |
---|---|
Dates |
|
Matches played | 361 |
Goals scored | 1,123 (3.11 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Cristian Arango (17 goals) |
Biggest home win | Miami 5–0 Orlando (March 2) LAFC 5–0 Nashville (March 23) Seattle 5–0 Montréal (April 6) Cincinnati 6–1 Miami (July 6) Orlando 5–0 D.C. (July 6) |
Biggest away win | Chicago 0–4 Salt Lake (April 20) New England 1–5 Columbus (June 29) LAFC 1–5 Columbus (July 13) |
Highest scoring | 8 goals: Miami 6–2 RBNY (May 4) Salt Lake 5–3 Colorado (May 18) Dallas 5–3 Minnesota (June 19) LAFC 6–2 San Jose (June 22) |
Longest winning run | 7 matches: Cincinnati (April 20 – May 25) |
Longest unbeaten run | 15 matches: Salt Lake (March 23 – June 19) |
Longest winless run | 11 matches: D.C. (May 15 – July 6) |
Longest losing run | 7 matches: Kansas City (April 27 – June 1) |
Highest attendance | 72,610 SKC 2–3 MIA (April 13)[1] |
Lowest attendance | 7,492 COL 2–1 DAL (April 20) |
Average attendance | 25,805 |
← 2023 2025 → All statistics correct as of March 9, 2024. |
The 2024 Major League Soccer season is the ongoing 29th season of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, and the 46th season overall of a national first-division league in the United States.
The league's 29 teams are divided into the Eastern and Western conferences. This is the first season since the 2016 season to have no new expansion teams joining MLS; San Diego FC is scheduled to join the league in 2025.[2] FC Cincinnati are the reigning Supporters' Shield holders; the Columbus Crew are the reigning MLS Cup champions.[3]
Pre-season matches ran from January 19 through February 17.[4] The regular season began on February 21 and is scheduled to end on October 19, with a pause from late July to late August for the 2024 Leagues Cup, which comprises all MLS and Liga MX teams. The 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs are scheduled to begin in October and conclude with MLS Cup 2024 on December 7.[5] MLS will only send 8 senior squads to the 2024 U.S. Open Cup as part of a compromise with the USSF that allows most teams to be represented by MLS Next Pro teams.[6]
This is the second season that Apple and MLS will be part of a ten-year partnership for the broadcast and streaming rights to all MLS and Leagues Cup games, as well as select MLS Next and MLS Next Pro games, on the MLS Season Pass service within the Apple TV app.[7]
Teams
[edit]Stadiums and locations
[edit]- ^ Non-soccer specific stadium and artificially reduced capacity. Capacity may be increased to full capacity if demand requires.
- ^ Temporary stadium.
Personnel and sponsorships
[edit]Note: All teams use Adidas as universal kit manufacturer. As part of Apple's broadcast contract, all MLS kits will include Apple TV+ as a sleeve sponsor.[9]
- ^ Rockstar sponsors training and special event jerseys
- ^ Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota sponsors training and special event jerseys
- ^ Vanderbilt Health sponsors training and special event jerseys
- ^ Montefiore Einstein sponsors training and special event jerseys
- ^ Dutch Bros. Coffee sponsors training and special event jerseys
- ^ Providence Swedish sponsors training and special event jerseys
Coaching changes
[edit]Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portland Timbers | Miles Joseph (interim) | End of interim period | November 6, 2023 | Pre-season | Phil Neville | November 6, 2023[13] |
Charlotte FC | Christian Lattanzio | Mutual consent | November 8, 2023[14] | Dean Smith | December 12, 2023[15] | |
CF Montréal | Hernán Losada | November 9, 2023[16] | Laurent Courtois | January 8, 2024[17] | ||
New York Red Bulls | Troy Lesesne | End of contract | November 14, 2023[18] | Sandro Schwarz | December 14, 2023[19] | |
Colorado Rapids | Chris Little (interim) | End of interim period | November 17, 2023 | Chris Armas | November 17, 2023[20] | |
Chicago Fire FC | Frank Klopas (interim) | December 5, 2023 | Frank Klopas | December 5, 2023[21] | ||
Minnesota United FC | Sean McAuley (interim) | January 5, 2024 | Cameron Knowles (interim) | January 5, 2024[22] | ||
D.C. United | Frédéric Brillant (interim) | January 10, 2024 | Troy Lesesne | January 10, 2024[23] | ||
New England Revolution | Clint Peay (interim) | December 19, 2023 | Caleb Porter | December 19, 2023[24] | ||
Minnesota United FC | Cameron Knowles (interim) | March 13, 2024 | 2nd in West, 3rd Overall | Eric Ramsay | March 13, 2024[25] | |
Nashville SC | Gary Smith | Mutual consent | May 16, 2024 | 10th in East, 19th Overall | Rumba Munthali (interim) | May 16, 2024[26] |
Atlanta United FC | Gonzalo Pineda | Fired | June 3, 2024 | 13th in East, 24th Overall | Rob Valentino (interim) | June 3, 2024[27] |
FC Dallas | Nico Estévez | June 9, 2024 | 13th in West, 27th Overall | Peter Luccin (interim) | June 9, 2024[28] | |
San Jose Earthquakes | Luchi Gonzalez | June 24, 2024 | 14th in West, 29th Overall | Ian Russell (interim) | June 24, 2024[29] | |
St. Louis City SC | Bradley Carnell | July 1, 2024 | 12th in West, 26th Overall | John Hackworth (interim) | July 1, 2024[30] | |
Nashville SC | Rumba Munthali (interim) | End of interim period | July 22, 2024 | 12th in East, 23rd Overall | B.J. Callaghan | July 31, 2024[31] |
Regular season
[edit]Format
[edit]The regular season consists of 34 matches for each team, split evenly between home and away games. The opening match was played on February 21, the earliest in league history; the regular season will end with Decision Day on October 19, which will comprise simultaneous intra-conference matches. Matches will be paused from July 25 to August 23 for the 2024 Leagues Cup, a knockout tournament that includes teams from MLS and Liga MX. The league did not pause matches for the 2024 Copa América, which was played in the United States from June to July. Most regular season matches will be played on Saturdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. local time.[32][33]
The 29 teams are divided into two conferences: the Eastern and Western. The 15 teams in the East will play a round-robin format with intra-conference teams and six matches against six opponents from the West. The 14 teams in the West will play a round-robin with intra-conference teams, an additional one or two intra-conference matches, and six to seven matches against opponents from the East.[32][34] The top nine teams in each conference will advance to the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, which begin with a wild card round for the eighth and ninth placed teams and is followed by a best-of-three series that was introduced in 2023. The remaining matches are single-elimination and culminate with the MLS Cup final on December 7.[33][35]
Several new rules were scheduled to be introduced for the 2024 season following trials in MLS Next Pro, including in-stadium announcements of video assistant referee decisions, a time limit for substitutions, and mandatory off-field checks for injured players.[36] These initiatives were postponed by MLS due to an ongoing labor dispute with the Professional Soccer Referees Association, who organized a lockout of their referees.[37][38] Replacement referees from outside the union, including former officials and those from lower level leagues other than USL, were called in to officiate MLS matches.[39][40] The referees' union and MLS reached an agreement in time for the regular referees to return to the field for Matchday 7, on March 30.[41]
The 2024 MLS All-Star Game will be played between the MLS All-Stars and the Liga MX All-Stars on July 24.[42]
Conference standings
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Inter Miami CF | 25 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 56 | 39 | +17 | 53 | Qualification for Round One and the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One |
2 | FC Cincinnati | 25 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 44 | 33 | +11 | 48 | Qualification for Round One |
3 | Columbus Crew | 23 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 47 | 22 | +25 | 43 | |
4 | New York Red Bulls | 25 | 10 | 4 | 11 | 42 | 31 | +11 | 41 | |
5 | New York City FC | 25 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 35 | 29 | +6 | 38 | |
6 | Charlotte FC | 25 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 30 | 27 | +3 | 37 | |
7 | Orlando City SC | 25 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 39 | 38 | +1 | 34 | |
8 | Toronto FC | 26 | 9 | 14 | 3 | 34 | 47 | −13 | 30 | Qualification for the Wild card round |
9 | Atlanta United FC | 25 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 35 | 36 | −1 | 28 | |
10 | Philadelphia Union | 25 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 45 | 42 | +3 | 27 | |
11 | CF Montréal | 25 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 34 | 49 | −15 | 27 | |
12 | Nashville SC | 25 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 26 | 39 | −13 | 26 | |
13 | D.C. United | 25 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 35 | 50 | −15 | 26 | |
14 | Chicago Fire FC | 25 | 6 | 12 | 7 | 30 | 42 | −12 | 25 | |
15 | New England Revolution | 23 | 7 | 14 | 2 | 23 | 47 | −24 | 23 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | LA Galaxy | 26 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 50 | 36 | +14 | 49 | Qualification for Round One and the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One |
2 | Los Angeles FC | 24 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 48 | 30 | +18 | 47 | Qualification for Round One |
3 | Real Salt Lake | 25 | 12 | 5 | 8 | 51 | 34 | +17 | 44 | |
4 | Colorado Rapids | 26 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 50 | 43 | +7 | 41 | |
5 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 24 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 43 | 35 | +8 | 38 | |
6 | Houston Dynamo FC | 24 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 35 | 30 | +5 | 37 | |
7 | Seattle Sounders FC | 25 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 34 | 29 | +5 | 37 | |
8 | Portland Timbers | 25 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 50 | 42 | +8 | 36 | Qualification for the Wild card round |
9 | Minnesota United FC | 25 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 40 | 41 | −1 | 33 | |
10 | Austin FC | 25 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 28 | 37 | −9 | 31 | |
11 | FC Dallas | 25 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 38 | 39 | −1 | 30 | |
12 | Sporting Kansas City | 26 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 41 | 52 | −11 | 24 | |
13 | St. Louis City SC | 25 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 32 | 46 | −14 | 23 | |
14 | San Jose Earthquakes | 25 | 4 | 19 | 2 | 31 | 61 | −30 | 14 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Overall table
[edit]The leading team in this table will win the Supporters' Shield.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Inter Miami CF | 25 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 56 | 39 | +17 | 53 | Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One[a] |
2 | LA Galaxy | 26 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 50 | 36 | +14 | 49 | Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One[b] |
3 | FC Cincinnati | 25 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 44 | 33 | +11 | 48 | Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One[c] |
4 | Los Angeles FC | 24 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 48 | 30 | +18 | 47 | Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One[d] |
5 | Real Salt Lake | 25 | 12 | 5 | 8 | 51 | 34 | +17 | 44 | Qualification for the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32[e] |
6 | Columbus Crew | 23 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 47 | 22 | +25 | 43 | |
7 | Colorado Rapids | 26 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 50 | 43 | +7 | 41 | |
8 | New York Red Bulls | 25 | 10 | 4 | 11 | 42 | 31 | +11 | 41 | |
9 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 24 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 43 | 35 | +8 | 38 | |
10 | New York City FC | 25 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 35 | 29 | +6 | 38 | Qualification for the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32[e] |
11 | Houston Dynamo FC | 24 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 35 | 30 | +5 | 37 | |
12 | Seattle Sounders FC | 25 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 34 | 29 | +5 | 37 | |
13 | Charlotte FC | 25 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 30 | 27 | +3 | 37 | |
14 | Portland Timbers | 25 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 50 | 42 | +8 | 36 | |
15 | Orlando City SC | 25 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 39 | 38 | +1 | 34 | |
16 | Minnesota United FC | 25 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 40 | 41 | −1 | 33 | |
17 | Austin FC | 25 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 28 | 37 | −9 | 31 | |
18 | Toronto FC | 26 | 9 | 14 | 3 | 34 | 47 | −13 | 30 | |
19 | FC Dallas | 25 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 38 | 39 | −1 | 30 | |
20 | Atlanta United FC | 25 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 35 | 36 | −1 | 28 | |
21 | Philadelphia Union | 25 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 45 | 42 | +3 | 27 | |
22 | CF Montréal | 25 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 34 | 49 | −15 | 27 | |
23 | Nashville SC | 25 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 26 | 39 | −13 | 26 | |
24 | D.C. United | 25 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 35 | 50 | −15 | 26 | |
25 | Chicago Fire FC | 25 | 6 | 12 | 7 | 30 | 42 | −12 | 25 | |
26 | Sporting Kansas City | 26 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 41 | 52 | −11 | 24 | |
27 | New England Revolution | 23 | 7 | 14 | 2 | 23 | 47 | −24 | 23 | |
28 | St. Louis City SC | 25 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 32 | 46 | −14 | 23 | |
29 | San Jose Earthquakes | 25 | 4 | 19 | 2 | 31 | 61 | −30 | 14 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Notes:
- ^ As 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield champions
- ^ As highest-ranked club in 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield not already qualified
- ^ As 2024 Western Conference regular season champions
- ^ As second highest-ranked club in 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield not already qualified
- ^ a b As one of the top seven US teams in the overall table to not qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup
MLS All-Star Game
[edit]2025 FIFA Club World Cup
[edit]The United States will be the host country for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. MLS clubs can qualify as a host nation club; however, the criteria for selection has not been announced. MLS clubs have also been able to qualify through the 2021–2024 editions of the CONCACAF Champions Cup/CONCACAF Champions League.
Seattle Sounders FC have qualified as the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League winners.[43]
Attendance
[edit]Average home attendances
[edit]- As of May 15, 2024
Rank | Team | GP | Cumulative | High | Low | Mean |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Atlanta United FC | 10 | 471,373 | 67,727 | 42,525 | 47,137 |
2 | Charlotte FC | 10 | 306,018 | 62,291 | 27,021 | 34,002 |
3 | Seattle Sounders FC | 8 | 242,140 | 31,102 | 29,244 | 30,268 |
4 | New England Revolution | 9 | 264,865 | 65,612 | 14,557 | 29,429 |
5 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 8 | 232,678 | 51,035 | 22,178 | 29,085 |
6 | Nashville SC | 10 | 283,656 | 30,109 | 26,842 | 28,366 |
7 | Toronto FC | 9 | 236,290 | 28,303 | 24,108 | 26,254 |
8 | Orlando City SC | 9 | 204,360 | 25,046 | 20,985 | 25,545 |
9 | FC Cincinnati | 8 | 201,953 | 25,513 | 24,282 | 25,244 |
10 | Sporting Kansas City | 9 | 219,719 | 72,610 | 17,046 | 24,413 |
11 | LA Galaxy | 8 | 189,517 | 27,642 | 19,505 | 23,690 |
12 | St. Louis City SC | 9 | 202,038 | 22,500 | 22,423 | 22,449 |
13 | Los Angeles FC | 9 | 199,108 | 22,321 | 22,010 | 22,123 |
14 | Portland Timbers | 8 | 176,316 | 25,218 | 19,113 | 22,040 |
15 | New York City FC | 10 | 217,827 | 30,731 | 18,623 | 21,783 |
16 | Inter Miami CF | 10 | 212,442 | 21,550 | 20,793 | 21,244 |
17 | Austin FC | 9 | 186,642 | 20,738 | 20,738 | 20,738 |
18 | Columbus Crew | 7 | 144,228 | 20,927 | 20,314 | 20,604 |
19 | Real Salt Lake | 8 | 140,338 | 21,078 | 19,357 | 20,048 |
20 | New York Red Bulls | 8 | 79,529 | 25,219 | 17,501 | 19,882 |
21 | CF Montréal | 7 | 137,333 | 19,619 | 19,619 | 19,619 |
22 | Minnesota United FC | 9 | 175,197 | 19,906 | 18,652 | 19,466 |
23 | FC Dallas | 8 | 152,741 | 19,096 | 19,069 | 19,093 |
24 | Philadelphia Union | 9 | 150,474 | 19,048 | 18,525 | 18,809 |
25 | San Jose Earthquakes | 8 | 150,258 | 43,774 | 13,744 | 18,782 |
26 | D.C. United | 9 | 166,770 | 19,365 | 17,237 | 18,530 |
27 | Chicago Fire FC | 10 | 183,906 | 26,592 | 11,372 | 18,391 |
28 | Houston Dynamo FC | 8 | 144,196 | 22,039 | 15,237 | 18,025 |
29 | Colorado Rapids | 8 | 111,914 | 17,433 | 7,492 | 13,989 |
Total | 252 | 5,783,826 | 72,610 | 7,492 | 22,952 |
Highest attendances
[edit]Regular season
Rank | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance | Date | Matchday | Stadium | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sporting Kansas City | 2–3 | Inter Miami CF | 72,610 | April 13, 2024 | 9 | Arrowhead Stadium | [1] |
2 | LA Galaxy | 1–2 | Los Angeles FC | 70,076 | July 4, 2024 | 24 | Rose Bowl | [44] |
3 | Atlanta United FC | 4–1 | New England Revolution | 67,727 | March 9, 2024 | 4 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | [45] |
4 | New England Revolution | 1–4 | Inter Miami CF | 65,612 | April 27, 2024 | 11 | Gillette Stadium | [46] |
5 | Charlotte FC | 1–0 | New York City FC | 62,291 | February 24, 2024 | 2 | Bank of America Stadium | [47] |
6 | Atlanta United FC | 2–3 | Charlotte FC | 61,209 | June 2, 2024 | 18 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | [48] |
7 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 1–2 | Inter Miami CF | 51,035 | May 25, 2024 | 16 | BC Place | [49] |
8 | Charlotte FC | 1–2 | Inter Miami CF | 47,218 | July 3, 2024 | 24 | Bank of America Stadium | [50] |
9 | San Jose Earthquakes | 3–1 | Los Angeles FC | 43,774 | May 4, 2024 | 12 | Levi's Stadium | [51] |
10 | Atlanta United FC | 1–2 | Minnesota United FC | 43,338 | May 4, 2024 | 12 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | [52] |
Player statistics
[edit]- As of July 20, 2024
Source:[53]
Goals
[edit]Hat-tricks
[edit]Player | For | Against | Score | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Christian Benteke | D.C. United | New England Revolution | 3–1 (H) | February 24, 2024 |
Giorgos Giakoumakis | Atlanta United FC | New England Revolution | 4–1 (H) | March 9, 2024 |
Lewis Morgan | New York Red Bulls | Inter Miami CF | 4–0 (H) | March 23, 2024 |
Cristian Arango | Real Salt Lake | St. Louis City SC | 3–1 (H) | March 30, 2024 |
Luis Suárez | Inter Miami CF | New York Red Bulls | 6–2 (H) | May 4, 2024 |
Sam Surridge | Nashville SC | CF Montréal | 4–1 (H) | |
Christian Benteke | D.C. United | Atlanta United FC | 2–3 (A) | May 11, 2024 |
Federico Bernardeschi | Toronto FC | CF Montréal | 5–1 (H) | May 18, 2024 |
Alonso Martínez | New York City FC | San Jose Earthquakes | 5–1 (H) | May 31, 2024 |
Cristian Arango | Real Salt Lake | Austin FC | 5–1 (H) | June 1, 2024 |
Yuya Kubo | FC Cincinnati | San Jose Earthquakes | 2–4 (A) | June 15, 2024 |
Petar Musa | FC Dallas | Minnesota United FC | 5–3 (H) | June 19, 2024 |
Djordje Mihailovic | Colorado Rapids | St. Louis City SC | 0–3 (A) | |
Cucho Hernández | Columbus Crew | Sporting Kansas City | 4–0 (H) | June 22, 2024 |
Sebastián Ferreira | Houston Dynamo FC | D.C. United | 1–4 (A) | |
Mateusz Bogusz | Los Angeles FC | Colorado Rapids | 3–0 (H) | June 29, 2024 |
Brian White | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | St. Louis City SC | 4–3 (H) | |
Tai Baribo | Philadelphia Union | New England Revolution | 5–1 (H) | July 17, 2024 |
Dániel Gazdag | Philadelphia Union | Nashville SC | 3–0 (H) | July 20, 2024 |
- Notes
(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team
Assists
[edit]Clean sheets
[edit]Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets[56] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Kristijan Kahlina | Charlotte FC | 9 |
Hugo Lloris | Los Angeles FC | ||
3 | Stefan Frei | Seattle Sounders FC | 7 |
Patrick Schulte | Columbus Crew | ||
5 | Roman Bürki | St. Louis City SC | 6 |
Roman Celentano | FC Cincinnati | ||
Brad Stuver | Austin FC | ||
Joe Willis | Nashville SC | ||
9 | 8 players | 5 |
Awards
[edit]Team/Player of the Matchday
[edit]- Bold denotes the Player of the Matchday.