MLS 2023-24

26 Feb 2022 - 9 Oct 2022
Argentina FA chief Claudio Tapia provides response when asked if he wants Lionel Messi to return to his boyhood club Argentina FA chief Claudio Tapia provides response when asked if he wants Lionel Messi to return to his boyhood club
Argentina FA chief Claudio Tapia provides response when asked if he wants Lionel Messi to return to his boyhood club
7h
"10x the player Ronaldo was at 38", "You are not real" - Fans hail Lionel Messi after heroics for Inter Miami against Nashville SC "10x the player Ronaldo was at 38", "You are not real" - Fans hail Lionel Messi after heroics for Inter Miami against Nashville SC
"10x the player Ronaldo was at 38", "You are not real" - Fans hail Lionel Messi after heroics for Inter Miami against Nashville SC
WATCH: Lionel Messi scores another brace as Inter Miami beat Nashville SC WATCH: Lionel Messi scores another brace as Inter Miami beat Nashville SC
WATCH: Lionel Messi scores another brace as Inter Miami beat Nashville SC
"We're monitoring the situation" - Inter Miami boss provides update on Lionel Messi as he creates new MLS record "We're monitoring the situation" - Inter Miami boss provides update on Lionel Messi as he creates new MLS record
"We're monitoring the situation" - Inter Miami boss provides update on Lionel Messi as he creates new MLS record 
“On the plane, the same thing happened” - Rodrigo De Paul reveals how ‘longstanding’ friendship with Lionel Messi started “On the plane, the same thing happened” - Rodrigo De Paul reveals how ‘longstanding’ friendship with Lionel Messi started
“On the plane, the same thing happened” - Rodrigo De Paul reveals how ‘longstanding’ friendship with Lionel Messi started
WATCH: Lionel Messi scores brilliant goal from outside the box after pin-point pass from Sergio Busquets during Inter Miami's 2-1 win WATCH: Lionel Messi scores brilliant goal from outside the box after pin-point pass from Sergio Busquets during Inter Miami's 2-1 win
WATCH: Lionel Messi scores brilliant goal from outside the box after pin-point pass from Sergio Busquets during Inter Miami's 2-1 win
"He actually is harming our team" - Inter Miami fans make feelings clear about Lionel Messi's teammate despite 2-1 win over New England Revolution "He actually is harming our team" - Inter Miami fans make feelings clear about Lionel Messi's teammate despite 2-1 win over New England Revolution
"He actually is harming our team" - Inter Miami fans make feelings clear about Lionel Messi's teammate despite 2-1 win over New England Revolution
World Cup winning Argentina star's potential move to Inter Miami is dependent on Lionel Messi's contract situation with the club: Reports World Cup winning Argentina star's potential move to Inter Miami is dependent on Lionel Messi's contract situation with the club: Reports
World Cup winning Argentina star's potential move to Inter Miami is dependent on Lionel Messi's contract situation with the club: Reports
"I’m like Cristiano" - When ex-RedBull driver compared himself to Cristiano Ronaldo while saying Max Verstappen is Lionel Messi "I’m like Cristiano" - When ex-RedBull driver compared himself to Cristiano Ronaldo while saying Max Verstappen is Lionel Messi
"I’m like Cristiano" - When ex-RedBull driver compared himself to Cristiano Ronaldo while saying Max Verstappen is Lionel Messi
David Ornstein provides update on Lionel Messi contract situation at Inter Miami after transfer push from Al-Ahli David Ornstein provides update on Lionel Messi contract situation at Inter Miami after transfer push from Al-Ahli
David Ornstein provides update on Lionel Messi contract situation at Inter Miami after transfer push from Al-Ahli
“When I’m gonna smash you, you’re gonna have your name on your face” - Lionel Messi’s bodyguard challenges Logan Paul with new warning “When I’m gonna smash you, you’re gonna have your name on your face” - Lionel Messi’s bodyguard challenges Logan Paul with new warning
“When I’m gonna smash you, you’re gonna have your name on your face” - Lionel Messi’s bodyguard challenges Logan Paul with new warning
“I want to be like Messi” - UFC Lightweight champion Ilia Topuria reveals what he admires about Lionel Messi despite being Real Madrid fan “I want to be like Messi” - UFC Lightweight champion Ilia Topuria reveals what he admires about Lionel Messi despite being Real Madrid fan
“I want to be like Messi” - UFC Lightweight champion Ilia Topuria reveals what he admires about Lionel Messi despite being Real Madrid fan

About MLS 2023-24

Major League Soccer (MLS 2022)

2013 MLS Cup - Real Salt Lake v Sporting Kansas City

The MLS is one of the fastest-growing leagues in America despite heavy competition from the NHL, NFL, and whatnot. With the league attracting hordes of European stars to the United States, interest in football (or soccer as it is known in these parts) has peaked over the past few years. What was previously perceived as a ‘retirement home’ for global superstars to wind down their careers is now playing host to multitudes of big-name players in their primes on a week in week out basis. Let us take a closer look at what MLS really is.

1. MLS Format

The MLS comprises of 24 teams, 21 from the United States and 3 from Canada, each of whom are subsequently congregated into the Eastern and Western conferences depending upon their locations. Each team in the league tallies 34 games over the course of a season that runs from March to October.

Every team from a particular conference engages in battle with its fellow members twice, once at home and once away, totaling 24 games. Also, every team plays one game against a team from the opposite conference adding 10 more games to the already present total of 24.

International Champions Cup 2017 - AS Roma v Juventus

The team with the highest points in each conference takes home the Supporters’ shield. A postseason knockout tournament called the MLS cup is held with 14 teams, 7 from each conference, participating in it on the basis of the regular-season points tally. The top seed from each zone is given a bye to the semifinals and the other 12 teams, separated into brackets of 6 each, sweat it out in order to make the semis. The winner of the final, which is a two-legged tie is then awarded the MLS cup.

2. MLS Rules

The MLS is unlike the European footballing leagues in the aspect that it has a different set of rules governing its operation. Each team in the league can possess a squad of up to 30 members. In addition there a few other rules:

Club Tijuana v Los Angeles Galaxy: Quarterfinal - 2019 Leagues Cup

a. Salary Cap: The league sets a cap on player wages in order to establish a level playing field for all those involved.

b. Designated Player Rule: The Designated Player Rule, or the Beckham rule as it is informally known, allows MLS teams to sign up to three players outside their salary cap. Unsurprisingly, David Beckham was the first player to be signed under this rule.

c. International slots: Every team in the MLS is allocated eight international slots, meaning they can recruit eight players from anywhere around the world. The other slots will have to be filled by domestic players based in the United States or Canada.

d. Allocation Money: On top of the salary budget, each team is given some additional money, called allocation money which is sort of considered as the transfer budget for the team. This money is put to use in obtaining the signature of players or in order to allocate the salary cap.

e. Allocation Ranking: This system is applicable for current or former USMNT players returning to the country to take part in the MLS. Teams in the league are awarded an allocation ranking which depends on their position in the table and this ranking dictates the priority in which these players can be picked by the teams.

f. Trades: Clubs can trade players amongst themselves as long as all squad criteria are met after the trade

3. MLS 2019 Winners

Atlanta United FC v New York Red Bulls: Eastern Conference Finals - Leg 2

Currently, the title of defending champions for both, the MLS Cup and the eastern conference winners belongs to Atlanta United FC, while the western conference’s bragging rights are within the hands of Portland Timbers. D.C. United holds the record for the most titles within the Eastern spectrum and L.A. Galaxy possesses the same on the other side with 5 and 8 respectively. The team from Los Angeles also happen to hold the record number of MLS cups, tallying 5 in their years of existence.

Last Modified Jul 15, 2025 17:53 GMT
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