The following is a timeline of organizational changes in Major League Soccer (MLS), a professional soccer league in the United States and Canada that began play in 1996 with 10 teams and currently has 30 teams. This article includes expansions, contractions, renamings of clubs and conference realignment.
Timeline
1996–1999: Early years 1996 (10 teams) The league operated its first inaugural season in 1996 with 10 teams and two conferences. + 1996 MLS teams Eastern Western Columbus Crew Colorado Rapids D.C. United Dallas Burn New England Revolution Kansas City Wiz NY/NJ MetroStars Los Angeles Galaxy Tampa Bay Mutiny San Jose Clash
1997 (10 teams) The Kansas City Wiz rebranded to Kansas City Wizards in the following season.
+ 1997 MLS teams Eastern Western Columbus Crew Colorado Rapids D.C. United Dallas Burn New England Revolution Kansas City Wizards NY/NJ MetroStars Los Angeles Galaxy Tampa Bay Mutiny San Jose Clash
1998–1999: First expansion (12 teams) The league expanded for the first time in 1998 with Miami Fusion and Chicago Fire. The New York/New Jersey MetroStars went by just MetroStars by the same season. Team's first season in MLS * + 1998–1999 MLS teams Eastern Western Columbus Crew Chicago Fire * D.C. United Colorado Rapids MetroStars Dallas Burn Miami Fusion * Kansas City Wizards New England Revolution Los Angeles Galaxy Tampa Bay Mutiny San Jose Clash 2000–2001: Three divisions 2000–2001 (12 teams) In 2000, the league realigned to three divisions, with a new division: the Central Division. The Eastern and Western Conferences were renamed to the Eastern and Western Divisions respectively. The San Jose Clash rebranded to San Jose Earthquakes. Team would fold after the 2001 season † Eastern Central Western D.C. United Chicago Fire Colorado Rapids MetroStars Columbus Crew Kansas City Wizards Miami Fusion † Dallas Burn Los Angeles Galaxy New England Revolution Tampa Bay Mutiny † San Jose Earthquakes
2002–2006: League contraction 2002–2004 (10 teams) Prior to the 2002 MLS season, Miami Fusion of the Eastern Division and Tampa Bay Mutiny of the Central Division folded. The league returned to the two-conference format for the season with a similar alignment to the 1997 season, only with Chicago Fire moving to the Eastern Conference.
Team moved from the Central Division ‡ + 2002–2004 MLS teams Eastern Western Chicago Fire ‡ Colorado Rapids Columbus Crew ‡ Dallas Burn ‡ D.C. United Kansas City Wizards MetroStars Los Angeles Galaxy New England Revolution San Jose Earthquakes
2005 (12 teams) Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake were both added to the Western Conference for the 2005 expansion. The Kansas City Wizards were subsequently moved to the Eastern Conference to even the conferences out. The Dallas Burn rebranded to FC Dallas. Team's first season in MLS *Team switched conferences ‡Team relocated after the season † + 2005 MLS teams Eastern Western Chicago Fire Chivas USA * Columbus Crew Colorado Rapids D.C. United FC Dallas Kansas City Wizards ‡ Los Angeles Galaxy MetroStars Real Salt Lake * New England Revolution San Jose Earthquakes †
2006 (12 teams) The San Jose Earthquakes relocated to Houston to become the Houston Dynamo. The MetroStars rebranded as the New York Red Bulls. + 2006 MLS teams Eastern Western Chicago Fire Chivas USA Columbus Crew Colorado Rapids D.C. United FC Dallas Kansas City Wizards Houston Dynamo New England Revolution Los Angeles Galaxy New York Red Bulls Real Salt Lake 2007–2014: Expansion into Canada 2007 (13 teams) Toronto FC was added to the Eastern Conference during 2007 expansion, adding a team in Canada for the first time. Team's first season in MLS * + 2007 MLS teams Eastern Western Chicago Fire Chivas USA Columbus Crew Colorado Rapids D.C. United FC Dallas Kansas City Wizards Houston Dynamo New England Revolution Los Angeles Galaxy New York Red Bulls Real Salt Lake Toronto FC *
2008 (14 teams) The San Jose Earthquakes returned to the Western Conference for the 2008 season after a 2-year hiatus. Team returned to MLS ^ + 2008 MLS teams Eastern Western Chicago Fire Chivas USA Columbus Crew Colorado Rapids D.C. United FC Dallas Kansas City Wizards Houston Dynamo New England Revolution Los Angeles Galaxy New York Red Bulls Real Salt Lake Toronto FC San Jose Earthquakes ^ 2009 (15 teams) Seattle Sounders FC was added to the Western Conference for the 2009 season, succeeding USL First Division team of the same name. Team's first season in MLS * + 2009 MLS teams Eastern Western Chicago Fire Chivas USA Columbus Crew Colorado Rapids D.C. United FC Dallas Kansas City Wizards Houston Dynamo New England Revolution LA Galaxy New York Red Bulls Real Salt Lake Toronto FC San Jose Earthquakes Seattle Sounders FC *
2010 (16 teams) Philadelphia Union was added to the Eastern Conference for the 2010 season. Team's first season in MLS * + 2010 MLS teams Eastern Western Chicago Fire Chivas USA Columbus Crew Colorado Rapids D.C. United FC Dallas Kansas City Wizards Houston Dynamo New England Revolution LA Galaxy New York Red Bulls Real Salt Lake Philadelphia Union * San Jose Earthquakes Toronto FC Seattle Sounders FC
2011 (18 teams) The Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC were both added to the Western Conference with both teams being successors of USL teams. Houston Dynamo subsequently switched to the Eastern Conference to make both conferences even. The Kansas City Wizards rebranded to Sporting Kansas City prior to the season. Team's first season in MLS *Team switched conferences ‡ + 2011 MLS teams Eastern Western Chicago Fire Chivas USA Columbus Crew Colorado Rapids D.C. United FC Dallas Houston Dynamo ‡ LA Galaxy New England Revolution Portland Timbers * New York Red Bulls Real Salt Lake Philadelphia Union San Jose Earthquakes Sporting Kansas City Seattle Sounders FC Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC *
2012–2014 (19 teams) Montreal Impact was added to the Eastern Conference for the 2012 season, succeeding a USL First Division team of the same name. Team's first season in MLS *Team folded after the 2014 season † + 2012–2014 MLS teams Eastern Western Chicago Fire Chivas USA † Columbus Crew Colorado Rapids D.C. United FC Dallas Houston Dynamo LA Galaxy Montreal Impact * Portland Timbers New England Revolution Real Salt Lake New York Red Bulls San Jose Earthquakes Philadelphia Union Seattle Sounders FC Sporting Kansas City Vancouver Whitecaps FC Toronto FC
2015–2025: Rapid expansion 2015–2016 (20 teams) New York City FC and Orlando City SC were both added to the Eastern Conference, the latter of which was a successor of a USL Pro team of the same name; subsequently the Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City were relocated back to the Western Conference to make both conferences even. Chivas USA would fold prior to the 2015 season. Team's first season in MLS *Team switched conferences ‡ + 2015–2016 MLS teams Eastern Western Chicago Fire Colorado Rapids Columbus Crew FC DallasD.C. United Houston Dynamo ‡ Montreal Impact LA Galaxy New England Revolution Portland Timbers New York City FC * Real Salt Lake New York Red Bulls San Jose Earthquakes Orlando City SC * Seattle Sounders FC Philadelphia Union Sporting Kansas City ‡ Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2017 (22 teams) Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC were added to the Eastern and Western Conferences, respectively; the latter of which was the successor to the NASL team of the same name. Team's first season in MLS * + 2017 MLS teams Eastern Western Atlanta United FC * Colorado Rapids Chicago Fire FC Dallas Columbus Crew Houston Dynamo D.C. United LA Galaxy Montreal Impact Minnesota United FC * New England Revolution Portland Timbers New York City FC Real Salt Lake New York Red Bulls San Jose Earthquakes Orlando City SC Seattle Sounders FC Philadelphia Union Sporting Kansas City Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2018 (23 teams) Los Angeles FC was added to the Western Conference for the 2018 season. Team's first season in MLS * + 2018 MLS teams Eastern Western Atlanta United FC Colorado Rapids Chicago Fire FC Dallas Columbus Crew Houston Dynamo D.C. United LA Galaxy Montreal Impact Los Angeles FC * New England Revolution Minnesota United FC New York City FC Portland Timbers New York Red Bulls Real Salt Lake Orlando City SC San Jose Earthquakes Philadelphia Union Seattle Sounders FC Toronto FC Sporting Kansas City Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2019 (24 teams) FC Cincinnati was added to the Eastern Conference after spending 3 years in the USL. Team's first season in MLS * + 2019 MLS teams Eastern Western Atlanta United FC New England Revolution Colorado Rapids Portland Timbers Chicago Fire New York City FC FC Dallas Real Salt Lake FC Cincinnati * New York Red Bulls Houston Dynamo San Jose Earthquakes Columbus Crew Orlando City SC LA Galaxy Seattle Sounders FC D.C. United Philadelphia Union Los Angeles FC Sporting Kansas City Montreal Impact Toronto FC Minnesota United FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2020 (26 teams) Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC were both added to the Eastern and Western Conferences, respectively, for the 2020 season. However, after the MLS is Back Tournament, Nashville SC was moved to the Eastern Conference. The Chicago Fire SC rebranded to Chicago Fire FC. Team's first season in MLS *Team's first season in MLS, then switched conferences midseason *‡ + 2020 MLS teams Eastern Western Atlanta United FC Nashville SC *‡ Colorado Rapids Portland Timbers Chicago Fire FC New England Revolution FC Dallas Real Salt Lake FC Cincinnati New York City FC Houston Dynamo San Jose Earthquakes Columbus Crew New York Red Bulls LA Galaxy Seattle Sounders FC D.C. United Orlando City SC Los Angeles FC Sporting Kansas City Inter Miami CF * Philadelphia Union Minnesota United FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC Montreal Impact Toronto FC
2021 (27 teams) Austin FC was added to the Western Conference for the 2021 season. The Montreal Impact rebranded to Club de Foot Montréal (CF Montréal). Team's first season in MLS * + 2021 MLS teams Eastern Western Atlanta United FC Nashville SC Austin FC * Portland Timbers Chicago Fire FC New England Revolution Colorado Rapids Real Salt Lake FC Cincinnati New York City FC FC Dallas San Jose Earthquakes Columbus Crew New York Red Bulls Houston Dynamo FC Seattle Sounders FC D.C. United Orlando City SC LA Galaxy Sporting Kansas City Inter Miami CF Philadelphia Union Los Angeles FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC CF Montréal Toronto FC Minnesota United FC
2022 (28 teams) Charlotte FC was added to the Eastern Conference for the 2022 season; Nashville SC subsequently relocated to the Western Conference to even the conferences. Team's first season in MLS *Team switched conferences ‡ + 2022 MLS teams Eastern Western Atlanta United FC CF Montréal Austin FC Nashville SC ‡ Charlotte FC * New England Revolution Colorado Rapids Portland Timbers Chicago Fire FC New York City FC FC Dallas Real Salt Lake FC Cincinnati New York Red Bulls Houston Dynamo FC San Jose Earthquakes Columbus Crew Orlando City SC LA Galaxy Seattle Sounders FC D.C. United Philadelphia Union Los Angeles FC Sporting Kansas City Inter Miami CF Toronto FC Minnesota United FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2023–2024 (29 teams) St. Louis City SC was added to the Western Conference for the 2023 season; Nashville SC relocated to the Eastern Conference for a second time. Team's first season in MLS *Team switched conferences ‡ + 2023–2024 MLS teams Eastern Western Atlanta United FC Nashville SC ‡ Austin FC Portland Timbers Charlotte FC New England Revolution Colorado Rapids Real Salt Lake Chicago Fire FC New York City FC FC Dallas San Jose Earthquakes FC Cincinnati New York Red Bulls Houston Dynamo FC Seattle Sounders FC Columbus Crew Orlando City SC LA Galaxy Sporting Kansas City D.C. United Philadelphia Union Los Angeles FC St. Louis City SC * Inter Miami CF Toronto FC Minnesota United FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC CF Montréal
2025 (30 teams) San Diego FC was added to the Western Conference for the 2025 season.
Team's first season in MLS *