Understanding how does MLS work is like decoding a new language for many football fans. In this article, DeutKick will take you behind the scenes of American soccer’s top tier — how it’s structured, how champions are crowned, and what makes it so different. Ready to dive in? Let’s go.
What Is MLS? The Big Picture
Major League Soccer (MLS) is the premier professional men’s soccer league in the United States and Canada. Unlike most leagues around the world, MLS blends American sports traditions — such as playoffs and franchise ownership — into football. In 2025, the league features 30 teams, split into Eastern and Western Conferences (15 in each).
MLS isn’t just about crowning a champion; it rewards consistency too. During the regular season, teams compete for the Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the team with the best overall record across both conferences. Then the playoffs decide the MLS Cup winner — the ultimate bragging rights.
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In short: the league has two big prizes each year — the Supporters’ Shield for consistency, and the MLS Cup for post-season success.
Regular Season Format & Scheduling
Conference splits and opponent breakdown
Each team plays 34 matches per season: 17 at home and 17 away. Most of these are intra-conference, while a handful are inter-conference matches.
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The usual breakdown (which can shift slightly with expansion) is:
- Face each team in your conference twice (home + away) → that’s ~28 matches
- Play 6 matches against teams from the opposite conference → 3 home, 3 away
Because both conferences have equal numbers (15 each), scheduling and travel logistics are important — MLS tries to balance fairness and rivalry.
Season calendar & special tournaments
The 2025 season began on February 22 and culminates in Decision Day on October 18, when the final regular-season matches are played.
MLS also weaves in extra tournaments:
- Leagues Cup: In 2025, MLS teams join Liga MX teams in a midseason competition (July 29 – August 31) — though only the top 18 MLS clubs.
- U.S. Open Cup / Canadian Championship: Domestic cup competitions where clubs vie for national honors. In recent years, MLS has adjusted which clubs enter. eguardian.com])
- CONCACAF Champions Cup: The continental competition for North and Central American clubs — MLS teams can qualify. ive Me Sport])
One quirk: MLS sometimes pauses for major international tournaments (e.g. Gold Cup), but often doesn’t pause for Leagues Cup.
Points, Standings & Tiebreakers
Points system
- Win: 3 points
- Draw: 1 point
- Loss: 0 points
Teams are ranked in their conference by total points. There is also an overall table combining both conferences — for purposes like Supporters’ Shield and continental qualification.
Tiebreakers
If teams have the same number of points, MLS applies tiebreakers in this order:
- Goal difference
- Goals scored
- Head-to-head results
- Fewest disciplinary points
- Other criteria such as away goals, away performance
These rules ensure clear ordering and playoff qualification consistency.
Playoffs & The Road to MLS Cup
One of the biggest questions fans ask: how does MLS work in the postseason? The format has evolved, and 2025 brings a compelling mix of knockout drama and series play.
Who qualifies
- Top 9 teams in each conference make the playoffs → total of 18 teams
- Seeds 1 to 7 in each conference automatically advance to Round One (best-of-three series)
- Seeds 8 vs. 9 in each conference play a single-game Wild Card — winner joins Round One
Round One: Best-of-three
Unlike most playoff formats worldwide, MLS uses a best-of-three series in Round One:
- No aggregate scoring — each game is standalone
- If a match is tied after 90 minutes, it goes directly to penalties
- The higher seed hosts two games out of the possible three
Later rounds: Single elimination
From Conference Semifinals forward (including Conference Final and the MLS Cup Final), matches are single-elimination:
- If tied after 90 minutes → extra time, then penalties
- Higher-seeded team hosts the match
- MLS Cup Final is hosted by the finalist with the better regular-season record
2025’s postseason kicks off October 22 and culminates in MLS Cup on December 6.
This hybrid format blends the excitement of knockout games with a touch of multi-match drama.
Roster Rules, Salary Cap & Player Allocation
One of the most distinctive features of how MLS works is the roster and financial control system — designed to maintain parity and control.
Salary Cap and roster structure
MLS operates with a budget cap model. Each club must adhere to roster rules and salary limits to maintain competitive balance.
Teams must carry a minimum number of senior players and supplemental players. Also, a squad can include Designated Players (DPs) — usually marquee internationals whose salary only partially counts toward the cap.
Allocation money & financial tools
MLS uses General Allocation Money (GAM) and Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) — funds granted by the league — to help clubs manage salaries beyond the fixed cap.
For example:
- Teams earn extra GAM if they fail to make playoffs
- Expansion teams get bigger one-time allocation
- Revenue from player transfers to non-MLS clubs can be funneled back to the team’s allocation pool
Other mechanisms include homegrown player status, loan allowances, and international roster slots — all factors that influence how clubs build squads.
International & Continental Competition
CONCACAF Champions Cup access
MLS clubs can qualify for the Champions Cup (CONCACAF’s top club competition) through:
- Winning the MLS Cup
- Securing the Supporters’ Shield
- Capturing the U.S. Open Cup (for American clubs)
- Finishing high in the overall standings
Canadian MLS clubs, however, cannot qualify via MLS; they must win the Canadian Championship (their domestic cup) to enter continental play.
Leagues Cup cross-border drama, MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX have collaborated on Leagues Cup. In 2025, the tournament features 36 teams (18 from each league).
The top-performing MLS teams in Leagues Cup can gain continental spots. This stacked calendar means MLS clubs must juggle league play, domestic cups, and international tournaments.
Key Differences from European Leagues & Criticisms
Understanding how MLS works also means noticing what sets it apart — and what critics argue could be improved.
No promotion or relegation
MLS functions as a closed franchise system. There is no promotion and relegation like in European leagues. Teams do not drop down based on poor performance.
Parity and controlled growth
Because of salary caps, allocation rules, and franchise structure, MLS aims for parity — meaning even lower-budget teams can compete. Some fans love this “anyone can win” ethos; others criticize it for limiting freedom and punishing success.
Playoffs versus league merit
One frequent gripe is that the playoff structure sometimes overrides regular-season consistency. A team dominating all season could be eliminated in a single bad playoff match.
Broadcasting and digital strategy
MLS has embraced streaming and global reach. As of 2025, the MLS Season Pass (on Apple TV) is the primary rights holder globally. In the U.S., Fox still airs some games.
Expansions, scheduling challenges, and ongoing discussions about calendar shifts illustrate how MLS is evolving.
Understanding 2025: Latest Facts & Figures
- The 2025 season is MLS’s 30th.
- League expanded to 30 clubs, with the addition of San Diego FC.
- Regular season: Feb 22 to Oct 18; playoffs: Oct 22 to Dec 6.
- Each club will play 34 matches (17 home, 17 away).
- 18 teams make the playoffs (9 per conference).
- Round One:ne: best-of-three series (no aggregate).
- Later rounds: single elimination with extra time and penalties.
- Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass streams nearly all games globally; Fox covers some U.S. matches.
- MLS’s unique financial mechanisms (allocation money, DPs, caps) shape how clubs build squads.
- Teams can compete in Leagues Cup, U.S. Open Cup (or Canadian equivalent), and continental tournaments.
These features reflect the current state — but MLS continues adapting and experimenting.
Final Thoughts
How does MLS work? It’s a bold hybrid: American sports structure meets global football culture. The mix of conferences, playoffs, salary controls, and cross-border competitions makes it unique in the soccer world.
If you loved this deep dive by DeutKick and want more guides — like player transfers, club profiles, or “MLS vs Premier League” comparisons — let me know! And if you’re curious about a specific team’s 2025 season or a player’s journey in MLS, I’ve got you covered.
