What does MLS stand for? MLS stands for Major League Soccer. It is a men’s professional soccer league which is sectioned by the United States Soccer Federation.

If you want to know more details about MLS, here is a brief manual to know the mechanism and all the ins and outs of the competition par excellence in North America.

What does MLS stand for?

The MLS had started as an “obligation” after FIFA granted the 1994 World Cup to the United States. That is the key requirement that was demanding from the candidacy, in addition to the infrastructure, amenities, transportation. Having a professional football, since previously the famous NASL existed. 

Creation and evolution:

The first season took place in 1996, with a total of ten franchises. 23 editions later, there are already 23 teams that make up the league (20 Americans and 3 Canadians). 

The objective is to reach 28 but, as a peculiarity, and like the rest of the major leagues in North America, there is no system of ascents and descents. 

Here they access through what is popular as ‘Expansion Phase’. A process by which the league requires a series of conditions to enter to compete: specific stadiums for soccer, training academies, good sports facilities. And of course payment of more than 100 million dollars.

This is how they have been gradually entering all of them.

What does MLS stand for?
MLS

What does MLS stand for?MLS All-Star:

How could it be otherwise, the MLS also organizes every season the well-known MLS All-Star. Formerly it was the same format as other leagues, such as the NBA or NFL, where the best of each conference faced each other. However, due to the low interest he raised, they changed course. They decided to face a team of the best MLS players against a great European team.

For example, in 2018 they measured Juventus, in a match that was resolved on penalties with victory for the Italians after 1-1 at the regular time. A great but that has such an event is that it takes place in full preseason, which makes it impossible in most cases to see great stars. The league already handles a new change, being the most requested to measure the combined MLS against a combined MX League.

Functioning:

The competition has a division into two Conferences: East and West. As it happens, in 2018, they are odd, so one has 12 and the other 11. They dispute a total of 34 games, compressed in a regular phase. Whoever gets the most points will be awarded the Supporters ’Shield, a title that rewards regularity and also grants a quota for the CONCACAF Champions League.

Rivalry Week:

The famous Rivalry Week takes place during the season. A week of rivalries which are some created by fans and others by the league itself are all played in the same period.

The best known are those of the Hudson River Derby (New York City vs. New York Red Bulls), Cascadia Cup (Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders), 401 Derby (Toronto FC vs Montreal Impact),; and the newborn El Traffic (LAFC vs Los Angeles Galaxy).

Once this is finished, the first 6 classifieds of each conference will go to the Playoffs. Of course, 1st and 2nd will be exempt from playing the first round, which will be a single game (3rd vs. 6th – 4th vs. 5th) and in the field that was above. 

Then, in the later stages (semifinals and final conference) they will play a double game. Until you reach the grand final by the MLS Cup. This will be a single duel and in the franchise fief that has scored more points than the rival.

Franchise Player:

Another highlight is the concept that franchise teams receive. The entire budget is directed by MLS itself. As there is also a salary cap which, however, can be exceeded up to 3 times. 

This is what is known as ‘Franchise Player’. This is a rule that was implemented with the arrival of David Beckham to the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2008. 

MLS SuperDraft:

This allows registering up to 3 players who exceed the limit. The payment is divided between franchises and MLS itself.

Some signings that can be carried out through the window that opens from January 1 to May 1. The current trend is to bet on young players and, above all, South Americans such as the example of Atlanta United. 

Quite the opposite of what happened in previous years, in which the priority objective was to sign players in the twilight of their careers. They took players from the Barcelona, Real Madrid etc.The vision was to generate as much income as possible, selling shirts especially. It was even above success over the green. There are innumerable names, such as Lampard, Pirlo or Kaka, among others.

What does MLS stand for?
MLS Teams

There is also the MLS SuperDraft route, a system whereby all franchises can select the best university players in the country (NCAA) from the previous year. Franchises that enter the league for the first time will have priority when selecting them. Alongside this Draft, another proof of youth promotion is what is known as Homegrown Players. They are those players who leave the powerful Academies of the teams, which grow by leaps and bounds every season. Read more about MLS here.

What does MLS stand for?MLS Betting:

With online MLS soccer betting becoming legal in more states of the United States, MLS soccer betting sites are more available today. 

At bettingexpert.com, get the best MLS betting tips for any game in the United States from experts with huge profit margins and winning percentage.