Major League Soccer, better known internationally as MLS, is the leading professional football league in the United States and is governed by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). The competition has had professional status since 1996 and has continued to grow ever since. It currently comprises 26 professional teams: 23 based in the United States and 3 in Canada. Furthermore, the league’s expansion is already underway, with the aim of reaching 30 clubs. Austin FC and Charlotte FC will join in 2021, whilst Sacramento Republic FC and St. Louis are set to join in 2022.
adidas EQT MLS jerseys
Although the MLS does not yet enjoy the same prestige or recognition as the major European leagues, its figures show that football continues to gain ground in North America. The competition attracts an average attendance of around 20,000 spectators per match, making it the third most-attended sports league in the United States and one of the most-watched professional football competitions worldwide.
History of the Major League Soccer
The MLS was founded in 1993 as part of the United States’ drive to promote football (soccer) in the country, a project closely linked to the organisation of the 1994 World Cup. However, it was not until 1996 that the first season kicked off, featuring just 10 clubs. Among them was Los Angeles Galaxy, which would go on to become one of the competition’s leading lights and, for years, the most successful club in MLS history, with five league titles. From those early years to the present day, the MLS has come a long way. One need only recall that in its early days, matches could be decided by penalty shoot-outs taken from the centre of the pitch whilst the players were still moving – a format a world away from the football we know today. The competition has steadily gained prominence and international appeal, thanks in large part to the arrival of major stars. Players of the calibre of Kaká, David Beckham (now owner of Inter Miami FC), Zlatan Ibrahimović and Steven Gerrard have all played for its clubs. And the focus on international talent continues with players such as Chicharito at LA Galaxy, Carlos Vela at Los Angeles FC and the Portuguese international Nani at Orlando City. But the evolution of the MLS is not limited to the pitch. The league has also made a clear commitment to modernising its infrastructure, with the aim of providing clubs with new, modern stadiums specifically designed for football.
One of the key features of this competition is that its management model also follows a system similar to that of other major sports leagues in the United States. There is a central body, MLS Headquarters, based in New York, which oversees the licences of all clubs currently participating in the MLS. Each team has private owners who manage it independently, although they must always comply with the rules and guidelines established by the MLS itself. Another consequence of this model is that there is no promotion or relegation in the MLS, despite the fact that the United States has other professional football leagues and competitions.
Today, with clubs based in strategic cities and markets across a country as vast as the United States, football continues to grow and gain popularity. The commitment to the sport is evident in both men’s and women’s football, with significant media coverage at both local and national levels. Teams such as the New York Red Bulls, Chicago Fire, Toronto FC, Montreal Impact and LA Galaxy are now an integral part of the country’s footballing culture and boast a large fan base. Furthermore, some of these clubs have also managed to make their mark on the international stage and become role models for new generations of American footballers.
These are just some of the kits designed by adidas for MLS fans and supporters, along with a few details that help to illustrate the evolution of this competition. Discover all the jerseys in our new section dedicated to official MLS merchandise and let us know which one is your favourite from the whole collection.
