MLS Tickets

Although soccer isn't the most well-known sport in the United States, it has certainly grown in popularity in recent years, further boosted by the United States co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Fans eager to attend MLS games can buy tickets through our platform, acquiring seats safely and reliably. All purchases through SeatPick come with a 100% ticket guarantee.

MLS History

Major League Soccer was founded in 1993, a year before the United States hosted their first FIFA World Cup. Its inaugural season took place in 1996 and DC United were the first-ever champions, beating LA Galaxy after extra-time in the MLS Cup Final.

The first season of the league contained just 10 teams, with five each in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference. That number will have trebled inside the space of three decades since the establishment of MLS.

The league had expanded to 13 teams by 2007, but another six franchises gained MLS membership by 2012. The total number of teams grew to 24 in 2019, and to 29 in 2023, before San Diego FC became the 30th MLS team in 2025.

After initially using American football stadiums for league matches, there was a growing trend of MLS clubs constructing their own soccer-specific stadiums and facilities from the early 2000s

MLS Schedule Information

The Major Soccer League regular season runs from February until December.

MLS pre-season usually starts in January, before the season itself gets underway the following month. The MLS Cup Playoffs begin directly after the regular season has concluded in October. The playoffs run through November, with the champions crowned by mid-December.

Major League Soccer will switch to a European-style summer-to-spring calendar starting in July 2027 to align with the global football schedule.

MLS Events

The MLS Playoffs signal the business end of the season and this is a crucial stage for those towards the top of the standings.

MLS teams also take part in the Leagues Cup, together with their Mexican counterparts from Liga MX. This tournament begins in July and concludes the following month.

The MLS All-Star Game is an annual event which typically occurs in July or August, during pre-season for European teams. Each year, the MLS All-Stars is made up of the best players based in the MLS and they go up against a well-known team from elsewhere in the world.

The MLS All-Star Game has featured top-tier European opponents, including Real Madrid, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Notable MLS Players

The arrival of David Beckham at Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007 was the catalyst of an influx of international stars to Major League Soccer. Thierry Henry joined New York Red Bulls in 2010, following successful spells with Arsenal and FC Barcelona.

Kaká, a past recipient of the prestigious Ballon d'Or award, became a player of Orlando City in 2014 while World Cup winners Andrea Pirlo (Italy) and David Villa (Spain) both signed for New York City FC.

Several more winners of the UEFA Champions League jetted off to the States in the twilight years of their playing careers. The likes of Wayne Rooney, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard all graced the pitches of MLS before hanging up their boots. Other well-known strikers such as Zlatan Ibrahimović, Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan plied their trade for LA Galaxy.

Coverage surrounding Major League Soccer skyrocketed exponentially following the deal which saw Lionel Messi sign for Inter Miami in 2023. Fresh off of winning the FIFA World Cup, the Argentina hero put pen to paper with the Florida-based franchise co-owned by Beckham.

As a result of Messi's very presence, Inter Miami matches have attracted heaps of interest and there've been several high-profile pro athletes, celebrities and media personalities in attendance at Nu Stadium in Miami.

The arrival of Messi was swiftly followed by his reunion with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, two seasoned Spain internationals who had previously enjoyed much success together with Messi at FC Barcelona, before both retired immediately after helping Inter Miami lift the 2025 MLS Cup. Uruguay striker Luis Suárez, who also joined Inter Miami in 2024, remains alongside Messi in Miami.

We can expect to see plenty more world-famous footballers to follow in the footsteps of Messi and many others who have redirected their careers to MLS.

Most Successful MLS Teams

LA Galaxy is the most decorated team in MLS history, with no fewer than five MLS Cup titles. When D.C. United won the MLS Cup for a fourth time in 2004, Galaxy had only won the trophy once. The side from California went on to win back-to-back championships in 2011-12 before clinching the MLS Cup for a fifth time in 2015.

Several MLS teams, including Columbus Crew, San Jose Earthquakes and Sporting Kansas City, are two-time winners of the MLS Cup. These three teams were all founding members of Major League Soccer.

MLS Cup Winners

Biggest MLS Rivalries

One of the best rivalries in Major League Soccer is between LA Galaxy and LAFC. This California-based derby is known as 'El Trafico' and it pits the most successful team in MLS history (Galaxy) against their local rivals who joined the league in 2018.

Over in the Big Apple, the Hudson River Derby is contested between New York Red Bulls and NYCFC. Meanwhile, the Texas Derby sees FC Dallas take on Houston Dynamo.

There is also a significant rivalry between Toronto FC and Montreal Impact (CF Montreal). The feud between English-speaking Toronto and French-speaking Montreal stretches beyond the soccer field, with many cultural differences between these two Canadian cities.

MLS Stadiums