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It’s hard to believe that that our 27th season will begin at the end of February. What records will be set this year? Each Major League Soccer season brings more sterling play, more special moments, more homegrown heroes, and more world-class stars than ever before. We have seen a different MLS Cup champion and a different Supporters’ Shield winner in each of the last five years. The competitive and unpredictable nature of MLS has led to increased attendance, broadcast ratings, and global recognition. Equally important, the collective leaguewide efforts of our players and clubs continue to make our teams, players and League essential members of our communities across the U.S. and Canada. With an earlier start and finish to accommodate the 2022 FIFA World Cup, this season promises to be compelling. The hot stove is cooking with the transfer window already open, and the MLS SuperDraft is set for Jan. 11. Preseason training camps begin Jan. 16 in advance of opening day on Feb. 26. Our representatives in the Concacaf Champions League — New York City FC, CF Montréal, New England Revolution, Colorado Rapids and Seattle Sounders FC — will begin play in the regional competition in mid-February. This year will also see the debut of our 28th club and the opening of two more soccer-specific stadiums. Charlotte FC, with almost 50,000 tickets sold for their inaugural home match, have set a goal of breaking the MLS all-time regular season single-match attendance record. In May, Nashville SC will greet fans to its spectacular state-of-the-art 30,000-seat stadium, the largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States. Later in the year, St. Louis City’s downtown soccer complex will open – ahead of their inaugural season in 2023. With the addition of these two new venues, we’ll have 26 stadiums built or reimagined for MLS clubs. We’ll also have the largest network coverage in League history as a record 48 matches will air on network television in the U.S. across ABC, FOX, Univision and UniMás. In Canada, CTV, TSN and TVA Sports will feature extensive coverage. The MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, which takes place in Minnesota on Aug. 10, will be televised on ESPN, UniMás, TSN and TVA Sports. Finally, MLS Cup will take place Nov. 5, which is 16 days before the start of the World Cup. Our league will be proudly represented on national teams around the globe and especially so on the U.S. and Canadian rosters. As we have since the start of the pandemic, we will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of our players, staff, officials, fans and everyone involved in MLS. Thank you in advance for your continued support of your favorite club and players. For as much as we recognize the talents of the athletes on the field and their desire to perform at the highest level, we also acknowledge your passion for the game and your devotion towards your club and community. We deeply appreciate how much you have inspired us to be better today than yesterday in making soccer the preeminent sport in the U.S. and Canada. On behalf of everyone at MLS, wishing you and your families a happy and healthy New Year!  Don Garber Commissioner Major League Soccer |
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It’s hard to believe that that our 27th season will begin at the end of February. What records will be set this year? Each Major League Soccer season brings more sterling play, more special moments, more homegrown heroes, and more world-class stars than ever before. We have seen a different MLS Cup champion and a different Supporters’ Shield winner in each of the last five years. The competitive and unpredictable nature of MLS has led to increased attendance, broadcast ratings, and global recognition. Equally important, the collective leaguewide efforts of our players and clubs continue to make our teams, players and League essential members of our communities across the U.S. and Canada. With an earlier start and finish to accommodate the 2022 FIFA World Cup, this season promises to be compelling. The hot stove is cooking with the transfer window already open, and the MLS SuperDraft is set for Jan. 11. Preseason training camps begin Jan. 16 in advance of opening day on Feb. 26. Our representatives in the Concacaf Champions League — New York City FC, CF Montréal, New England Revolution, Colorado Rapids and Seattle Sounders FC — will begin play in the regional competition in mid-February. This year will also see the debut of our 28th club and the opening of two more soccer-specific stadiums. Charlotte FC, with almost 50,000 tickets sold for their inaugural home match, have set a goal of breaking the MLS all-time regular season single-match attendance record. In May, Nashville SC will greet fans to its spectacular state-of-the-art 30,000-seat stadium, the largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States. Later in the year, St. Louis City’s downtown soccer complex will open – ahead of their inaugural season in 2023. With the addition of these two new venues, we’ll have 26 stadiums built or reimagined for MLS clubs. We’ll also have the largest network coverage in League history as a record 48 matches will air on network television in the U.S. across ABC, FOX, Univision and UniMás. In Canada, CTV, TSN and TVA Sports will feature extensive coverage. The MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, which takes place in Minnesota on Aug. 10, will be televised on ESPN, UniMás, TSN and TVA Sports. Finally, MLS Cup will take place Nov. 5, which is 16 days before the start of the World Cup. Our league will be proudly represented on national teams around the globe and especially so on the U.S. and Canadian rosters. As we have since the start of the pandemic, we will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of our players, staff, officials, fans and everyone involved in MLS. Thank you in advance for your continued support of your favorite club and players. For as much as we recognize the talents of the athletes on the field and their desire to perform at the highest level, we also acknowledge your passion for the game and your devotion towards your club and community. We deeply appreciate how much you have inspired us to be better today than yesterday in making soccer the preeminent sport in the U.S. and Canada. On behalf of everyone at MLS, wishing you and your families a happy and healthy New Year! Don Garber Commissioner Major League Soccer |
