Introduction:
The Major League Soccer (MLS) is the top professional soccer league in North America. With 34 teams spread across Canada and the United States, MLS has grown rapidly in recent years, attracting millions of fans from around the world. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at MLS 2022, including the schedule, results, standings, format, teams, and where to watch. We’ll also discuss some of the key players and storylines that you won’t want to miss.
Schedule:
The MLS regular season runs from March 1st to October 31st, with each team playing 28 games against their conference opponents. The top eight teams in each conference will qualify for the playoffs, which begin in November and end in December. The winner of the MLS Cup, which is played in December, will receive a cash prize of $5 million and the league’s championship trophy.
Results:
As of August 1st, 2022, here are the current standings for each conference:
Eastern Conference:
| Team | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals Scored | Goals Allowed | Points |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| New York Red Bulls | 17 | 3 | 8 | 54 | 29 | 54 |
| Toronto FC | 17 | 3 | 8 | 50 | 32 | 54 |
| Philadelphia Union | 15 | 6 | 7 | 45 | 31 | 51 |
| Columbus Crew | 13 | 5 | 10 | 45 | 36 | 48 |
| New England Revolution | 12 | 8 | 8 | 43 | 37 | 48 |
| Chicago Fire | 10 | 6 | 12 | 35 | 39 | 36 |
| Montreal Impact | 7 | 6 | 15 | 30 | 43 | 27 |
| D.C. United | 5 | 6 | 17 | 26 | 48 | 16 |
| Atlanta United | 4 | 9 | 17 | 24 | 50 | 17 |
| Orlando City SC | 3 | 7 | 21 | 19 | 60 | 13 |
| Miami FC | 2 | 11 | 26 | 23 | 57 | 14 |
| Charlotte Mecklenburg Inferno | 1 | 10 | 27 | 18 | 70 | 4 |
| Inter Miami CF | 0 | 12 | 28 | 24 | 63 | 11 |
Western Conference:
| Team | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals Scored | Goals Allowed | Points |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 21 | 3 | 4 | 67 | 28 | 67 |
| Sporting Kansas City | 19 | 4 | 5 | 60 | 32 | 61 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 16 | 6 | 6 | 55 | 27 | 58 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 14 | 7 | 9 | 50 | 28 | 51 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 10 | 10 | 10 | 32 | 34 | 40 |
| Portland Timbers | 10 | 6 | 14 | 47 | 39 | 36 |
| Real Salt Lake | 10 | 5 | 19 | 31 | 47 | 35 |
| Houston Dynamo | 8 | 12 | 18 | 25 | 46 | 32 |
| Colorado Rapids | 7 | 8 | 23 | 29 | 47 | 29 |
| Minnesota United | 5 | 10 | 19 | 27 | 51 | 20 |
| Los Angeles FC | 4 | 11 | 26 | 28 | 53 | 18 |
| Austin FC | 3 | 7 | 25 | 27 | 58 | 14 |
| Montreal Impact | 3 | 6 | 25 | 20 | 66 | 12 |
| DC United | 3 | 6 | 25 | 19 | 68 | 12 |
Results can be found on the official MLS website.
Standings:
The standings are determined by a combination of points earned (three points for a win, one point for a draw) and goal differential. The top two teams in each conference will qualify for the Supporters’ Shield, which is awarded to the team with the most points during the regular season. The winner of the Supporters’ Shield receives an additional $1 million in cash and the championship trophy.
Format:
The MLS playoffs consist of two rounds, the Conference Semifinals and the Conference Finals. In each conference, the top four seeds will host the first round, while the remaining four seeds will travel to the higher-seeded team’s stadium. The winners of the Conference Semifinals will advance to the Conference Finals, where they will play for a spot in the MLS Cup.
Teams:
There are 34 teams in MLS, divided into two conferences: Eastern and Western. Each conference has 17 teams, with one team from Canada (Montreal Impact) and one team from Mexico (Club America). The top eight teams in each conference will qualify for the playoffs, while the bottom eight teams in each conference will be relegated to the lower-division league.
Where to Watch:
MLS games can be watched on a variety of channels, including ESPN, Fox Sports, Univision, and MLSsoccer.com. In addition, many teams have their own TV broadcast partners, such as NBC Sports Chicago for the Chicago Fire or ESPN Deportes for Club America.
Key Players:
Some of the key players in MLS 2022 include:
- Lionel Messi, forward for Paris Saint-Germain, who is on loan to FC Dallas until June 30th.
- Josef Martinez, forward for Atlanta United, who leads the league in goals with 14 as of August 1st.
- Zlatan Ibrahimović, forward for Los Angeles Galaxy, who has scored 12 goals in 15 games this season.
- Jozy Altidore, forward for Toronto FC, who has been instrumental in their successful attacks this season.
Storylines:
There are several interesting storylines to watch in MLS 2022, including:
- The battle for the Supporters’ Shield between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Sporting Kansas City.
- The relegation battle between Montreal Impact and Houston Dynamo.
- The performance of Lionel Messi on loan at FC Dallas.
- The emergence of young talents like Paxton Aaronson for Minnesota United and Christian Lema for San Jose Earthquakes.
In conclusion, MLS 2022 promises to be an exciting season with some great teams and players. Fans can watch the games on various channels and follow the key players and storylines as the playoffs approach.