Major League Soccer & North American Soccer League Champions
North American Soccer League – NASL – Champions are from 1967-68 to 1983-84. Major League Soccer – MLS – Champions are from season 1996 to 2023. NASL collapsed in 1984, which saw a return to fragmented regional soccer leagues. As part of the agreement for holding the 1994 FIFA World Cup a North American League (USA & Canada) was formed. MLS Season starts in late February and ends in Mid-October with 34 games. MLS teams are divided into Western and Eastern Conference. The MLS Supporters Shield is awarded to the team with the highest number of points from the two Conferences. The MLS Cup is a Yearly Champion competition between the winner of the East Conference and Winner of the West Conference.
Guide to NASL Champions – 1968 to 1984
The North American Soccer League (NASL) determined its champions through various formats from its inception in 1968 until its final season in 1984. Here’s a breakdown of how the winners were determined over the years:
1968: Regular Season Standings
In its inaugural season, the NASL determined its champions based on the regular season standings. The team with the best overall record at the end of the regular season was declared the champion. In 1968, the Atlanta Chiefs and the San Diego Toros tied with the best record, and the championship was awarded based on a point system used during that season.
1969: Playoff Tournament
Starting in 1969, the league introduced a playoff system to determine the champion. The top teams from each division advanced to the playoffs. The Kansas City Spurs won the championship in 1969.
1970-1974: Combination of Playoff and Final Matches
The league continued to use a playoff system, with the top teams from each division qualifying. The playoffs culminated in a championship match to determine the winner.
1975-1984: Structured Playoffs with Divisional and Conference Championships
During these years, the NASL expanded and refined its playoff format. The league was divided into divisions and conferences. The top teams from each division and conference qualified for the playoffs. The playoffs consisted of divisional semifinals, divisional finals, conference championships, and ultimately the Soccer Bowl, which was the championship match.
The NASL playoff structure varied slightly over the years, but the general format involved multiple rounds, including quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final match to determine the league champion. The culmination of the playoffs in the later years was the Soccer Bowl, which was the decisive match to crown the NASL champion.
Throughout its history, the NASL adapted its playoff format to accommodate changes in the number of teams and the structure of the league, but the core concept of determining the champion through a series of playoff matches remained consistent from 1969 onwards.
NASL Champions List – by Year
| Year | NASL Champions |
|---|---|
| 1968 | Atlanta Chiefs |
| 1969 | Kansas City Sputs |
| 1970 | Rochester Lancers |
| 1971 | Dallas Tornado |
| 1972 | New York Cosmos |
| 1973 | Philadelphia Atoms |
| 1974 | Los Angeles Aztecs |
| 1975 | Tampa Bay Rowdies |
| 1976 | Toronto Metros-Croatia |
| 1977 | New York Cosmos |
| 1978 | New York Cosmos |
| 1979 | Vancouver Whitecaps |
| 1980 | New York Cosmos |
| 1981 | Chicago Sting |
| 1982 | New York Cosmos |
| 1983 | Tulsa Roughnecks |
| 1984 | Chicago Sting |
Guide to MLS Champions – 1996 to 2024
Major League Soccer (MLS) determines its champions through a structured playoff system culminating in the MLS Cup. Here’s a detailed explanation of how the champions are determined:
Regular Season
Conference Structure
MLS is divided into two conferences: Eastern Conference and Western Conference.
Regular Season Matches
Each team plays a certain number of matches against teams both within and outside their conference. The exact number of matches can vary with the league’s expansion and scheduling.
Points System
Teams earn points based on their performance in these matches: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.
Supporters’ Shield
The team with the most points at the end of the regular season, across both conferences, wins the Supporters’ Shield.
Playoffs
Qualification
The top teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs. The number of teams can vary but has typically included the top seven teams from each conference in recent seasons.
Playoff Structure
- First Round: The lower-seeded teams face off in knockout matches. The higher-seeded teams often get a bye in the first round.
- Conference Semifinals: The winners of the first round advance to face the higher-seeded teams. These matches are typically single elimination.
- Conference Finals: The winners of the conference semifinals face off in single elimination matches to determine the conference champions.
MLS Cup
The champions of the Eastern and Western Conferences play in the MLS Cup final. This match determines the league champion for the season.
The location of the MLS Cup final is usually hosted by the team with the better regular-season record among the two conference champions.
2023 Playoff Format Update
For the 2023 season, MLS introduced some changes:
- Expanded Playoffs: The number of teams qualifying for the playoffs increased to nine per conference.
- Wildcard Round: The 8th and 9th seeds in each conference compete in a single-elimination match to enter the first round of the playoffs.
- First Round: This round features a best-of-three series, where the higher seed hosts the first and, if necessary, the third match.
- Subsequent Rounds: The Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and MLS Cup final are all single-elimination matches.
Conclusion
The MLS champion is ultimately determined by navigating through the playoff rounds and winning the MLS Cup final. The playoff structure ensures that the championship is decided based on knockout matches, providing an exciting and competitive end to the MLS season.
MLS Supporters Shield Winners List – by Year
| Year | North Ameircan Champions |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Tampa Bay Mutiny |
| 1997 | D.C. United |
| 1998 | Los Angeles Galaxy |
| 1999 | D.C. United |
| 2000 | Kansas City Wizards |
| 2001 | Miami Fusion |
| 2002 | Los Angeles Galaxy |
| 2003 | Chicago Fire |
| 2004 | Columbus Crew |
| 2005 | San Jose Earthquakes |
| 2006 | D.C. United |
| 2007 | D.C. United |
| 2008 | Columbus Crew |
| 2009 | Columbus Crew |
| 2010 | Los Angeles Galaxy |
| 2011 | Los Angeles Galaxy |
| 2012 | San Jose Earthquakes |
| 2013 | New York Red Bulls |
| 2014 | Seattle Sounders FC |
| 2015 | New York Red Bulls |
| 2016 | FC Dallas |
| 2017 | Toronto FC |
| 2018 | New York Red Bulls |
| 2019 | Los Angeles FC |
| 2020 | Philadelphia Union |
| 2021 | New England Revolution |
| 2022 | Los Angeles FC |
| 2023 | FC Cincinnati |
| 2024 | Inter Miami CF |
MLS Cup Winners List – by Year
| Season | Champions |
|---|---|
| 1996 | D.C. United |
| 1997 | D.C. United |
| 1998 | Chicago Fire |
| 1999 | D.C. United |
| 2000 | Kansas City Wizards |
| 2001 | San Jose Earthquakes |
| 2002 | Los Angeles Galaxy |
| 2003 | San Jose Earthquakes |
| 2004 | D.C. United |
| 2005 | Los Angeles Galaxy |
| 2006 | Houston Dynamo |
| 2007 | Houston Dynamo |
| 2008 | Columbus Crew SC |
| 2009 | Real Salt Lake |
| 2010 | Colorado Rapids |
| 2011 | Los Angeles Galaxy |
| 2012 | Los Angeles Galaxy |
| 2013 | Sporting Kansas City |
| 2014 | Los Angeles Galaxy |
| 2015 | Portland Timbers |
| 2016 | Seattle Sounders FC |
| 2017 | Toronto FC |
| 2018 | Atlanta United FC |
| 2019 | Seattle Sounders FC |
| 2020 | Columbus Crew SC |
| 2021 | New York City |
| 2022 | Los Angeles FC |
| 2023 | Columbus Crew SC |
2024 | Los Angeles Galaxy |
MLS Cup Clubs Number of Appearances, Wins and Losses
| Club | Apps | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| LA Galaxy | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| D.C. United | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| New England Revolution | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Columbus Crew SC | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Houston Dynamo | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Chicago Fire | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Portland Timbers | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Sporting Kansas City | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Toronto FC | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Colorado Rapids | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| LA FC | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Real Salt Lake | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| New York Red Bulls | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Atlanta United FC | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| FC Dallas | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| New York City FC | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Philadelphia Union | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Teams Total Championship Wins in NASL and MLS
This table presents a comparative overview of the number of championship wins achieved by each team in the North American Soccer League (NASL) and Major League Soccer (MLS). The NASL operated from 1968 to 1984, while the MLS has been the premier soccer league in the United States since 1996 to today. This table highlights the historical successes of various soccer clubs across both leagues, providing insight into the dominant teams in North American soccer over different eras.
References
Encyclopedia Britannica: Major League Soccer
Wikipedia: Major League Soccer
Wikipedia: NASL
