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Thought of a Divison 1 professional soccer league
In 1988, in exchange for FIFA awarding the right to host the 1994 World Cup, U.S. Soccer promised to establish a Division 1 professional soccer league. -
More Thought
In 1993, U.S. Soccer selected Major League Professional Soccer (the precursor to MLS) as the exclusive Division 1 professional soccer league. -
Offically Formed
Major League Soccer was officially formed in February 1995 -
First Game
MLS began play in 1996 with ten teams. The first game was held on April 6, 1996, as the San Jose Clash defeated D.C. United before 31,000 fans at Spartan Stadium in San Jose in a game broadcast on ESPN. -
New commissioner
The league's financial problems led to Commissioner Doug Logan being replaced by Garber, a former NFL executive, in August 1999. -
First soccer-specific stadium
Columbus Crew Stadium was built in 1999, becoming MLS's first soccer-specific stadium. -
Biggest attendence
MLS Cup 2002 drew 61,316 spectators to Gillette Stadium, the largest attendance in an MLS Cup final. -
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More Soccer-Specific Stadiums
From 2003 to 2008, the league oversaw the construction of six additional soccer-specific stadiums. -
First 100 goals
In 2005, Jason Kreis became the first player to score 100 career MLS goals. -
First Exspansion since 1998
Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA began play in 2005, with Chivas USA becoming the second club in Los Angeles. -
New Team
By 2006 the San Jose Earthquakes owners, players and a few coaches moved to Texas to become the expansion Houston Dynamo, after failing to build a stadium in San Jose. The Dynamo became an expansion team, leaving their history behind for a new San Jose ownership group that formed in 2007. -
Designed Player Rule
The 2007 season witnessed the MLS debut of David Beckham. Beckham's signing had been seen as a coup for American soccer, and was made possible by the Designated Player Rule. Players such as Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Chicago Fire) and Juan Pablo Ángel (New York Red Bulls), are some of the first Designated Players who made major contributions to their clubs. -
First Canadian Team
In 2007 the league expanded beyond the United States' borders into Canada with the Toronto FC expansion team. -
San Jose returns
By 2008, San Jose had returned to the league under new ownership. -
Seattle's MLS team
In 2009, the expansion side Seattle Sounders FC began play in MLS. -
Philadelphia's First MLS
The 2010 season ushered in an expansion franchise in the Philadelphia Union and their new PPL Park stadium. -
New Team
The 2010 season also brought the opening of the New York Red Bulls' soccer-specific stadium, Red Bull Arena, and the debut of French striker Thierry Henry. -
More Teams
In 2013, MLS introduced New York City FC as its 20th team, and Orlando City Soccer Club as its 21st team, both to begin playing in 2015. -
Chivas USA ceases operations
On October 27, 2014, the league announced that Chivas USA will cease operations.