Highlighting all MLS Teams for the 2022 season with their nicknames, current cities and Conference.
Interesting facts
How many MLS teams are there 2022? 28 teams in the MLS for the 2021 season with the introduction of Charlotte FC.
What level of soccer is MLS? Level 1 professional soccer league in the United States and Canada.
All MLS 2022 teams, nicknames & cities
Eastern Conference
1. New England Revolution
Nickname: Revs
City: Greater Boston
New England Revolution is a professional soccer club based in Greater Boston and competes that in MLS as a member of the Eastern Conference.
As a member of the Eastern Conference, the club was ranked in the top ten teams that have played since the formation of the league.
The New England Revolution has won one US Open Cup and have represented North America in the FIFA Club World Cup.
New England Revolution is one of the top teams to watch out for when the new season kickoffs.
2. DC United
Nickname: Black and Red
City: Washington, D.C.
DC United is one of the early MLS Cup winners in. The club quickly establishing itself as one of the strongest soccer clubs in the United States.
Based in Washington DC, DC United began to play as an MLS franchise in 1996 and became the league’s top ten charter club.
Establishing itself as a giant, the club is one of the most successful teams in the early years of the top-flight league in the country.
The club holds a joint record of MLS Supporters Shield with four Shields in the past.
DC United have won the MLS Cup and are the only US teams to have won the CONCACAF Champions League in 1998 amid Mexican dominance.
In terms of popularity, DC United is currently one of the most popular in country with over four different supporters clubs that have stood by the club all these years.
The club’s nickname is “Black-and-Red”
Stadium: The club plays its home matches at the famous Audi Stadium or the Audi Field in Southwest, Washington, D.C, which has a capacity of about twenty thousand.
DC United was one of the most successful teams in the early years of the league and is still considered one of the best in the league.
DC was established in 1994 and prides itself as the capital city club
The club have won four MLS Cups, four Supporters Shield, three US Open Cups and one CONCACAF Champions League.
It used to be a household name in the early years of the league.
However at the moment, the team have struggled to find the best form. Despite these ups and downs experienced by the club, it remains one of the most respected.
3. Toronto FC
Nickname: The Reds
City: Toronto
Toronto Football Club is a Canadian club based in Toronto that competes in the Major League Soccer as a member of the Eastern Conference.
The club joined the MLS in 2007 as part of an expansion franchise to become the first Canadian-based franchise in the league.
Also Read: All MLS teams from Canada
Toronto FC is one of the few Canadian clubs in the division. Toronto FC is currently ranked one of the best soccer soccer clubs in Major League Soccer.
Toronto FC is one of the teams in MLS high payroll in the MLS with figures as high as US$395 million.
Toronto FC won the 2017 MLS Cup and the MLS Supporters Shield to claim the league double.
4. New York Red Bulls
Nickname: The Red Bulls Metro
City: New York
One of the oldest members of the division, New York Red Bulls play in Eastern Conference and established in 1994.
The Metropolitan area club have won three Supporters Shield.
New York Red Bulls is part of the Red Bull Football Family.
Also Read: All Red Bull soccer teams around the world
5. Columbus Crew
Nickname: The Crew, The Massive
City: Columbus, Ohio
Columbus Crew is regarded as one of the top ten clubs in the league.
Founded in 1994, the club won several laurels since. Columbus Crew won two MLS Cups in 2008 and 2020, three Supporters Shield an one US Open Cup.
The Crews are currently one of the most consistent in the Major League Soccer.
The club have made some good buys in the transfer market which have yielded positive results lately.
6. Chicago Fire
Nickname: The Fire Men in Red
City: Chicago
Chicago Fire is a professional soccer team and a member of the MLS currently considered one of the most successful clubs in the United States.
Based in Chicago, Illinois, the club won the MLS in 1998.
Chicago Fire FC have also won the Supporters Shield once in 2003 and four-time winner of the US Open Cup in 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006.
The club plays its home games at the Soldier Field stadium.
7. Club de Foot Montreal
Nickname: The Impact
City: Montreal
Club de Foot Montréal is a professional soccer club based in Montreal that competes in the MLS.
CF Montréal is one of the founding members of the MLS Eastern Conference as Montreal Impact.
The club’s major achievement were runners up in the the 2014–15 CONCACAF Champions League.
8. Philadelphia Union
Nickname: The Union, Zolos
City: Philadelphia
The Eastern Conference team was established in 2008 and it started playing in the league in 2010.
The Union were the Supporters Shield winners of the MLS in 2020.
9. Orlando City
Nickname: The Lions
City: Orlando, Florida
Orlando City is a professional soccer club from the city of Orlando. They play at the Exploria Stadium.
10. New York City
Nickname: The Pigeons
City: New York City
New York City FC is a professional soccer club based in New York City as a member of the Eastern Conference.
The club was founded in 2013 owned by City Football Group and Yankee Global Enterprises.
Also Read: All City Football Group teams, subsidiaries, partner clubs around the world
The club was the twentieth expansion team and is currently one of the most valuable MLS club.
The team is yet to win a major trophy.
The New York City FC is yet to receive heavy investment from its owners compared with other clubs owned by the company.
Despite making the listed as one of the most valuable teams in the league, the club is still yet claim the biggest prize of the division.
11. FC Cincinnati
Nickname: Orange and Blue
City: Cincinnati, Ohio
FC Cincinnati is a professional soccer team from Ohio the competes in the MLS.
The club was an expansion team beginning from the 2018 season.
FC Cincinnati is a member of the Eastern Conference and currently plays it home games at the West End Stadium.
12. Atlanta United
Nickname: The Five Stripes
City: Atlanta
Atlanta United is a professional soccer club from Atlanta Georgia that competes in the Major League Soccer.
Establish in 2014, the Atlanta-based side is a member of the Eastern Conference debuting the MLS as an expansion team in 2017.
The club is regarded as one of the sides with the highest fanbase when it comes to the country.
The club won the MLS Cup in 2018 with the US Open Cup the following year in 2019. Atlanta United were Eastern Conference winners in 2018.
The club have also won the Campeones Cup, a competition played by Liga MX and MLS Cup winners.
13. Charlotte FC
Nickname: N/A
City: Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte Football Club is an American professional soccer club from Charlotte and is expected to compete in the MLS from 2022 as an expansion team.
Founded in 2019, Charlotte FC would play its home games at the Bank of America Stadium.
14. Inter Miami CF
Nickname: The Herons
City: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, is a professional men’s soccer club established in 2018.
The club plays at the Inter Miami CF Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The club played its first season in the MLS in 2020. Manchester United legend David Beckham is one of the owners of the club.
Inter Miami’s first season wasn’t really convincing, however a lot is expected in the preceding campaigns.
Although one would say it was a terrible start for the David Beckham owned franchise soccer team, much is expected from the team.
With the kind of result recorded in previous seasons, lots of changes are expected to be made.
Western Conference
1. FC Dallas
Nickname: The Toros, The Hoops
City: Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, Texas
FC Dallas is a professional soccer club from Frisco, Texas that competes in the Major League Soccer.
The Frisco based soccer team have won two US Open Cup and one Supporters Shield in 2016. That year, they were ranked as the ninth-best team in the CONCACAF.
2. Houston Dynamo FC
Houston Dynamo competes in the MLS as a member of the Western Conference and plays its home games at the BBVA Stadium in Houston Texas.
The Dynamo were MLS Cup winners in 2006 and 2007 with the US Open Cup in 2018.
3. Los Angeles Galaxy
Nickname: Galaxy
City: Los Angeles
Los Angeles Galaxy is one of the biggest and most popular clubs competing in the MLS.
The club is known for its dealings in the market and have signed some of the best players in Europe including former Real Madrid star David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
LA Galaxy for short is one of the best MLS teams right now, they’ve won five MLS Cups in 2002, 2005, 2011, 2012 and 2014 with Four Supporters Shield.
The team had a strong rivalry in Los Angeles FC with defunct Chivas USA.
Currently, the club’s biggest rivalry in the league are city rivals Los Angeles Football Club.
Arguably, Los Angeles Galaxy is one of the most successful clubs in the United States.
4. Real Salt Lake
Nickname: Red & Blue Army
City: Salt Lake City
The Salt Lake City metropolitan area team is a member of the Western Conference.
The club had its debut season in the MLS in 2005 and have won the MLS Cup once in 2009.
Real Salt Lake finished as runners up of in the CONCACAF Champions League in 2011.
5. San Jose Earthquakes
Nickname: Quakes, The Goonies
City: San Jose, California
San Jose Earthquakes is a professional soccer club based in San Jose and a member of the MLS Western Conference.
The Quakes have won the MLS Cup twice in 2001 android 2003.
The club have also won the Supporters’ Shield twice in 2005 and 2012 and currently one of the top MLS teams in history.
6. Colorado Rapids
Nickname: Rapids, Pids
City: Denver, Colorado
Colorado Rapids is a soccer team competing in the MLS franchise as a member of the Western Conference.
The club its first major trophy following an MLS Cup final success in 2010.
The Denver based team was founded in 1995 has been outstanding reaction the MLS Cup playoffs on several occasions.
7. Sporting Kansas City
Nickname: Wizards
City: Downtown Kansas City, Missouri
Sporting KC, is a member of the Western Conference, initially played in the Eastern Conference.
They play at the Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas.
8. Seattle Sounders
Nickname: The Sounders
City: Seattle
Sounders is a professional soccer club from Seattle with two MLS Cups, one Supporters Shield and four US Open Cups.
The club was established in 2007 and began to play in 2009 as part of the league’s expansion.
9. Portland Timbers
Nickname: The Timbers
City: based in Portland, Oregon
The club won the MLS Cup in 2015 and were winners of the MLS is Back Tournament in 2020.
Portland Timbers is a member of the Western Conference.
10. Vancouver Whitecaps
Nickname: Blue-and-White, The Village
City: Vancouver
Whitecaps is a member of the MLS Western Conference and was the 17th team in the MLS franchise.
11. Minnesota United
Nickname: The Loons
City: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the club competes in the Major League Soccer as a member of the Western Conference.
Minnesota United were runners up in the 2019 US Open Cup final.
12. Los Angeles FC
Nickname: N/A
City: Los Angeles
Los Angeles Football Club or LAFC is a professional soccer club from Los Angeles and competes in the MLS as a member of the Western Conference.
LAFC are rivals to Los Angeles Galaxy known as the El Tráfico.
The club claimed one Western Conference regular-season title with and one Supporters Shield in 2019.
The club surprised many with their outstanding performance throughout the campaign, although they were unable to win the MLS Cup in the end.
Los Angeles FC had a fine season in 2019 with more expected from them in subsequent seasons.
13. Austin FC
Nickname: ATXFC Verde (Green)
City: Austin, Texas
Austin FC is a soccer club from that was founded in 2018.
The 2021 MLS season was the first season for the club as a member of the MLS Western Conference.
The club joined the league as part of the league’s expansion franchise.
Austin FC is based in Texas with all home games to be held at the Q2 stadium.
14. Nashville SC
Nickname: The Six-Strings
City: Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville Soccer Club began to play in the MLS in 2020 as a continuation from the team that used to play in the USL Championship prior to the switch to MLS.
The club’s first season was not at the highest level, but more expected from them in subsequent seasons.
Major League Soccer format
The Major League Soccer runs a system of no relegation or promotion free system.
The league is divided into two groups, the Western (14 teams) and Eastern Conference (14 teams).
The winner of the regular with the most points in the two conferences is awarded the Supporters Shield and qualifies automatically for the quarter-finals of the MLS Cup playoffs.
Other teams that finish from second to seventh on the final league standings qualifies for the MLS Cup playoffs round of 16.
