2021 Major League Soccer season

The 2021 Major League Soccer season will be the 26th season of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. The 2021 season will include the addition of Austin FC as an expansion club, which will take the league to 27 teams. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the season will begin on April 3, 2021, as opposed to the normal late February/early March start, making it the latest start to the MLS regular season since the 2007 season. The regular season will conclude on November 7, 2021.

Major League Soccer
Season2021
Dates
  • April 3 – November 7
    (regular season)
  • November 19 – December 11
    (Playoffs)
← 2020

The season will culminate with the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, which will begin on November 19, 2021, and conclude with MLS Cup 2021, which will be played on December 11, 2021.

Columbus Crew SC are the defending champions, having defeated Seattle Sounders FC in MLS Cup 2020, while the Philadelphia Union are the defending Supporters' Shield winners.

Teams

Stadiums and locations
Main article: List of Major League Soccer stadiums
Locations of teams for the 2021 Major League Soccer season
Team Stadium Capacity
Atlanta United FC Mercedes-Benz Stadium[A] 71,000
Austin FC Q2 Stadium 20,500
Chicago Fire FC Soldier Field[A] 24,955
FC Cincinnati West End Stadium 26,000
Colorado Rapids Dick's Sporting Goods Park 18,061
Columbus Crew SC New Columbus Crew Stadium 20,000
FC Dallas Toyota Stadium 20,500
D.C. United Audi Field 20,000
Houston Dynamo FC BBVA Stadium 22,039
LA Galaxy Dignity Health Sports Park 27,000
Los Angeles FC Banc of California Stadium 22,000
Minnesota United FC Allianz Field 19,400
Inter Miami CF Inter Miami CF Stadium[B] 18,000
CF Montréal Saputo Stadium 19,619
Nashville SC Nissan Stadium[A] 60,000
New England Revolution Gillette Stadium[A] 20,000
New York City FC Yankee Stadium[A] 30,321
New York Red Bulls Red Bull Arena 25,000
Orlando City SC Exploria Stadium 25,500
Philadelphia Union Subaru Park 18,500
Portland Timbers Providence Park 25,218
Real Salt Lake Rio Tinto Stadium 20,213
San Jose Earthquakes Earthquakes Stadium 18,000
Seattle Sounders FC Lumen Field[A] 37,722
Sporting Kansas City Children's Mercy Park 18,467
Toronto FC BMO Field 28,351
Vancouver Whitecaps FC BC Place[A] 22,120
  1. ^
    Non-soccer specific stadium and artificially reduced capacity.
  2. ^
    Temporary stadium.

Personnel and sponsorship

Note: All teams use Adidas as kit manufacturer.

Team Head coach Captain Shirt sponsor Sleeve and short sponsor
Atlanta United FC Gabriel Heinze Vacant American Family Insurance Piedmont Orthopedics, Truist, NAPA
Austin FC Josh Wolff TBA Yeti Netspend
Chicago Fire FC Raphaël Wicky Francisco Calvo Motorola Motorola, CIBC
FC Cincinnati Jaap Stam Vacant Mercy Health Cintas, First Financial Bank
Colorado Rapids Robin Fraser Jack Price Transamerica WFG, Western Union
Columbus Crew SC Caleb Porter Jonathan Mensah Nationwide Scotts, OhioHealth
D.C. United Hernán Losada Steve Birnbaum Leidos Caesars Entertainment, Gainbridge, Events DC, EagleBank
FC Dallas Luchi Gonzalez Vacant
Houston Dynamo FC Tab Ramos Vacant MD Anderson Kroger, Coushatta Casino Resort
Inter Miami CF Phil Neville Vacant Baptist Health
LA Galaxy Greg Vanney Jonathan dos Santos Herbalife Herbalife, Dignity Health
Los Angeles FC Bob Bradley Carlos Vela YouTube TV Target
Minnesota United FC Adrian Heath Vacant Target Bell Bank, Allianz
CF Montréal Thierry Henry Vacant Bank of Montreal Saputo, Frigo Cheese Heads
Nashville SC Gary Smith Dax McCarty Renasant Bank Hyundai, Jackson
New England Revolution Bruce Arena Carles Gil UnitedHealth Gillette, Santander
New York City FC Ronny Deila Vacant Etihad Airways AT&T, Ford
New York Red Bulls Gerhard Struber Sean Davis Red Bull Yanmar
Orlando City SC Óscar Pareja Nani Orlando Health Exploria
Philadelphia Union Jim Curtin Alejandro Bedoya Bimbo Bakeries USA Thomas', Subaru
Portland Timbers Giovanni Savarese Diego Valeri Alaska Airlines KeyBank, AT&T
Real Salt Lake Freddy Juarez Vacant LifeVantage KeyBank, Ford
San Jose Earthquakes Matías Almeyda Chris Wondolowski Intermedia Clover, Wells Fargo
Seattle Sounders FC Brian Schmetzer Nicolás Lodeiro Zulily WaFd Bank
Sporting Kansas City Peter Vermes Vacant TBA[1] Compass Minerals
Toronto FC Chris Armas Michael Bradley Bank of Montreal GE Appliances, Bank of Montreal, Canadian Tire
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Marc Dos Santos Russell Teibert Bell Canada GE Appliances, Canadian Tire

Coaching changes
Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming coach Date of appointment
Toronto FC Greg Vanney Resigned December 1, 2020[2] Pre-season Chris Armas January 13, 2021[3]
D.C. United Chad Ashton End of interim period December 12, 2020 Hernán Losada January 17, 2021[4]
LA Galaxy Dominic Kinnear End of interim period December 12, 2020 Greg Vanney January 5, 2021[5]
Atlanta United FC Stephen Glass End of interim period December 16, 2020 Gabriel Heinze December 18, 2020[6]
Inter Miami CF Diego Alonso Mutual consent January 7, 2021[7] Phil Neville January 18, 2021[8]

Regular season

Eastern Conference
Main article: Eastern Conference (MLS)
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Atlanta United FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Playoffs first round and 2022 Leagues Cup
2 Chicago Fire FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 FC Cincinnati 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Columbus Crew SC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 D.C. United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Playoffs first round
6 Inter Miami CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 CF Montréal[lower-alpha 1] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 Nashville SC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 New England Revolution 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 New York City FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 New York Red Bulls 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Orlando City SC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Philadelphia Union 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 Toronto FC[lower-alpha 2] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on April 3, 2021. Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) total wins per match played; 3) total goal differential per match played; 4) total goals scored per match played; 5) fewest disciplinary points per match played; 6) away goal differential per away match played; 7) away goals scored per away match played; 8) home goal differential per home match played; 9) home goals scored per home match played; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots.
Notes:
  1. Canadian clubs cannot qualify for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League through the MLS regular season or playoffs.
  2. Canadian clubs cannot qualify for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League through the MLS regular season or playoffs.

Western Conference
Main article: Western Conference (MLS)
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Austin FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Playoffs first round and 2022 Leagues Cup
2 Colorado Rapids 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 FC Dallas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Houston Dynamo FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 LA Galaxy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Playoffs first round
6 Los Angeles FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Minnesota United FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 Portland Timbers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Real Salt Lake 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Seattle Sounders FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 San Jose Earthquakes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Sporting Kansas City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Vancouver Whitecaps FC[lower-alpha 1] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on April 3, 2021. Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals scored; 9) home goal differential; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots
Notes:
  1. Canadian clubs cannot qualify for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League through the MLS regular season or playoffs.

Overall table

The leading team in this table wins the Supporters' Shield.[9]

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Atlanta United FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2022 CONCACAF Champions League[lower-alpha 1]
2 Austin FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Chicago Fire FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 FC Cincinnati 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Colorado Rapids 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Columbus Crew SC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 FC Dallas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 D.C. United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Houston Dynamo FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Inter Miami CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 LA Galaxy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Los Angeles FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Minnesota United FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 CF Montréal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 Nashville SC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 New England Revolution 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 New York City FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
18 New York Red Bulls 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
19 Orlando City SC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 Philadelphia Union 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
21 Portland Timbers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22 Real Salt Lake 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 Seattle Sounders FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
24 San Jose Earthquakes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
25 Sporting Kansas City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
26 Toronto FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
27 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on April 3, 2021. Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goals scored; 7) away goal differential; 8) coin toss or drawing of lots
Notes:
  1. As Supporters' Shield winners (USA2)

Player movement
Main article: List of Major League Soccer transfers 2021

Expansion draft

Major League Soccer announced that the 2020 MLS Expansion Draft would be held on December 15, 2020, at 10:00 am (EST).[10]

References
  1. https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/10/30/sporting-kc-and-ivy-investments-announce-partnership-transition-ahead-2020-season
  2. "Greg Vanney steps down as Toronto FC head coach". Major League Soccer. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  3. "Chris Armas named Toronto FC Head Coach". Toronto FC. January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  4. "Hernan Losada verlaat Beerschot voor American dream in MLS" [Hernan Losada leaves Beerschot for American dream in MLS] (in Dutch). sporza.be. January 17, 2021.
  5. "LA Galaxy name Greg Vanney Head Coach". LA Galaxy. January 5, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  6. "Atlanta United hires Gabriel Heinze as Head Coach". Atlanta United FC. December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  7. "Inter Miami CF and Manager Diego Alonso Mutually Agree to Part Ways". Inter Miami CF. January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  8. "Inter Miami CF Names Phil Neville as Head Coach". Inter Miami CF. January 18, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  9. Galluzzo, Steve (September 25, 2019). "LAFC captures Supporters' Shield with 3–1 win over Houston". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  10. "2020 MLS offseason calendar for player moves announced". Major League Soccer. November 12, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
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