Eastern Conference (MLS)

The Eastern Conference is one of Major League Soccer's two conferences, along with the Western Conference.

Eastern Conference
LeagueMajor League Soccer
SportSoccer
Founded1996
Teams
No. of teams14
Championships
Most recent champion(s)Columbus Crew SC (2020)
(3rd title)
Most titlesD.C. United
New England Revolution
(5 titles each)
Current MLS team locations; Eastern Conference teams are marked blue

As of 2020, the Western Conference contains thirteen teams. The conference has produced fifteen Supporters' Shield champions and eleven MLS Cup winners in Major League Soccer's first 25 seasons. In 2000 and 2001, the conference was referred to as the Eastern Division when Major League Soccer briefly reorganized into three divisions.

2020 standings

Due to scheduling impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, points per game (PPG) was used to determine playoff positioning instead of total points, as not all teams in the league were able to play the same amount of games.[1]

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 Philadelphia Union 23 14 4 5 44 20 +24 47 2.04 Playoffs first round & 2021 CONCACAF Champions League[lower-alpha 1]
2 Toronto FC[lower-alpha 2] 23 13 5 5 33 26 +7 44 1.91 Playoffs first round & 2021 Leagues Cup[lower-alpha 3]
3 Columbus Crew SC (C) 23 12 6 5 36 21 +15 41 1.78 Playoffs first round & 2021 CONCACAF Champions League[lower-alpha 4]
4 Orlando City SC 23 11 4 8 40 25 +15 41 1.78 Playoffs first round & 2021 Leagues Cup
5 New York City FC 23 12 8 3 37 25 +12 39 1.70
6 New York Red Bulls 23 9 9 5 29 31 −2 32 1.39
7 Nashville SC[lower-alpha 5] 23 8 7 8 24 22 +2 32 1.39 Playoffs play-in round
8 New England Revolution 23 8 7 8 26 25 +1 32 1.39
9 Montreal Impact[lower-alpha 2] 23 8 13 2 33 43 −10 26 1.13
10 Inter Miami CF 23 7 13 3 25 35 −10 24 1.04
11 Chicago Fire FC 23 5 10 8 33 39 −6 23 1.00
12 Atlanta United FC 23 6 13 4 23 30 −7 22 0.96 2021 CONCACAF Champions League[lower-alpha 6]
13 D.C. United 23 5 12 6 25 41 −16 21 0.91
14 FC Cincinnati 23 4 15 4 12 36 −24 16 0.70
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.
(C) Champion.
Notes:
  1. As Supporters' Shield winners
  2. Canadian clubs could not qualify for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League through the MLS regular season or playoffs.
  3. Toronto FC may still qualify for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League as 2020 Canadian Championship winners
  4. As MLS Cup 2020 champions
  5. On June 10, 2020, Major League Soccer announced that Nashville SC would switch from the Western Conference to the Eastern Conference for the remainder of the 2020 season.[2]
  6. As 2019 U.S. Open Cup champions

Members

Current
Team City Stadium
Atlanta United FC Atlanta, GA Mercedes Benz Stadium
Chicago Fire FC Chicago, IL Soldier Field
Columbus Crew SC Columbus, OH Mapfre Stadium
FC Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH Nippert Stadium
D.C. United Washington, D.C. Audi Field
Inter Miami CF Miami, FL Inter Miami CF Stadium
CF Montréal Montreal, QC Saputo Stadium
Nashville SC Nashville, TN Nissan Stadium
New England Revolution Foxborough, MA Gillette Stadium
New York City FC Bronx, NY Yankee Stadium
New York Red Bulls Harrison, NJ Red Bull Arena
Orlando City SC Orlando, FL Orlando City Stadium
Philadelphia Union Chester, PA Talen Energy Stadium
Toronto FC Toronto, ON BMO Field

Conference Lineups by Year

1996–97 (5 teams)

Changes from 1995: Creation of Major League Soccer.

1998–99 (6 teams)
  • Columbus Crew SC
  • D.C. United
  • New York MetroStars
  • Miami Fusion
  • New England Revolution
  • Tampa Bay Mutiny

Changes from 1997: New York/New Jersey MetroStars changed their name to simply the MetroStars; Miami Fusion were added in the 1998 expansion.

2000–01 (as Eastern Division) (4 teams)
  • D.C. United
  • New York MetroStars
  • Miami Fusion
  • New England Revolution

Changes from 1999: The Eastern Conference changed to the Eastern Division with the creation of the new Central Division; Columbus Crew and Tampa Bay Mutiny moved into the new Central Division.

2002–04 (5 teams)
  • Chicago Fire
  • Columbus Crew
  • D.C. United
  • New York MetroStars
  • New England Revolution

Changes from 2001: The Eastern Division changed back to the Eastern Conference following the contraction of Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny, resulting in the disbanding of the Central Division; Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew moved in from the Central Division

2005 (6 teams)
  • Chicago Fire FC
  • Columbus Crew
  • D.C. United
  • Kansas City Wizards
  • New York MetroStars
  • New England Revolution

Changes from 2004: Kansas City Wizards moved in from the Western Conference

2006 (6 teams)
  • Chicago Fire FC
  • Columbus Crew
  • D.C. United
  • Kansas City Wizards
  • New England Revolution
  • New York Red Bulls

Changes from 2005: MetroStars changed their name to the New York Red Bulls.

2007–09 (7 teams)
  • Chicago Fire FC
  • Columbus Crew
  • D.C. United
  • Kansas City Wizards
  • New England Revolution
  • New York Red Bulls
  • Toronto FC

Changes from 2006: Toronto FC was added as an expansion franchise.

2010 (8 teams)
  • Chicago Fire FC
  • Columbus Crew
  • D.C. United
  • Kansas City Wizards
  • New England Revolution
  • New York Red Bulls
  • Philadelphia Union
  • Toronto FC

Changes from 2009: Philadelphia Union was added as an expansion franchise.

2011 (9 teams)

Changes from 2010: Kansas City Wizards changed their name to Sporting Kansas City; Houston Dynamo moved in from the Western Conference.

2012–14 (10 teams)
  • Chicago Fire FC
  • Columbus Crew
  • D.C. United
  • Houston Dynamo
  • Montreal Impact
  • New England Revolution
  • New York Red Bulls
  • Philadelphia Union
  • Sporting Kansas City
  • Toronto FC

Changes from 2011: Montreal Impact was added as an expansion franchise

2015–16 (10 teams)
  • Chicago Fire FC
  • Columbus Crew SC
  • D.C. United
  • Montreal Impact
  • New England Revolution
  • New York Red Bulls
  • New York City FC
  • Orlando City SC
  • Philadelphia Union
  • Toronto FC

Changes from 2014: New York City FC and Orlando City SC added as expansion franchises; Sporting Kansas City and Houston Dynamo move to Western Conference;[3] Columbus Crew adds "SC" to the official team name.

2017–18 (11 teams)
  • Atlanta United FC
  • Chicago Fire FC
  • Columbus Crew SC
  • D.C. United
  • Montreal Impact
  • New England Revolution
  • New York Red Bulls
  • New York City FC
  • Orlando City SC
  • Philadelphia Union
  • Toronto FC

Changes from 2016: Atlanta United FC added as an expansion franchise.[4]

2019 (12 teams)
  • Atlanta United FC
  • Chicago Fire FC
  • Columbus Crew SC
  • FC Cincinnati
  • D.C. United
  • Montreal Impact
  • New England Revolution
  • New York Red Bulls
  • New York City FC
  • Orlando City SC
  • Philadelphia Union
  • Toronto FC

Changes from 2018: FC Cincinnati added as an expansion franchise.[5]

2020 (14 teams)
  • Atlanta United FC
  • Chicago Fire FC
  • Columbus Crew SC
  • FC Cincinnati
  • D.C. United
  • Inter Miami CF
  • Montreal Impact
  • Nashville SC
  • New England Revolution
  • New York Red Bulls
  • New York City FC
  • Orlando City SC
  • Philadelphia Union
  • Toronto FC

Changes from 2019: Inter Miami CF added as an expansion franchise.;[6] Nashville SC was added since the MLS is Back Tournament up to the end of the 2020 season.[7]

Chicago Fire SC rebranded to Chicago Fire FC to the official team name.

2021 (14 teams)

Changes from 2020: Nashville SC moved to the Eastern Conference.[8], Montreal Impact rebranded to CF Montréal begin for 2021 season as official team name.

  • Atlanta United FC
  • Chicago Fire FC
  • FC Cincinnati
  • Columbus Crew SC
  • D.C. United
  • Inter Miami CF
  • CF Montréal
  • Nashville SC
  • New England Revolution
  • New York Red Bulls
  • New York City FC
  • Orlando City SC
  • Philadelphia Union
  • Toronto FC

Eastern Conference playoff champions by year

Note: The Conference Finals were a best-of-three series through 2001 (including the MLS semifinals in 2000 and 2001, when a conference playoff format was not used). Matches tied after regulation were decided by a shoot-out. In 2002, a similar format was used except that draws were allowed and the team earning the most points advanced. From 2003 through 2011, the Finals were a single match. Matches tied after regulation moved to extra time (Golden goal extra time was implemented for 2003 only), then a shoot-out if necessary. Beginning in 2012, the finals were a two-match aggregate series. The away goals rule for series that finished even on aggregate was first implemented in 2014. Extra time and shoot-outs are used if necessary, although away goals did not apply in extra time. In 2019, the playoffs returned to a single match format (including the Conference Finals), hosted by the higher ranked team through the regular season.

Bold MLS Cup Champions
Season Champions Score Runners-up
1996 D.C. United 2 matches to 0 Tampa Bay Mutiny
1997 D.C. United 2 matches to 0 Columbus Crew
1998 D.C. United 2 matches to 1 Columbus Crew
1999 D.C. United 2 matches to 1 Columbus Crew
2000 No conference playoffs
2001 No conference playoffs
2002 New England Revolution 5 points to 2 Columbus Crew
2003 Chicago Fire 1–0 (a.e.t.) New England Revolution
2004 D.C. United 3–3 (4–3 p) New England Revolution
2005 New England Revolution 1–0 Chicago Fire
2006 New England Revolution 1–0 D.C. United
2007 New England Revolution 1–0 Chicago Fire
2008 Columbus Crew 2–1 Chicago Fire
2009 Real Salt LakeW 0–0 (5–4 p) Chicago Fire
2010 Colorado RapidsW 1–0 San Jose EarthquakesW
2011 Houston Dynamo 2–0 Sporting Kansas City
2012 Houston Dynamo 4–2 agg. D.C. United
2013 Sporting Kansas City 2–1 agg. Houston Dynamo
2014 New England Revolution 4–3 agg. New York Red Bulls
2015 Columbus Crew SC 2–1 agg. New York Red Bulls
2016 Toronto FC 7–5 agg. (a.e.t.) Montreal Impact
2017 Toronto FC 1–0 agg. Columbus Crew SC
2018 Atlanta United FC 3–1 agg. New York Red Bulls
2019 Toronto FC 2–1 Atlanta United FC
2020 Columbus Crew SC 1–0 New England Revolution

W – Western Conference team.

Eastern Conference regular season champions by year
Bold Supporters' Shield Champions
Season Team Record (W–L–T) (GD) Playoffs result
1996 Tampa Bay Mutiny 20–12–0^ (+15) Lost Conference Finals
1997 D.C. United 21–11–0^ (+17) Won MLS Cup
1998 D.C. United 24–8–0^ (+30) Lost MLS Cup
1999 D.C. United 23–9–0^ (+22) Won MLS Cup
2000 MetroStars 17–12–3 (+8) Lost Semifinals
2001 Miami Fusion† 16–5–5 (+21) Lost Semifinals
2002 New England Revolution 12–14–2 (0) Lost MLS Cup
2003 Chicago Fire 15–7–8 (+10) Lost Conference Finals
2004 Columbus Crew 12–5–13 (+8) Lost Conference Semifinals
2005 New England Revolution 17–7–8 (+18) Lost MLS Cup
2006 D.C. United 15–7–10 (+14) Lost Conference Finals
2007 D.C. United 16–7–7 (+22) Lost Conference Semifinals
2008 Columbus Crew 17–7–6 (+14) Won MLS Cup
2009 Columbus Crew 13–7–10 (+10) Lost Conference Semifinals
2010 New York Red Bulls 15–9–6 (+9) Lost Conference Semifinals
2011 Sporting Kansas City 13–9–12 (+10) Lost Conference Finals
2012 Sporting Kansas City 18–7–9 (+15) Lost Conference Semifinals
2013 New York Red Bulls 17–9–8 (+17) Lost Conference Semifinals
2014 D.C. United 17–9–8 (+15) Lost Conference Semifinals
2015 New York Red Bulls 18–10–6 (+19) Lost Conference Finals
2016 New York Red Bulls 16–9–9 (+17) Lost Conference Semifinals
2017 Toronto FC 20–5–9 (+37) Won MLS Cup
2018 New York Red Bulls 22–7–5 (+29) Lost Conference Finals
2019 New York City FC 18–6–10 (+21) Lost Conference Semifinals
2020 Philadelphia Union 14–4–5 (+24) Lost first round

^ – MLS did not have draws until the 2000 season.
† – Miami Fusion were declared winners of the Eastern Division in 2001 after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks forced the cancellation of the rest of the regular season. The MLS Cup Playoffs began on September 20.

MLS Cup Champions produced

See also

References
  1. Herrera, Sandra (October 30, 2020). "MLS to use points-per-game system to determine regular season standings and 2020 Audi Cup Playoffs seeding". Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  2. "Nashville SC moves to Eastern Conference for remainder of 2020 season". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  3. "MLS announces new strategy for Los Angeles market, 2015 conference alignment". mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  4. "Atlanta to join Eastern Conference in 2017, Minnesota to compete in West". Major League Soccer. August 20, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  5. "Cincinnati awarded MLS expansion club, will start play in 2019". Major League Soccer. May 29, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  6. "It's official: Major League Soccer awards expansion team to Miami". MLSSoccer.com. MLS Digital. January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  7. "Nashville SC moves to Eastern Conference for remainder of 2020 season". MLSsoccer.com. June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  8. Hills, Drake (December 8, 2020). "MLS Commissioner: Nashville SC in Eastern Conference next season but spot unknown beyond 2021". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
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