Major League Soccer

The MLS or the Major League Soccer is America’s elite professional soccer league.

Brief History of the Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is also endorsed by the professional division of USSF (United States Soccer Federation). United States Soccer Federation is one of the members of the Federation Internationale de Football Association or more popularly known as “FIFA”. Major League Soccer was formed on the 17th of December 1993 to carry out their promise to FIFA that the Major League Soccer would establish a first division professional league. In return, “FIFA World Cup 1994” would be staged in the United States. Major League Soccer began playing in two years later with ten teams and a very large crowd at the Spartan Stadium. The first Major League Soccer “goal” was made by Eric Wynalda of the San Jose Earthquakes against the D.C. United. The San Jose Earthquakes became the first team to win a game in the Major League Soccer.

The number of teams participating in the Major League Soccer somehow declined slightly after its first year; however it stabilized in the succeeding years. The original ten teams were then divided into two subsequent conferences. These are the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference teams are the Columbus Crew, D.C. United, Chicago Fire, Red Bull New York and New England Revolution. The Western Conference is composed of teams F.C. Dallas, C.D. Chivas U.S.A., Houston Dynamo, Colorado Rapids, Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake. By the year 2007, Toronto F.C. will enter the league, making them the first non-US team in the Major League Soccer. In the 2006 season of the Major League Soccer, two teams have changed their names. The NY/NJ MetroStars have changed their name into Red Bull New York and the San Jose Earthquakes also changed their name into Houston Dynamo.

How Major League Soccer Works
The league has made some rule changes. In its early years the league has experimented lots of rule changes. The current ruling of the MLS is that instead of a clock that would count up like in international soccer, it would count down and the countdown timer would stop on dead ball situation at the discretion of the referee. In an event of a draw, a best of five-penalty shootout will follow. In case of a tie in the best of five-penalty shootout, an extra frame is done to break the tie. The winning team will have one point opposite to the three points for the regulation victory, while the losing team will have zero point.

Although most people don’t know it, soccer has a very long history in the United States. That is why it is considered one of America’s favorite sports.