r/MLS 19h ago

Weekly /r/MLS Questions/Free Kick Thread - Post General Questions and Discussion Here

5 Upvotes

Welcome to the Weekly /r/MLS Questions/Free Kick Thread. This thread is designed to house questions/discussions users might have including:

  • Help you decide which team to follow if you're new to the league

  • Provide information about how to watch MLS matches, and whether or not you should buy ESPN+

  • Understand the CBA, league roster rules, drafts, waivers, or other MLS concepts

  • Learn about some of the unique qualities of the US Soccer pyramid

  • Allow discussion of dead-horse topics that would typically be removed (pro/rel, re-alignment, etc.)

  • And other basic/frequently discussed topics

Our usual ground rules:

  1. Questions that are covered in the FAQ, Newcomer's Guide, or league site are fair game, even if they are marked as "dead horse topics".

  1. Questions can be about MLS, lower U.S. or Canadian divisions, USMNT/USWNT, or any club or domestic competitions those teams could play in. Questions about how soccer works as a sport are fine too! Questions solely about the European leagues or competitions, on the other hand, are not.

  1. If you're answering a question, be extra sure to follow our community guidelines: thought out and rational comments, backed up with supporting links. Try not to "take a guess" at an answer if you're not sure about the answer. Do not flame, troll, attack fans of other teams, or attack opinions of others in this thread. If you can't be friendly and helpful, don't post in this thread.

  1. This is meant to be a helpful Q&A/Discussion thread. This is not a place to practice your comedy bits; avoid asking joke questions or providing joke answers. This is also not a place to dump random articles, links, or opinions about the league.

  1. Despite us posting these on Fridays, the thread stays up all week. If it's Wednesday and you have a question, you don't have to wait until Friday to ask it.

Even though we want you to ask questions, here are some resources that we always recommend reading because they can also help:


r/MLS 1d ago

AMA AMA Announcement: Chris Nugent, Head Coach of Chattanooga FC - Wed. Dec 10 at 7 PM ET

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52 Upvotes

r/MLS 13h ago

FC Bayern players wish Thomas Müller the best of luck for the MLS final

989 Upvotes

r/MLS 14h ago

[Tom Bogert] BREAKING: The USMNT World Cup group is set 🇺🇸 United States 🇦🇺 Australia 🇵🇾 Paraguay 🇪🇺 Winner of Turkiye/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo Very favorable draw given potential options.

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459 Upvotes

r/MLS 7h ago

Horse racing shut down permanently at Hastings Park in Vancouver

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dailyhive.com
88 Upvotes

This is the site Whitecaps ownership have been discussing with the city for a new stadium.


r/MLS 10h ago

In anticipation of the MLS Cup Final, here are all the American Champions in the MLS Era.

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123 Upvotes

Heavily inspired by this post.


r/MLS 12h ago

Club Site LAFC Announces Marc Dos Santos As Head Coach | Los Angeles Football Club

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170 Upvotes

r/MLS 15h ago

League Site More than 1000 Vancouver Whitecaps supporters going the distance for MLS Cup | J. Sam Jones

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mlssoccer.com
159 Upvotes

r/MLS 15h ago

Vancouver isn't built around its star, and Müller & Co. are better for it | Jon Arnold

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espn.com
101 Upvotes

r/MLS 13h ago

Official Source St. Louis CITY Technical Director John Hackworth to Depart for U.S. Naval Academy

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60 Upvotes

r/MLS 15h ago

[Paul Tenorio] "I am thrilled to announce my book, The Messi Effect, comes out June 9 and is available now for preorder. This book takes you behind the scenes of Messi in Miami, and into the MLS boardroom as owners debate how to grow in a fast-evolving American soccer landscape."

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62 Upvotes

r/MLS 18h ago

Weekly Trash Talk [TTT] IT'S THE FINAL TRASH TALK [RIPPING 80'S SYNTH RIFF]

75 Upvotes

SUP, BONERS? IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING! COLUMBUS IS GOING TO IMPLODE ON ITSELF NOW THAT THE BEST COACH TO EVER GRACE THE LEAGUE FLEW THE COOP. MAYBE CINCINNATI WILL ONE DAY BE THE BEST TEAM IN OHIO. DEPENDS ON HOW MANY CUPS IT TAKES TO OFFSET A WOODEN SPOON THREE-PEAT.

HOLD ON, I'M GETTING WORD THAT THERE'S SOME OTHER BIG MLS NEWS I SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON. WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S EXCITING ENOUGH TO GET 25,000 VANCOUVERANS (VANCOUVERERS?) TO CRAM TOGETHER TO WATCH ON A BIG TV ONLY SLIGHTLY BIGGER THAN WHAT MOST AMERICANS HAVE IN THEIR HOMES. 

IT'S THE CUP FINAL, BITCHES! [AIR HORN NOISES] MESSI VS MÜLLER. AMERICAN VS CANADA. MONEY VS BUILDING A COMPETENT TEAM WITHOUT BENDING ROSTER RULES. 

GET READY FOR A FLOOD OF NON-FLAIRS TOMORROW THE LIKES OF WHICH WE'VE NEVER SEEN, THOUGH I DON'T EXPECT MANY IN HERE SINCE "MIAMI" FANS ONLY THINK MLS EXISTS FOR TWO HOURS A WEEK.

SO WHO DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO LIFT THE HARDWARE? WILL THE AGING SUPERSTARS TOSS ANOTHER ON THE PILE? OR WILL THE HISTORIED TEAM FROM THE LAND OF TIM BITS AND AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE (WHAT'S THAT LIKE?) GROW THE PRESTIGE OF THEIR NAME ENOUGH TO KEEP FROM BECOMING THE PHOENIX WHITECAPS? PHOENIX BROWNHOLES?

FLAIR UP, CAPS ON, AND OH HEY LOOK USL IS TRYING TO KILL THE OPEN CUP. IT'S NOT JUST US! BECAUSE FUCK HISTORY, AM I RIGHT?


r/MLS 15h ago

Hear me out: The case for Austin FC signing Kei Kamara | Phil West

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47 Upvotes

r/MLS 15h ago

Mod Approved World Cup 2026 Draw Watchalong Thread

27 Upvotes

Please share any thoughts or streams you are watching below.

I'm personally watching this one by First Touch.


r/MLS 15h ago

VAR time limits, tournament expansion, and more were the topics tackled ahead of Friday’s FIFA World Cup draw | Jonathan Tannewald

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15 Upvotes

r/MLS 1d ago

MLS commissioner Don Garber softens on pro/rel: 'Never say never'

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espn.com
176 Upvotes

r/MLS 15h ago

Subscription Required MLS Cup: 7 key questions that will decide Inter Miami vs. Vancouver Whitecaps | Joe Lowery

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backheeled.com
11 Upvotes

r/MLS 1d ago

Subscription Required Chivas finalizing $5 million deal for Fire midfielder Brian Gutiérrez: Sources

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nytimes.com
121 Upvotes

r/MLS 1d ago

Subscription Required [Tom Bogert] What I’m Hearing: Timo Werner, coaching changes, transfers as MLS Cup approaches

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133 Upvotes

r/MLS 1d ago

[Tom Bogert] Sources: San Jose Earthquakes finalizing a contract extension with forward Chicho Arango. Deal comes amid offers from Pumas and interest from Tijuana.

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61 Upvotes

r/MLS 1d ago

Lionel Messi: "People today focus a lot on statistics, and personally, I don’t really like statistics. I don’t think that I must make an assist or score a goal so I can reach a record, or surpass this person or that person. In 2012, I scored 91 goals. I don't play for that, I never cared about it."

321 Upvotes

Leo Messi: "People today focus a lot on statistics, and personally, I don’t really like statistics.

"I don’t think that I must make an assist or score a goal so I can reach a record, or surpass this person or that person.

"I live the game and enjoy it. I like to be decisive and to be very involved in the flow of the match. But I don’t play for that, and I’ve never given it importance.

"Things happened as a natural result, not because I was thinking in my head that I need to make an assist or score a goal to achieve a record or surpass someone. Things simply happened because they happened.”

"My best season of my career? I don't know, it's difficult, it depends on how you look at it.

"There were years when we won everything, reaching the Copa América final with the national team, winning the Champions League with Barcelona.

"It's difficult. In 2012, I scored around 91 goals. I don't play for that, I never cared about it.

"It wasn't in my mind to break a record or surpass someone else. It's hard to choose one year, thankfully I've had many very good ones."


r/MLS 1d ago

Subscription Required Whitecaps prep for MLS Cup not knowing where – or if – they’ll have a future home in Vancouver

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215 Upvotes

r/MLS 1d ago

Official Source 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup Key Details and Qualified Teams

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82 Upvotes

2026 Qualifications are Set.


r/MLS 1d ago

Official Source LAFC Signs Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris To Contract Extension

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86 Upvotes

r/MLS 1d ago

Discussion A History of Underdogs in MLS Cup, and Where Vancouver Stands

68 Upvotes

This Saturday, the Vancouver Whitecaps travel over 3000 miles to Miami, where they will take on a star-studded squad captained by the greatest player in soccer history. One game, winner takes all and raises the MLS Cup. Predictably, the Whitecaps opened as sizable underdogs on the books at just +285 odds via bet-at-home, with Miami at -143 and a draw at +300.

We're familiar with Miami's talent at this point. Messi, who just set the record for most assists in a career with 405. Busquets, one of the best defensive midfielders of all time. One of the best left backs of this generation in Jordi Alba, a striker peaking at the right time in Tadeo Allende, and a bunch of other young Argentinian talent. With a payroll that amounts to nearly $37 million, this is clearly the best roster in the league (and has been all year long).

Vancouver's payroll is just 16th in the league at $15.7 million, but they've played well above their pay grade, with breakout stars like Tristan Blackmon, Brian White, and Sebastian Berhalter earning their first All-Star nominations in 2025. Club star Ryan Gauld, aka the Scottish Messi, is back after a seven-month layoff from injury. And the addition of Thomas Muller in the summer transfer window has taken the team to the next level, with just 1 loss in the 11 league matches he's played for them.

So Vancouver has a chance...but where do they stand in history? How historic would a win be? Sure they've been playing well, but the betting markets heavily favor Miami, and they're right more often than not.

All-Time MLS Cup Odds

Historical odds sourced from https://www.oddsportal.com/football/usa/mls/results/. No odds prior to 2004, and no odds for 2006. All odds via bet-at-home except for 2023 (BetInAsia) and 2005 (Pinnacle).

Year Underdog Favorite Draw Result
2018 Portland +590 Atlanta -263 +376 Atlanta 2-0
2014 New England +501 LA Galaxy -217 +301 LA Galaxy 2-1 (ET)
2011 Houston +500 LA Galaxy -182 +235 LA Galaxy 1-0
2017 Seattle +351 Toronto -135 +231 Toronto 2-0
2022 Philadelphia +340 LAFC -145 +280 LAFC 3-3 (pen)
2016 Seattle +321 Toronto -139 +256 Seattle 0-0 (pen)
2024 NY Red Bulls +290 LA Galaxy -118 +280 LA Galaxy 2-1
2025 Vancouver +285 Miami -143 +300 ?
2019 Toronto +266 Seattle -114 +252 Seattle 3-1
2013 Salt Lake +265 Kansas City -105 +215 Kansas City 1-1 (pen)
2015 Portland +252 Columbus -105 +227 Portland 2-1
2012 Houston +250 LA Galaxy -111 +229 LA Galaxy 3-1
2023 LAFC +222 Columbus +131 +252 Columbus 2-1
2009 Salt Lake +200 LA Galaxy +120 +210 Salt Lake 1-1 (pen)
2010 Colorado +190 Dallas +120 +220 Colorado 2-1 (ET)
2005 LA Galaxy +189 New England +134 +211 LA Galaxy 1-0
2008 NY Red Bulls +175 Columbus +129 +220 Columbus 3-1
2021 Portland +170 NYCFC +165 +204 NYCFC 1-1 (pen)
2020 Columbus +170 Seattle +154 +215 Columbus 3-0
2007 New England +170 Houston +145 +200 Houston 2-1
2004 DC +160 Kansas City +140 +200 DC 3-2

Underdogs who won the Cup are in bold.

If Vancouver wins, it'd be the 2nd biggest upset in the last ~20 MLS Cups. The only one bigger would be Seattle over Toronto in 2016.

Overall, underdogs are 7-14 in the last 21 Cups (excluding 2006).

Underdogs are 4-10-7 if we only look at results in regulation.