The 2022 Major League Soccer season is the 27th season of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. The 2022 season includes the addition of Charlotte FC as an expansion club, which takes the league to 28 teams.
 | |
| Season | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Dates |
|
| Matches played | 14 |
| Goals scored | 35 (2.5 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Carlos Vela (3 goals) |
| Biggest home win | 5 goals: Austin 5–0 Cincinnati (February 26) |
| Biggest away win | 2 goals: San Jose 1–3 Red Bulls (February 26) |
| Highest scoring | 5 goals: Austin 5–0 Cincinnati (February 26) |
| Longest winning run | 1 9 teams |
| Longest unbeaten run | 1 19 teams |
| Longest winless run | 1 19 teams |
| Longest losing run | 1 9 teams |
← 2021 2023 →
All statistics correct as of February 27, 2022. | |
The regular season began on February 26 and will conclude on October 9. The MLS Cup Final is scheduled to occur on November 5, sixteen days prior to the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[1]
New York City FC will enter the season as defending champions, having defeated the Portland Timbers in MLS Cup 2021. The New England Revolution will enter the season as the reigning Supporters' Shield winners.
Teams
Stadiums and locations
- ^ Non-soccer specific stadium and artificially reduced capacity.
- ^ Temporary stadium.
- ^ Nashville SC will play the first two months of its schedule on the road, with the Fairgrounds Stadium scheduled to open on May 1.[2]
- ^ Additional home matches will be played at Citi Field in Queens, New York and Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey due to Yankee Stadium being unavailable at certain matches, with 1 match at Citi Field subject to relocation pending on the New York Mets' position on the Postseason.
Personnel and sponsorship
Note: All teams use Adidas as universal kit manufacturer.
Coaching changes
| Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Dynamo |  Tab Ramos[3]
|
Sacked | November 4, 2021 | Pre–season |  Paulo Nagamura
|
January 3, 2022[4] |
| Los Angeles FC | Bob Bradley[5]
|
Mutual consent | November 18, 2021 | Steve Cherundolo
|
January 3, 2022[6] | |
| Toronto FC |  Javier Pérez[7]
|
November 23, 2021 | Bob Bradley
|
November 24, 2021[8] | ||
| Chicago Fire | Frank Klopas (interim)
|
End of interim period | November 24, 2021 |  Ezra Hendrickson
|
November 24, 2021[9] | |
| FC Dallas | Marco Ferruzzi (interim)
|
December 2, 2021 | Nico Estévez
|
December 2, 2021[10] | ||
| FC Cincinnati |  Tyrone Marshall (interim)
|
December 14, 2021 | Pat Noonan
|
December 14, 2021[11] |
Regular season
Format
Each team will play 34 matches, including 17 home games and 17 away games.[1]
- All teams will play every Conference opponent twice – home and away, plus eight cross-conference games against different opponents.
Conference standings
Eastern Conference
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 19 | 5 | 10 | 72 | 26 | +46 | 67 | Qualification for the Conference semifinals & 2023 CONCACAF Champions League |
| 2 | CF Montréal[a] | 34 | 20 | 9 | 5 | 63 | 50 | +13 | 65 | Qualification for the First round |
| 3 | New York City FC | 34 | 16 | 11 | 7 | 57 | 41 | +16 | 55 | |
| 4 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 50 | 41 | +9 | 53 | |
| 5 | FC Cincinnati | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 64 | 56 | +8 | 49 | |
| 6 | Inter Miami CF | 34 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 47 | 56 | −9 | 48 | |
| 7 | Orlando City SC | 34 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 44 | 53 | −9 | 48 | Qualification for the First round & 2023 CONCACAF Champions League[b] |
| 8 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 10 | 8 | 16 | 46 | 41 | +5 | 46 | |
| 9 | Charlotte FC | 34 | 13 | 18 | 3 | 44 | 52 | −8 | 42 | |
| 10 | New England Revolution | 34 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 47 | 50 | −3 | 42 | |
| 11 | Atlanta United FC | 34 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 48 | 54 | −6 | 40 | |
| 12 | Chicago Fire FC | 34 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 39 | 48 | −9 | 39 | |
| 13 | Toronto FC[a] | 34 | 9 | 18 | 7 | 49 | 66 | −17 | 34 | |
| 14 | D.C. United | 34 | 7 | 21 | 6 | 36 | 71 | −35 | 27 |
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Notes:
- ^ a b Canadian clubs cannot qualify for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League through the MLS regular season or playoffs.
- ^ as 2022 U.S. Open Cup champions
Western Conference
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles FC | 34 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 66 | 38 | +28 | 67 | Qualification for the 2023 Campeones Cup, CONCACAF Champions League & conference semifinals |
| 2 | Austin FC | 34 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 65 | 49 | +16 | 56 | Qualification for the first round & CONCACAF Champions League |
| 3 | FC Dallas | 34 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 48 | 37 | +11 | 53 | Qualification for the first round |
| 4 | LA Galaxy | 34 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 58 | 51 | +7 | 50 | |
| 5 | Nashville SC | 34 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 52 | 41 | +11 | 50 | |
| 6 | Minnesota United FC | 34 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 48 | 51 | −3 | 48 | |
| 7 | Real Salt Lake | 34 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 43 | 45 | −2 | 47 | |
| 8 | Portland Timbers | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 53 | 53 | 0 | 46 | |
| 9 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC[a] | 34 | 12 | 15 | 7 | 40 | 57 | −17 | 43 | Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions League[b] |
| 10 | Colorado Rapids | 34 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 46 | 57 | −11 | 43 | |
| 11 | Seattle Sounders FC | 34 | 12 | 17 | 5 | 47 | 46 | +1 | 41 | |
| 12 | Sporting Kansas City | 34 | 11 | 16 | 7 | 42 | 54 | −12 | 40 | |
| 13 | Houston Dynamo FC | 34 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 43 | 56 | −13 | 36 | |
| 14 | San Jose Earthquakes | 34 | 8 | 15 | 11 | 52 | 69 | −17 | 35 |
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Notes:
- ^ Canadian clubs cannot qualify for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League through the MLS regular season or playoffs.
- ^ as 2022 Canadian Championship winners.
Overall table
The leading team in this table wins the Supporters' Shield.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles FC (C, S) | 34 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 66 | 38 | +28 | 67 | Qualification for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League[a] |
| 2 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 19 | 5 | 10 | 72 | 26 | +46 | 67 | Qualification for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League[b] |
| 3 | CF Montréal[c] | 34 | 20 | 9 | 5 | 63 | 50 | +13 | 65 | |
| 4 | Austin FC | 34 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 65 | 49 | +16 | 56 | Qualification for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League[d] |
| 5 | New York City FC | 34 | 16 | 11 | 7 | 57 | 41 | +16 | 55 | |
| 6 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 50 | 41 | +9 | 53 | |
| 7 | FC Dallas | 34 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 48 | 37 | +11 | 53 | |
| 8 | LA Galaxy | 34 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 58 | 51 | +7 | 50 | |
| 9 | Nashville SC | 34 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 52 | 41 | +11 | 50 | |
| 10 | FC Cincinnati | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 64 | 56 | +8 | 49 | |
| 11 | Minnesota United FC | 34 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 48 | 51 | −3 | 48 | |
| 12 | Inter Miami CF | 34 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 47 | 56 | −9 | 48 | |
| 13 | Orlando City SC (U) | 34 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 44 | 53 | −9 | 48 | Qualification for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League[e] |
| 14 | Real Salt Lake | 34 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 43 | 45 | −2 | 47 | |
| 15 | Portland Timbers | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 53 | 53 | 0 | 46 | |
| 16 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 10 | 8 | 16 | 46 | 41 | +5 | 46 | |
| 17 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC[c] (V) | 34 | 12 | 15 | 7 | 40 | 57 | −17 | 43 | Qualification for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League[f] |
| 18 | Colorado Rapids | 34 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 46 | 57 | −11 | 43 | |
| 19 | Charlotte FC | 34 | 13 | 18 | 3 | 44 | 52 | −8 | 42 | |
| 20 | New England Revolution | 34 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 47 | 50 | −3 | 42 | |
| 21 | Seattle Sounders FC | 34 | 12 | 17 | 5 | 47 | 46 | +1 | 41 | |
| 22 | Sporting Kansas City | 34 | 11 | 16 | 7 | 42 | 54 | −12 | 40 | |
| 23 | Atlanta United FC | 34 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 48 | 54 | −6 | 40 | |
| 24 | Chicago Fire FC | 34 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 39 | 48 | −9 | 39 | |
| 25 | Houston Dynamo FC | 34 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 43 | 56 | −13 | 36 | |
| 26 | San Jose Earthquakes | 34 | 8 | 15 | 11 | 52 | 69 | −17 | 35 | |
| 27 | Toronto FC[c] | 34 | 9 | 18 | 7 | 49 | 66 | −17 | 34 | |
| 28 | D.C. United | 34 | 7 | 21 | 6 | 36 | 71 | −35 | 27 |
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
(C) Champions; (S) Supporters' Shield winners; (U) U.S. Open Cup winners; (V) Canadian Championship winners
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
(C) Champions; (S) Supporters' Shield winners; (U) U.S. Open Cup winners; (V) Canadian Championship winners
Notes:
- ^ As 2022 MLS Cup champions and 2022 MLS Supporters' Shield champions (USA1)
- ^ As 2022 Eastern Conference regular season champions (USA2)
- ^ a b c Canadian clubs cannot qualify for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League through the MLS regular season or playoffs.
- ^ As highest-ranked U.S. based Division I club (based on 2022 MLS regular season record) not already qualified (USA3)
- ^ As 2022 U.S. Open Cup champions (USA4)
- ^ As 2022 Canadian Championship winners (CAN1)
Player statistics
- As of 27 February 2022
Goals
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[12] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Carlos Vela
|
Los Angeles FC | 3 |
| 2 |  Cecilio Domínguez
|
Austin FC | 2 |
 Michael Estrada
|
D.C. United | ||
| 4 | 28 players | 1 | |
Hat-tricks
| Player | For | Against | Score | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Vela
|
Los Angeles FC | Colorado Rapids | 3–0 (H) | February 26, 2022 |
Assists
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[13] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | José Cifuentes
|
Los Angeles FC | 2 |
 Josef Martínez
|
Atlanta United FC | ||
| 3 | 29 players | 1 | |
Clean sheets
Awards
Player / Team of the Week
- Bold denotes League Player of the Week.
| Team of the Week | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards | Bench | Coach |
| 1 [15][16] |
Hamid (DC)
|
 Edwards (LA) Carlos (ORL) Marshall-Rutty (TOR)
|
Domínguez (ATX) Sánchez (LAFC) Godoy (NSH) Zelarayán (CLB) Y. Chará (POR)
|
Martínez (ATL) Vela (LAFC)
|
Slonina (CHI) Lowe (MIA) Amaya (RBNY) Gil (NE) Lod (MIN) Estrada (DC) Hernández (LA)
|
 Gary Smith (NSH)
|
Goal of the Week
| Goal of the Week | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Player | Club | Ref. |
| 1 | |||
Player of the Month
| Month | Player | Club | Stats | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February/March |
References
- ^ a b "MLS Announces 2022 Schedule Format & Conference Alignment". Major League Soccer. November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- ^ "Nashville Soccer Club Unveils 2022 Schedule in the Club's Third Season in Major League Soccer Powered by Ticketmaster". Nashville Soccer Club. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
- ^ "Houston Dynamo FC part ways with head coach Tab Ramos". Major League Soccer. November 4, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- ^ "Houston Dynamo FC name Paulo Nagamura head coach". MLSSoccer.com. January 3, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ "Bob Bradley out as LAFC manager". MLSSoccer.com. November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ "Steve Cherundolo named new LAFC head coach". MLSSoccer.com. January 3, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ "Official: Javier Perez not returning as Toronto FC head coach". MLSSoccer.com. November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ "Toronto FC hire Bob Bradley as head coach and sporting director". MLSSoccer.com. November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
- ^ "Official: Chicago Fire FC name Ezra Hendrickson head coach". MLSSoccer.com. November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
- ^ "FC Dallas Announces Nico Estévez as Head Coach". fcdallas.com. December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "FC Cincinnati hire Pat Noonan as head coach | FC Cincinnati".
- ^ "Major League Soccer – Statistics – Goals". Major League Soccer. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
- ^ "Major League Soccer – Statistics – Assists". Major League Soccer. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
- ^ "Major League Soccer – Statistics – Clean sheets". Major League Soccer. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
- ^ Sigal, Jonathan (February 28, 2022). "Team of the Week presented by Audi: Who made the Week 1 cut as 2022 season begins?". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ Liljenwall, Ari (February 28, 2022). "Hat trick hero! LAFC's Carlos Vela named MLS Week 1 Player of the Week". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
External links
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