MLS

The Major League Soccer, known by its acronym MLS, is the top soccer league in the US and Canada. The league was founded in 1993 as a private venture, a member of the US Soccer Federation Professional Council, as part of the tender for the organization of the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The MLS was preceded by the NASL North American Soccer League, which operated between 1968 and 1984, finally bringing a top-flight FIFA-sanctioned league to the United States and Canada. The USSF US Soccer Federation also organizes the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, more frequently referred to as the US Open Cup. Founded in 1914 as the National Challenge Cup, this knockout cup format competition is the oldest ongoing US Soccer competition. 

Betting on the American Major League Soccer MLS odds is an exciting way to expand your soccer fandom internationally and take part in the excitement of this highly competitive league. Take the time to do your research on the teams and all the available American Major League Soccer MLS bets options. Many top-class professional domestic soccer leagues operate all around the globe. This may initially seem overwhelming in terms of drilling down and finding the best betting options. That is why BetPhoenix has put together a definitive guide to the top world leagues for soccer betting odds for you.

Placing your American Major League Soccer MLS Bets with BetPhoenix.ag can be a lucrative and exciting venture, especially if you dedicate some time to doing your research. This MLS betting guide, is one of the many helpful resources that BetPhoenix provides to help you take full advantage of the variety of options available and increase your chances of winning.

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What is the US MLS Major League Soccer?

The MLS Major League Soccer is composed of 29 teams, of which 26 are based in the US, and three are from Canada, divided geographically into two conferences, Eastern and Western. Each team plays 34 games, with two games, home and away, against all conference rivals, plus interconference games to complete the schedule. The MLS season starts in late February or early March and ends in October. Similar to other American Sports, the MLS continues after the regular season is completed with a postseason playoff, which takes a knockout tournament format to determine the champion, including nine teams from each Conference. The team with the best overall record in the regular season earns the Supporters' Shield Trophy and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The postseason playoff knockout starts with the Wild Card matches between the teams that placed 8th and 9th in each division in a single elimination game hosted by the higher seed. This is followed by a Best-of-Three series between the top seeds and the wild cards, the second and seventh, third and sixth, and fourth and fifth, in a home-away-home format favoring the higher ranked. These initial phases are played on a no-tie system with no extra time, going directly to penalty shootouts to determine the winner. At the same time, the following rounds consist of single-game elimination matches with extra-time as per FIFA conventions. The Conference Semifinals follow with two matches per Conference hosted by the higher seed, matching the winner of the first vs. wild card series vs. the winner of the fourth vs. fifth series, and the winner of the third vs. sixth series vs. the winner of the second vs. seventh series. The winners advance to the Conference Finals, hosted by the higher seed. The winner of each Conference Final match advances to the MLS Cup, presented by Audi, hosted by the higher seed.

The winner of the MLS Cup earns a direct berth to the CONCACAF Champions League Tournament. The top three teams ranked in the regular season complete the four CONCACAF Champions League, starting in the first round of the tournament. This only applies to teams from the United States, as the Canadian teams qualify through the separate Canadian Championship tournament. 

The MLS league has a fixed franchise membership structure, similar to most American sports leagues, making it one of the few leagues that don't use a promotion and relegation system.

Current teams:

Eastern Conference (15 teams)

• Atlanta United FC - Atlanta, Georgia
• Charlotte FC - Charlotte, North Carolina
• Chicago Fire FC - Chicago, Illinois
• FC Cincinnati - Cincinnati, Ohio
• Columbus Crew - Columbus, Ohio
• DC. United - Washington, DC.
• Inter Miami CF - Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• CF Montreal - Montreal, Quebec (Canada)
• Nashville SC - Nashville, Tennessee
• New England Revolution - Foxborough, Massachusetts
• New York City FC - New York City
• New York Red Bulls - Harrison, New Jersey
• Orlando City SC - Orlando, Florida
• Philadelphia Union - Chester, Pennsylvania
• Toronto F.C. - Toronto, Ontario (Canada)

Western Conference (14 Teams)

• Austin FC - Austin, Texas
• Colorado Rapids - Commerce City, Colorado
• FC Dallas - Frisco, Texas
• Houston Dynamo FC - Houston, Texas
• Sporting Kansas City - Kansas City, Kansas
• LA Galaxy - Carson, California
• Los Angeles FC - Los Angeles, California
• Minnesota United FC - Saint Paul, Minnesota
• Portland Timbers - Portland, Oregon
• Real Salt Lake - Sandy, Utah
• San Jose Earthquakes - San Jose, California
• Seattle Sounders FC - Seattle, Washington
• St. Louis City SC - St. Louis, Missouri
• Vancouver Whitecaps FC - Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)

A new franchise has been awarded to the city of San Diego, an expansion aimed to balance the conferences. It is scheduled to join the MLS in the 2025 Season.

How to Bet on the American Major League Soccer MLS

BetPhoenix.ag not only offers you the best American Major League Soccer MLS Odds, but we also provide you with many helpful tools, like this American Major League Soccer MLS odds guide, to introduce you to the numerous moneymaking opportunities available when betting on the American Major League Soccer MLS betting lines, helping you improve your chances of winning.

American Major League Soccer MLS Point Spread

The American Major League Soccer MLS Point Spreads bets, similarly to other major sports like football, basketball, and baseball, are based on a handicapped margin of victory established on a projected game result. If an American Major League Soccer MLS betting lines shows a point spread of 1.5 for an upcoming game, the favorite team (-1.5) must win by at least two goals for your bet to be a winner, while betting on the underdog (+1.5) can lose by one goal, tie the game or win outright for your bet to be a win. The .5 fraction is used to avoid a push in the wagers.

This is an example of an American Major League Soccer MLS Point Spread, as you would find it listed in BetPhoenix:

Team - Points Spread Odds

Inter Miami -1.5

LA Galaxy +1.5

In this case, the -1.5 points spread indicates that Inter Miami is the favorite to win by a margin of two goals against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Conversely, LA Galaxy is the the underdog and can lose by a margin of less than two goals. These are the likely results of this bet:

· Inter Miami wins by two or more goals: Inter Miami bettors win.

· Inter Miami wins by one goal: LA Galaxy bettors win.

· The game is a draw/tie: LA Galaxy bettors win.

· LA Galaxy wins the game: LA Galaxy bettors win.

American Major League Soccer MLS Moneyline

American Major League Soccer MLS Moneyline is always the most straightforward betting option. Your pick reflects who you expect to be the outright winner of the game. A negative odds value indicates the favorite, while a positive value indicates an underdog. American Major League Soccer MLS Moneyline uses a $100 base American odds system, in which larger numbers indicate a stronger favorite or weaker underdog.

The two-way American Major League Soccer MLS Moneyline, in which the American Major League Soccer MLS betting lines are focused on either one of the two sides winning, removing the impact of a tie or draw, in which case the bet would be a push. There is also a three-way American Major League Soccer MLS Moneyline, in which the American Major League Soccer MLS betting lines offer odds values for the home team winning, the visitor team winning, or a draw or tie result.

This is an example of a Two-Way American Major League Soccer MLS Moneyline, as you would find it listed in BetPhoenix:

Team - Moneyline

Inter Miami -350

LA Galaxy +225

In this case, if you bet to win $100 on Inter Miami -350 as favorites, you would need to risk $350, while betting $100 on LA Galaxy +225 as an underdog, you would receive $225 if LA Galaxy wins the game. If the match ends in a tie, the wager would be a push, which means the bet is voided and refunded.

This is an example of a Three-Way American Major League Soccer MLS Moneyline, as you would find it listed in BetPhoenix:

Team - Moneyline

Inter Miami -175

Draw +400

LA Galaxy +375

In this case, if you bet to win $100 on Inter Miami -175 as favorites, you would need to risk $175. Betting $100 on the draw +400, you would receive $400 if the game ends in a tie. And betting $100 on LA Galaxy +375 as an underdog, you would receive $375 if LA Galaxy wins the game.

At BetPhoenix, our American Major League Soccer MLS odds will give you the best available Moneyline prices and the tightest point spread odds offered by any sportsbooks.

American Major League Soccer MLS Over/Under Totals

The American Major League Soccer MLS Totals bet is based on a projected final score that includes both teams, independently on which side wins. American Major League Soccer MLS Totals are represented in an Over/Under set, where you can pick if you expect this result to be over or under this estimated line.

This is an example of an American Major League Soccer MLS Over/Under Totals as you would find it listed in BetPhoenix:

American Major League Soccer MLS Totals – Inter Miami vs. LA Galaxy

Total: 2.5

Over odds: -300

Under odds: +240

In this case, the American Major League Soccer MLS Over/Under of 2.5 means that if the match ends with a combined score of three or more goals, the Over wins; if the total score is two or less, the Under wins. If you bet to win $100 on the Over -300, you would need to risk $300, and would win if the game ends with 3 goals or more. Betting $100 on the Under +240, you would receive $240 if the game ends with 2 goals or less.

American Major League Soccer MLS Parlays

American Major League Soccer MLS Parlay is a wager type in which two or more American Major League Soccer MLS betting lines are combined to form a single wager with a considerably higher payout. However, all selected American Major League Soccer MLS betting lines must win for the parlay wager to win. You can combine point spreads, moneylines, over/under totals, and other wagers. You can also combine favorites and underdogs. The more bets you add to your American Major League Soccer MLS parlay, the odds multiply accordingly in your favor.

Using the example, a two-line American Major League Soccer MLS Parlay could be as follows:

Inter Miami -175

Inter Miami vs. LA Galaxy Total: Over 2.5 -300

By combining the Inter Miami Moneyline -175 and Total Over 2.5 -300 for the Inter Miami vs. LA Galaxy game on a 2-team parlay risking $100, the combined odds would be +110 with a payout for this parlay of $209.51, about 2 times your bet, instead of risking $100 to bet on each separately.

American Major League Soccer MLS Prop Bets

American Major League Soccer MLS prop bets are one of the most exciting ways to bet on the outcome of the games. The most popular American Major League Soccer MLS Prop Bets include many possibilities. Team prop bets include lines to bet on which team will score first, how many shots on goal will be made, how many corner kicks will occur, how many cards will be sanctioned, and a long etcetera. Player props bets include who will score a goal during the game, who will score the first goal of the match, who will score multiple goals, how many shots on goal a player will make, etc.

Take the time to check all available props on Betphoenix.ag, and you'll find many attractive options to increase your betting repertoire.

Which Teams Have Won the Most American Major League Soccer MLS Titles?

Since the creation of the American Major League Soccer MLS in 1996, 15 different franchises have won the American Major League Soccer MLS Cup Championship.

Los Angeles Galaxy, with five titles, is the most successful franchise in MLS history, followed by DC United with 4 Championships. Five other teams have won the MLS Cup twice: Columbus Crew, Houston Dynamo, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders, and Sporting Kansas City.

Here you'll find the list of the last Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup winners:

2023 - St. Louis City SC

2022 – Los Angeles FC

2021 – New York City FC

2020 – Columbus Crew

2019 – Seattle Sounders FC

2018 – Atlanta United FC

2017 – Toronto FC

2016 – Seattle Sounders FC

2015 – Portland Timbers

2014 – LA Galaxy

2013 – Sporting Kansas City

2012 – LA Galaxy

2011 – LA Galaxy

2010 - Colorado Rapids

2009 - Real Salt Lake

2008 - Columbus Crew SC

2007 - DC United

2006 - Houston Dynamo

2005 - LA Galaxy

2004 - DC United

2003 - San Jose Earthquakes

2002 - LA Galaxy

2001 - San Jose Earthquakes

2000 - Kansas City Wizards

1999 - DC United

1998 - Chicago Fire

1997 - DC United

1996 - DC United

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