Frank Christian
The 2024 Major League Soccer season is nearing its end. Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, has earned the Supporters’ Shield and is on the verge of breaking a single-season points record.
Messi’s move to Inter Miami in 2023 from Paris Saint-Germain created a buzz, and he quickly helped the team succeed in the Leagues Cup.
Although Inter missed the playoffs last year, with the Columbus Crew winning their third MLS Cup, the addition of former Barcelona players like Luis Suarez along with Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets raised expectations for a stronger performance this season.
Despite Messi facing an ankle injury during part of the season, Inter Miami has demonstrated impressive form as they head into the postseason.
This overview from the Sporting News highlights key details for the final stretch of the 2024 MLS season.
MLS Championships: Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup
Major League Soccer has two primary titles awarded each season. While one is more prestigious, both are sought-after honors for clubs.
The Supporters’ Shield goes to the team with the highest points in the regular season, In 2023, FC Cincinnati secured its inaugural shield.
Though considered indicative of the best team over the 34-match season, the Supporters’ Shield is not labeled as the MLS ‘champion,’ a designation reserved for the MLS Cup winner.
The MLS Cup triumph is what every team strives for, following the playoffs.
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Playoff Structure in MLS
In 2023, the MLS playoffs underwent a significant redesign. Nine teams from each conference qualified, with the top seven directly entering the first round, while the eighth and ninth seeds faced off in wild card rounds.
This format replaced a past single-elimination system, now featuring a best-of-three series for the Round of 16. Teams needed two wins to progress to the standard elimination stages for the semifinals, finals, and ultimately the MLS Cup.
The last standing team in the knockout rounds celebrates as the MLS Cup champion. In 2022, LAFC became the successful team, achieving both the MLS Cup and the Supporters’ Shield—a rarity in league history.
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Understanding MLS
Major League Soccer comprises 29 teams across the US and Canada participating in a regular season spanning from February to October. At the season’s conclusion, 18 clubs (the top nine from both the Eastern and Western conferences) advance to the playoffs. The 2023 season introduced a revised format.
In addition to league competition, teams can also compete in domestic cup tournaments (the U.S. Open Cup for American clubs and the Canadian Championship for Canadian teams) and participate in the CONCACAF Champions League.
MLS differs from most leagues globally due to its uniform roster and budget regulations. Teams develop their squads within the framework set by MLS.
Clubs must adhere to salary restrictions, with exceptions for “designated players,” allowing three players per team to earn above the standard maximum limits, facilitating high-profile signings like those recently joining Inter.
Additionally, teams can utilize ‘allocation money’ to adjust player salaries to fall within compliance. Specific rules govern the use and amounts of this money each season.
Clubs can recruit prospects and established players via various means aimed at maintaining competitive parity, including the annual college draft.
Intriguingly, MLS operates without promotion or relegation, even as lower divisions exist in North America. The league is closed, meaning that the same teams compete each year, independent of their previous standings. However, teams finishing lowest generally get priority picks in upcoming drafts to promote competitiveness.
Trends in MLS Teams and Expansion
The 2024 season marks the first year since 2016 without any new franchises joining MLS.
New clubs may enter via an expansion process, requiring hefty fees to secure membership. For instance, St. Louis SC invested $200 million to commence play in 2023. San Diego FC is anticipated to enter the league in 2025, bringing total participation to 30 teams.
Occasionally, lower-tier teams make the leap, similar to Nashville SC’s promotion from the USL Championship in 2020.
First Mic’d Up of 2023, gotta start strong!
Coach @Bradzc pic.twitter.com/yzNdYUuPFr
— St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) February 17, 2023
MLS All-Star Game
The MLS All-Star Game is a summer highlight, evolving throughout the league’s history.
Initially played in an East vs. West format, the All-Star Game began inviting international clubs for friendly matches. In 2021, the format shifted to feature the MLS All-Stars against Liga MX All-Stars from Mexico.
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The upcoming match is set to occur in Columbus on July 24, with details on the format and opponent still pending.
HIGHLIGHTS: MLS All-Stars vs. Liga MX All-Stars | August 10, 2022
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Overview of Leagues Cup
The Leagues Cup is a mid-season tournament where all teams from Major League Soccer (MLS) and Mexico’s Liga MX compete in a format similar to the World Cup.
This event is notable for showcasing Messi’s impressive performance with Inter, which contributed to their entry into the CONCACAF Champions League this year. The top-ranked teams in the Leagues Cup will earn three spots for the Champions League.
The tournament runs from July 21 to August 19, 2023, with all matches available for streaming globally on Apple TV.
Competing teams will first enter a group stage, with the top two from each group moving on to the knockout rounds, culminating in a total of 77 matches. The knockout phase will feature single-elimination games among 32 teams after 15 teams are knocked out in the group stage.
How to Watch MLS in 2024
The cost for a full season subscription is $99, or there’s a monthly plan available for $14.99.
Existing subscribers to Apple TV+ can enjoy a discounted rate for the MLS Season Pass. The full season will be priced at $79 for them, while the monthly subscription is available for $12.99.
| Subscription | Apple TV+ Price | |
| Monthly | $14.99 | $12.99 |
| Full Season | $99 | $79 |
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