The Major League Soccer (MLS) stands as the premier men's soccer league, in the United States overseen by the United States Soccer Federation. With 29 teams under its umbrella 26 call the U.S. Home while three reside in Canada. Situated in Midtown Manhattan is its headquarters.
Kicking off in February or early March and wrapping up by mid-October each team engages in 34 matches throughout the season. The Supporters Shield is clinched by the team boasting the overall performance. This leads to the MLS Cup Playoffs commencing later in October featuring a competition among eighteen teams vying for victory in the championship game. The MLS Cup.
One notable aspect of MLS is its structure compared to traditional soccer leagues. Operating as an entity means that all teams are owned by the league itself and managed by its investors. In contrast, to soccer leagues, MLS does not employ a promotion and relegation system opting instead for a fixed team membership model.