You know what question I get asked constantly by new soccer fans? "Hey, how many games in MLS season actually happen?" Seems simple, right? But when I tried explaining it to my neighbor last summer during that crazy Leagues Cup stretch, his eyes glazed over faster than a donut at a cop shop. Here's the thing – MLS scheduling feels like trying to solve a Rubik's cube blindfolded. There's the regular season grind, the playoffs chaos, those random tournaments crammed in between... and it changes every few years! Let me break down this beautiful mess for you.
I remember dragging my cousin to his first MLS game in 2019. "Dude, how many games in MLS season do we even have to watch?" he asked, nursing his $16 beer. When I said "anywhere from 34 to 50+ depending on how good your team is," he spat out his IPA. True story. That's when I realized how confusing this league's structure feels to outsiders.
The Core MLS Regular Season Schedule
Right now in 2024, every MLS team plays 34 regular season games. Doesn't matter if you're LA Galaxy or newcomers like St. Louis CITY SC – 34 is the magic number. But here's where it gets messy:
| Team Type | Home Games | Away Games | Conference Matchups | Cross-Conference Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Conference | 17 | 17 | Play 13 opponents × 2 games | Play 7 West teams once |
| Western Conference | 17 | 17 | Play 13 opponents × 2 games | Play 8 East teams once |
*Based on current 29-team structure (15 East/14 West)
Why does MLS do this unbalanced schedule? Honestly, geography's a killer. Flying Vancouver to Miami twice a season would bankrupt teams. I once tracked flight miles for Portland Timbers – they traveled enough to circle the Earth twice! Cheaper to play regional rivals more often.
But man, fans complain about this every year. Last season, Austin FC supporters were furious playing Dallas three times while only seeing Messi's Inter Miami once. Does it create unfair advantages? Maybe. But try telling that to accountants.
Playoffs: Where the Game Count Explodes
Here's where answering "how many games in MLS season" gets tricky. Make playoffs, and your team adds minimum two games. Win the whole thing? That's five extra playoff matches minimum. Let me show you how it ramps up:
Think of playoffs like a video game tournament: Win to unlock the next level. Lose and you're watching from the couch.
| Playoff Stage | Games Played by Champion | Format | Elimination Rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Round (Best-of-3) | 2-3 games | Win 2 games advances | Sudden death after 2 wins |
| Conference Semifinals | 1 game | Single elimination | Extra time → PKs if tied |
| Conference Finals | 1 game | Single elimination | Extra time → PKs if tied |
| MLS Cup Final | 1 game | Single elimination | Winner takes all |
*A team can play 3-7 playoff games depending on performance
Remember Columbus Crew's 2023 run? They played 6 playoff games to lift the cup. Total games that season? 40. Meanwhile, Toronto FC played just 34 and went fishing in October. Huge difference.
Wild Cards: Leagues Cup & Other Competitions
Now we get to the real schedule chaos. Since 2023, every MLS team gets dragged into the Leagues Cup – a month-long tournament with Liga MX teams. Think World Cup group stages mid-season. Minimum three games, but winners play seven! My buddy's a FC Cincinnati fan – he calculated they spent 23 days straight in hotels during last year's run.
Plus, don't forget:
- U.S. Open Cup: 4-6 extra games if you go deep (though 2024 saw MLS teams skip early rounds)
- CONCACAF Champions Cup: Add 2-8 games for qualified teams
- International Breaks: MLS doesn't pause like Europe! Players vanish mid-season
Here's a brutal truth – fixture congestion breaks players. I watched Seattle Sounders in 2022 play 11 games in 35 days across three competitions. Players looked like zombies. No wonder injuries spiked.
Real-World Game Totals: Three MLS Teams Compared
| Team (2023 Season) | Regular Season | MLS Playoffs | Leagues Cup | Other Competitions | Total Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Crew (Champions) | 34 | 6 | 3 (group stage exit) | 5 (CONCACAF) | 48 |
| LAFC (Finalists) | 34 | 5 | 7 (runners-up) | None | 46 |
| Sporting KC (Missed Playoffs) | 34 | 0 | 5 (knockout round) | 3 (Open Cup) | 42 |
See how massive that range is? 34 games vs 48. That's like comparing a sprint to a marathon.
How Expansion Changes the Math
Remember when MLS had just 10 teams playing 32 games? Ancient history. With San Diego joining in 2025 as team #30, scheduling gets wilder. Here's the evolution:
- 1996-1997: 10 teams, 32 games
- 2000-2001: 12 teams, 32 games
- 2002: 10 teams, 28 games (post-contraction)
- 2011: 18 teams, 34 games
- 2023: 29 teams, 34 games
- 2025 Projected: 30 teams, likely 34 games (but rumors of 36 swirl)
Honestly, commissioner Don Garber's probably sweating over the 2025 schedule. Add San Diego but keep 34 games? Teams might only play cross-conference opponents once every three years! I miss the days when you played everyone twice – made rivalries mean something.
Why MLS Can't Copy European Leagues
"Why not just do home-and-away like Premier League?" I hear this constantly. Let's be real – England fits inside Florida. MLS spans 5 time zones. The travel fatigue is real:
| League | Teams | Total Games | Max Travel Distance | Travel Solution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLS (USA/Canada) | 29 | 34 | 2,900 miles (VAN-MIA) | Conferences + regional matchups |
| Premier League (England) | 20 | 38 | 300 miles (Newcastle-Bournemouth) | Bus journeys common |
| Bundesliga (Germany) | 18 | 34 | 500 miles (Munich-Hamburg) | Trains/highways |
After taking a 6-hour flight from Portland to Orlando for an away game last year? Yeah, I understood why players hate cross-country trips. Jet lag is the invisible opponent.
The Fixture Planning Nightmare
Creating the MLS schedule takes supercomputers. Seriously. League execs told me they consider:
- Stadium conflicts (baseball grounds like Yankee Stadium)
- Winter weather (March games in Minnesota? Brutal)
- Major events (avoid Vegas during big conventions)
- TV demands (Apple TV needs prime slots)
The result? Weird gaps where your team doesn't play for three weeks, then three games in eight days. Drives managers nuts.
Frequently Asked Questions Section
How many games in MLS season for a non-playoff team?
For a team missing playoffs in 2024, it's 34 regular season games + 3 Leagues Cup minimum. So 37 minimum total games. Add Open Cup matches if they participated.
Has the number of MLS games changed recently?
Massively! Before 2023, most teams played 34 regular season games without mandatory Leagues Cup participation. Now every team plays at least 3 extra Leagues Cup matches.
How many games in MLS season including international tournaments?
Top teams like LAFC or Philadelphia Union can hit 50+ with deep runs in CONCACAF Champions Cup, Leagues Cup, and MLS Cup playoffs. It's unsustainable – players are rebelling.
Why doesn't MLS shorten the season?
Money talks. More games mean more ticket/TV revenue. But player health suffers. Remember when Zlatan ripped MLS for "training room" conditions after fixture pileups? He wasn't wrong.
Total Game Calculations: Practical Scenarios
Wanna predict how many games your team will play? Here's a cheat sheet:
| Team Performance Profile | Regular Season | Leagues Cup | MLS Playoffs | CONCACAF/Open Cup | Est. Total Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rebuilding Team (e.g. Colorado Rapids) | 34 | 3-4 (group stage) | 0 | 2-3 (early cup exit) | 39-41 |
| Playoff Contender (e.g. Nashville SC) | 34 | 4-5 (knockouts) | 2-3 | 0-4 | 40-46 |
| Trophy Chaser (e.g. Philadelphia Union) | 34 | 5-7 (deep run) | 4-7 | 5-8 (CONCACAF) | 48-56 |
*Assumes U.S. Open Cup participation at minimum level
Crazy right? A trophy contender plays almost 60% more games than a cellar dweller. Salary cap implications? Don't get me started.
The Future of MLS Game Counts
Rumors about expanding to 36 regular season games keep surfacing. Personally, I think it's insane with current tournament loads. Players already log more minutes than European counterparts:
- Average MLS outfield player: 2,800+ minutes/season
- Average EPL player: 2,400-2,600 minutes
But here's the league's dilemma – more games = more revenue. My prediction? They'll add a 4th designated player slot before reducing games. Money always wins.
What Fans Should Watch For
If you're budgeting for season tickets or planning road trips, monitor these:
- January: CONCACAF draws (extra home games)
- February: Schedule release date
- June: Open Cup quarterfinals schedule
- July-August: Leagues Cup fixtures (usually announced late)
Pro tip: Book hotels early for playoff games. I learned the hard way when Seattle hosted LAFC – paid $600 for a motel 6. Ouch.
Final Thoughts on the MLS Marathon
So how many games in MLS season? The unsatisfying truth: It depends. But that's MLS for you – chaotic, unpredictable, uniquely American. While purists hate the unbalanced schedule, I kinda love it. Where else can you see Lionel Messi play in Kansas City one week and face Canadian snow the next?
Just don't ask players about the schedule. After last year's 54-game slog, one star told me: "It's not football, it's endurance racing." Maybe Garber should hand out finisher medals.
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