Major League Soccer (MLS) is one of the most exciting sports divisions in recent years, and a great opportunity to get some MLS betting in. As opposed to European football, the regular MLS season starts in spring and ends in autumn, making it a welcome target for punters during the summer break. We'll be discussing every aspect of MLS betting, including odds, strategies, tips, and the best betting sites to bet on.
- MLS Format & Schedule
- Best Betting Sites for Major League Soccer (MLS)
- MLS Betting Odds 2020
- MLS 2020 Season Overview
- MLS Betting Tips & Strategy
- Most Popular MLS Betting Markets
- History of MLS
- The CONCACAF Champions League
- The Campeones Cup
- The Leagues Cup
- MLS Betting FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say – Great for Summer Betting!
MLS Format & Schedule
In European football, the most prestigious prize is usually the championship awarded to the team with the most points at the end of the season. There is also a domestic cup in which teams from all leagues battle it out in a single-elimination round.
MLS has a very different format, first seeing a regular season, after which the 14 best teams challenge each other in playoffs to see who will win the cup.
Regular Season (February to October)
The regular season of MLS usually starts in late February or Early March, and continues on to October. Teams are divided geographically, between the Eastern and Western Conferences, each with 13 teams. Each team plays 34 games. As there are currently 26 teams, each team plays two games (one home and one away) against teams in the same conference (24 games) and 10 games against teams from the other conference.
Supporters’ Shield
Once the regular season is complete, the team with the most points will be awarded the Supporters' Shield. While this trophy is not as prestigious as the MLS Cup, it does come with a major advantage: the team with the Supporters' Shield will receive home-field advantage for all matches in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
All-Star Game
In the middle of the season, the league’s best players play each other in an exhibition game. The format for this has changed several times. This year, the MLS All-Stars will play against Mexico's Liga MX All-Star team. While this match is irrelevant to the cup or league standings, it still comes with plenty of prestige and media attention, being one of the most watched football matches in the US.
MLS Cup Playoffs (October to November)
The MLS season culminates in a postseason knockout tournament, which determines the league champion for that year. 14 teams join the MLS Cup Playoffs in October, and the playoffs are concluded in November with the MLS Cup Championship game.
Spring-to-Autumn Format (Great for Summer Betting)
While football is the number one sport in Europe and Latin America, in the US, it must compete against the popularity of the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Hockey League (NHL). These leagues all have a autumn-to-spring schedule, similar to most European sports leagues.
In order to avoid this direct competition, MLS has opted for a spring-to-autumn format. This has led to scheduling conflicts with the FIFA World Cup calendar and CONCACAF Gold Cup scheduling. The alternative would be to schedule the league during the winter break; however, harsh winter weather in many US and Canadian regions would force this league indoors.
While scheduling may cause issues for MLS players and teams, the schedule is actually excellent for UK punters, who have few betting options between regular seasons if there is no FIFA World Cup or UEFA Euros.
MLS Teams
The 26 MLS teams are (in alphabetical order):
- Atlanta United FC
- Chicago Fire
- FC Cincinnati
- Colorado Rapids
- Columbus Crew SC
- D.C. United
- FC Dallas
- Houston Dynamo
- LA Galaxy
- Los Angeles FC
- Inter Miami FC
- Minnesota United FC
- Montreal Impact
- Nashville
- New England Revolution
- New York City FC
- New York Red Bulls
- Orlando City SC
- Philadelphia Union
- Portland Timbers
- Real Salt Lake
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Seattle Sounders FC
- Sporting Kansas City
- Toronto FC
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Future MLS Teams
While the league currently has 24 teams, more will be added from the 2021 season:
MLS Players
David Beckham is probably the most famous player to ever switch to the league. In 2018, Zlatan Ibrahimović played one season for La Galaxy. The league is home to some of the best players from the US, Canada, Latin America, and Europe.
Some of the best current MLS players include:
- Josef Martínez: This Venezuelan striker is widely regarded as the best player in MLS. He has netted 82 goals in 92 matches.
- Carlos Vela: This left-footed, Mexican-born forward plays as a right-winger for Los Angeles FC. While he scores frequently, he is also involved in assists.
- Javier Hernández: Another Mexican forward. Hernández’s early career was at Manchester United. He replaced Ibrahimović in Los Angeles Galaxy, and, while he may have less star power, he is one of the league's top scorers, frequently netting from inside the box.
- Nicolás Lodeiro: This Brazillian midfielder has been with Seattle Sounders FC since 2016. He already has two MLS Cups under his belt. He has excellent offensive and defensive skills, and is a great set piece taker.
- Gonzalo Martínez: This Argentinian left-forward recently joined Atlanta for a major price tag. Before joining MLS, he led River Plate to a Copa Libertadores championship.
MLS SuperDraft
Just like most American leagues (NHL, NBA, and NFL), teams can acquire new players through a draft process. Teams take turns to take their pick from selected college soccer players. So-called Generation Adidas and non-collegiate international players also appear in the draft. New teams and teams that didn't qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs get to choose first. The first pick goes to the team with the fewest points in regular matches.
This system is very different to the European or UK transfer market. Of course, transfers still occur inside MLS and from other leagues as well.
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MLS Betting Odds 2020
With the season having recently been rebooted, and the playoff fixtures still unknown, playoff betting odds and outright betting odds are not available yet at most major bookies. We expect this to change after MLS releases the fixtures for the upcoming postseason in early November.
2020 MLS Playoff Betting Odds
Coming soon…
2020 MLS Outright Betting
Coming soon…
MLS 2020 Season Overview
The league had its regular start in February and was set to end on 4 October, with the MLS Cup 2020 taking place on 7 November. However, following the events of 2020, we have some new dates to share with you.
2020 MLS Regular Season
While the regular season started on 29 February 2020, it was suspended on 12 March 2020 after several matches had to be cancelled. After months of uncertainty, on 10 June, MLS announced its return with a one-of-a kind MLS is Back Tournament. After this tournament, the regular season restarted a month later on 12 August.
2020 MLS All-Star Game
The 2020 MLS All-Star Game was to be held between MLS All-Stars and Mexico's Liga MX All-Star players, scheduled for 30 July 2020. The game has been suspended, however.
2020 MLS Cup Playoffs
The 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs are scheduled to start on 8 November 2020. Columbus Crew SC, Orlando City SC, Toronto FC, and Philadelphia Union have already qualified.
2020 MLS Cup Championship Game
The 2020 MLS Cup Championship Game is scheduled for 12 December 2020.
MLS Betting Tips & Strategy
In terms of betting, many tips that also apply to football betting in the UK also apply to MLS. Still, there are several tips and strategies specifically relating to MLS that you'll find below.
Where to Find MLS Soccer Betting Tips & Picks
If you are looking for the latest MLS betting picks, these are some of the sites we can suggest:
- Sportsbook Wire: SportsbookWire has free MLS betting picks, as well as picks for most American sports.
- MLS Betting Reddit: The MLS Reddit has plenty of user-generated betting information on MLS. Ask your peers for advice and see the picks and strategies they recommend.
- ESPN: ESPN’s soccer page has plenty of news, tips, and analyses on American and European football.
MLS Betting Stats
As part of any wise betting strategy, it is important to research stats. You'll find MLS stats directly on the MLS Official Website, but you can also opt for FBref or ESPN.
Most Popular MLS Betting Markets
Bookies that offer MLS bets will generally offer the same (or similar) betting options for MLS as for other football leagues. That includes over/unders, draw no bet, double chance, and plenty of smaller markets you may have never even heard of. Thanks to the structure of the league, however, you have the option of betting on several unique options.
- MLS Regular Season Betting: The regular season works much like a Premier League season, though not all clubs play each other. You can bet on match outcomes, scores, and goalscorer, among others.
- MLS Playoff Betting: The Playoffs see MLS teams trying to eliminate each other for a chance at the cup final. A popular bet here is which team will make it to the next round.
- MLS Outright Betting: As MLS has two outright trophies – the MLS Cup Championship and the Supporters' Shield – thus giving you two options for outright bets. Read our guide on hedge betting to make the most of your outright picks.
History of MLS
MLS represents the highest level of football in the United States and Canada. Currently, there are 26 teams in the league, 23 of which are American and the other 3 being Canadian teams. By 2023, the league will have 30 teams.
MLS began in 1993 and was part of the United States' bid to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The first season took place in 1996 and had 10 teams. In its first years, the league struggled to make money, losing millions and seeing two teams fold in 2002. However, the development of soccer-specific stadiums and the Designated Player Rule, which allowed teams to sign international star players such as David Beckham (who is now part-owner of Inter Miami), gradually saw the league become profitable.
The league now has national TV contracts, major sponsors, and, with an average of more than 20,000 spectators per game, it is the third most popular league in the US in terms of attendance.
Recent MLS Winners
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Seattle Sounders FC | 3–1 | Toronto FC |
| 2018 | Atlanta United FC | 2–0 | Portland Timbers |
| 2017 | Toronto FC | 2–0 | Seattle Sounders FC |
| 2016 | Seattle Sounders FC | 0–0 (5–4 penalties) | Toronto FC * |
| 2015 | Portland Timbers | 2–1 | Columbus Crew SC |
| 2014 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 2–1 | New England Revolution |
| 2013 | Sporting Kansas City | 1–1 (7–6 penalties) | Real Salt Lake |
| 2012 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 3–1 | Houston Dynamo |
| 2011 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 1–0 | Houston Dynamo |
| 2010 | Colorado Rapids | 2–1 | FC Dallas |
Most Successful MLS Teams
| Club | Finals Played | Cups Won | MLS Cup |
|---|---|---|---|
| LA Galaxy | 9 | 5 | 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014 |
| D.C. United | 5 | 4 | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004 |
| New England Revolution | 5 | 0 | 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014 |
| Houston Dynamo | 4 | 2 | 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 3 | 2 | 2016, 2017, 2019 |
The CONCACAF Champions League
While MLS teams play each other, they also participate in other domestic and international competitions. One of the most prestigious is the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football) Champions League, consisting of the best clubs from the CONCACAF region. While the league is structured differently, we could see it as Americas’ answer to the UEFA Champions League.
The two teams with the highest point score from each conference (including the Supporter's Shield champion), the MLS Champion, and the winner of the U.S. Open Cup, each get a spot. Canada is allotted one spot in the CONCACAF Champions League, which goes to the winner of the Canadian Championship tournament between Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and other Canadian cities.
The Campeones Cup
The Campeones Cup is an annual match between the MLS Cup champion and the Campeón de Campeones from Liga MX. The first Cup was held on 19 September 2018, and saw Tigres UANL best Toronto FC 3–1.
The Leagues Cup
The Leagues Cup is fairly new, having been established in 2019 to capitalise on inter-league rivalry between MLS and Liga MX. It is a single-elimination tournament between the best 8 clubs from each league.
MLS Betting FAQs
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We recommend Sky Sports and FreeSports to watch MLS live. MLS on Sky Sports includes at least 2 regular season games each week, as well as the MLS All-Star Game, all MLS Cup Playoff games, and the final. FreeSports has an even better MLS coverage, with up to five regular season games each week and complete coverage of the MLS Cup playoffs.
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According to Liam Ridgewell, “the quality of football is like the Championship”. There are big differences between teams with several designated players (usually high-profile European players) and regular teams. Many of the players originate from Latin America, though most managers try to emulate English aggressive tactics. This makes for an interesting and original mix of styles.
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In terms of MLS Cups won and finals reached, LA Galaxy has the most awards (with 9 finals and 5 Cups). However, Seattle Sounders FC has been the most successful in recent years, winning in 2017 and 2019, and reaching the final in 2016.
ThePuntersPage Final Say – Great for Summer Betting!
What is worse for a football fan or punter than a summer season without football? While the Euros and World Cup come by for two football-filled summers out of every four, that still leaves half of those summers without any football. Or so you would think…
Since MLS starts in the spring and finishes in the autumn, you have an excellent league to follow and bet on during those slow, football-deprived summers. You will find the same markets for MLS as you will on any European football league, but we recommend familiarising yourself with the league first.
Articles assigned to ThePuntersPage.com are created by our community of contributors to ensure the most up-to-date and best possible content.
