The 2024 MLS season saw record-breaking performance and a historic return to championship form.
In short: The 29th season of Major League Soccer delivered a league-record point total and a landmark sixth championship title. Amidst labor disputes and a unique broadcast partnership, the league navigated a complex schedule that balanced domestic competition with international tournaments, setting the stage for future expansion and evolving competition regulations.
The 2024 season marked the 29th year of Major League Soccer, featuring 29 teams split between Eastern and Western conferences. It was a year of stability regarding expansion, as no new teams joined the league, though San Diego FC was slated to enter in 2025. The regular season, which spanned from February 21 to October 19, saw each team play 34 matches. A significant operational challenge arose from a labor dispute with the Professional Soccer Referees Association, leading to a lockout where replacement officials managed matches until a resolution allowed regular referees to return on March 30.
On the field, Inter Miami CF achieved a historic milestone by winning the Supporters' Shield with a league-record 74 points in only their fifth season. The postseason culminated on December 7 with the LA Galaxy securing their sixth MLS Cup title—their first since 2014—by defeating the New York Red Bulls 2–1. The playoffs utilized a format introduced in 2023, featuring a wild card round followed by a best-of-three series for the top nine teams in each conference, before shifting to single-elimination matches.
The league's infrastructure continued to evolve through its ten-year partnership with Apple, which broadcast all matches via the MLS Season Pass service. Furthermore, the 2024 season was notable for its complex relationship with cup competitions. Due to a compromise with the USSF, only eight senior MLS squads participated in the U.S. Open Cup. Following the season's conclusion, new regulations were announced in January 2025 to govern participation in future tournaments, including the Leagues Cup and the U.S. Open Cup, ensuring that playoff performance and other domestic achievements would dictate qualification for upcoming international and national campaigns.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2024 Major League Soccer season
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