What Is 2016 Major League Soccer season

Overview

The 2016 Major League Soccer season marked the 21st season of the top-tier U.S. professional soccer league. It featured a competitive regular season and an exciting postseason that concluded with a dramatic championship final.

This season introduced expanded playoff formats and saw record-breaking performances from several teams. The league continued its growth trajectory with rising attendance and increased national television exposure.

• March 6, 2016 was the opening day, kicking off a season that included 34 regular-season matches per team across 20 clubs.
• Seattle Sounders FC captured their first MLS Cup title by defeating Toronto FC 5–4 in a penalty shootout after a 0–0 draw in regulation and extra time.
• Toronto FC earned the Supporters' Shield by finishing first in the overall standings with a league-record 69 points.
• The league expanded to 20 teams, including recent additions such as New York City FC and Orlando City SC, both in their second season.
• Diego Valeri scored the fastest goal in MLS Cup history just 27 seconds into the final, setting the tone for the match.

How It Works

The 2016 MLS season followed a structured format combining regular-season performance with a multi-round playoff system to determine the champion.

• Regular Season: Each of the 20 teams played 34 matches, primarily within their conference, with standings based on total points (3 for a win, 1 for a draw).
• Playoff Qualification: The top six teams from each conference qualified, plus four wild-card spots based on total points, expanding the postseason to 12 teams.
• Single-Elimination Format: The playoffs used a single-elimination structure starting with knockout rounds, leading to the MLS Cup final hosted by the higher-seeded team.
• Supporters' Shield: Awarded to the team with the best regular-season record; Toronto FC won it with 69 points, a new league record.
• MLS Cup Final: Held on December 10, 2016, at BMO Field in Toronto, drawing over 36,000 fans despite rainy conditions.
• Fastest Goal: Diego Valeri of the Portland Timbers scored in just 27 seconds, the quickest in MLS Cup history, during the final.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how key teams and metrics compared during the 2016 MLS season:

The table highlights how regular-season success didn’t guarantee playoff dominance. While Toronto FC led the league with 69 points, they fell short in the final, whereas Seattle advanced despite a lower seed, showcasing the unpredictability of the single-elimination format.

Why It Matters

The 2016 season was pivotal in MLS history due to its dramatic conclusion and record-breaking performances, reinforcing the league's growing competitiveness and fan engagement.

• The Seattle Sounders' underdog victory demonstrated that playoff experience and resilience could overcome regular-season dominance.
• Toronto FC’s 69-point season set a new benchmark for excellence, raising expectations for future campaigns.
• The final, held in Toronto, drew massive attention, with 36,187 in attendance, one of the largest MLS Cup crowds at the time.
• Television ratings increased, with the final averaging 1.0 million viewers on ESPN and UniMás, reflecting growing national interest.
• The performance of international stars like David Villa and Jozy Altidore highlighted MLS’s appeal to global talent.
• This season also emphasized the importance of depth and tactics, as Seattle relied on strong goalkeeping from Stefan Frei, who saved a crucial penalty in the final.

The 2016 MLS season remains a landmark year, combining record-breaking performances with an unforgettable championship, setting the stage for future growth and parity in the league.