What Is 2018 Major League Soccer season

Overview

The 2018 Major League Soccer season marked the 23rd season of the league since its founding in 1993. It introduced expansion team Los Angeles FC, increasing the total number of teams to 23 and expanding the league’s footprint across the United States and Canada.

This season featured a restructured playoff format, allowing the top seven teams from both the Eastern and Western Conferences to qualify. The campaign concluded with Atlanta United FC capturing their first MLS Cup title in front of a record-breaking home crowd.

• Los Angeles FC joined as the 23rd franchise, playing their inaugural season at Banc of California Stadium and finishing with a 17–10–7 record in the Western Conference.
• Atlanta United FC set a new MLS single-season attendance record, averaging over 53,000 fans per game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
• The regular season spanned 34 games per team, played between March 2 and October 28, totaling 374 matches across the league.
• Zlatan Ibrahimović made his debut with LA Galaxy, scoring 22 goals and becoming the league’s most high-profile signing of the year.
• The playoffs expanded to 14 teams, with the top seven from each conference advancing to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs under a new knockout format.

How It Works

The 2018 MLS season operated under a single-entity structure with a regular season followed by a conference-based playoff system. Key rules and formats shaped team performance and postseason qualification.

• Regular Season Format: Each team played 34 matches—home and away against regional rivals and a rotating schedule against other teams. Points were awarded as 3 for a win, 1 for a draw.
• Conference Alignment: The league was split into Eastern (11 teams) and Western (12 teams) Conferences, with standings determining playoff seeding.
• Playoff Qualification: The top seven teams in each conference qualified for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, an increase from six teams per conference in prior years.
• Knockout Rounds: The playoffs used a single-elimination format starting with the first round, leading to the MLS Cup final hosted by the finalist with the better regular-season record.
• Supporters’ Shield: Awarded to the team with the best regular-season record; NYCFC won it with 59 points, despite not winning the MLS Cup.
• Expansion Rules: Los Angeles FC entered as an expansion team, paying a $110 million expansion fee and adhering to league-mandated player allocation and draft rules.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2018 MLS season compared across key structural and performance metrics:

The 2018 season saw increased competitiveness due to expansion and playoff expansion. While the number of games remained consistent, the addition of LAFC intensified Western Conference battles. Toronto FC, the 2017 MLS Cup champions, failed to repeat, losing in the Eastern Conference Final to Atlanta United FC, who then went on to win the title. Attendance and international player signings also rose, reflecting MLS’s growing global appeal.

Why It Matters

The 2018 season was pivotal in MLS’s evolution, showcasing increased parity, record attendance, and the impact of high-profile international signings. It signaled the league’s growing stature on the global soccer stage.

• Atlanta United FC’s success demonstrated the viability of rapid team growth, winning a championship in just their second season.
• Attendance records were shattered, with Atlanta averaging 53,250 fans per game, the highest in MLS history at the time.
• Zlatan Ibrahimović’s arrival brought unprecedented media attention and boosted LA Galaxy’s profile and viewership.
• The expanded playoff format increased fan engagement by giving more teams postseason hope into late October.
• LAFC’s strong debut validated the demand for soccer in Los Angeles and justified future expansion plans.
• The season reinforced MLS’s strategy of blending international stars with youth development, balancing global appeal with long-term sustainability.

Overall, the 2018 Major League Soccer season was a landmark year that combined competitive excitement, commercial growth, and structural innovation, setting the stage for further expansion and global recognition in the years to come.