League | Major League Soccer |
---|---|
Sport | Soccer |
Founded | 1996 |
No. of teams | 15 |
Most recent champion(s) | New York Red Bulls (2024) (1st title) |
Most titles | D.C. United (4 titles) |
The Eastern Conference (French : Association de l'Est) is one of Major League Soccer's two conferences, along with the Western Conference. The division of the conferences broadly follows the path of the Mississippi River from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, with clubs east of the river in the Eastern Conference.
As of 2023, the Eastern Conference contains 15 teams. The conference has produced 17 Supporters' Shield champions and 11 MLS Cup winners in Major League Soccer's first 28 seasons. In 2000 and 2001, the conference was referred to as the Eastern Division when Major League Soccer briefly reorganized into three divisions.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Inter Miami CF | 34 | 22 | 4 | 8 | 79 | 49 | +30 | 74 | Qualification for round one and the CONCACAF Champions Cup round one |
2 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 72 | 40 | +32 | 66 | Qualification for round one |
3 | FC Cincinnati | 34 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 58 | 48 | +10 | 59 | |
4 | Orlando City SC | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 59 | 50 | +9 | 52 | |
5 | Charlotte FC | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 46 | 37 | +9 | 51 | |
6 | New York City FC | 34 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 54 | 49 | +5 | 50 | |
7 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 55 | 50 | +5 | 47 | |
8 | CF Montréal | 34 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 48 | 64 | −16 | 43 | Qualification for the wild-card round |
9 | Atlanta United FC | 34 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 46 | 49 | −3 | 40 | |
10 | D.C. United | 34 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 52 | 70 | −18 | 40 | |
11 | Toronto FC | 34 | 11 | 19 | 4 | 40 | 61 | −21 | 37 | |
12 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 9 | 15 | 10 | 62 | 55 | +7 | 37 | |
13 | Nashville SC | 34 | 9 | 16 | 9 | 38 | 54 | −16 | 36 | |
14 | New England Revolution | 34 | 9 | 21 | 4 | 37 | 74 | −37 | 31 | |
15 | Chicago Fire FC | 34 | 7 | 18 | 9 | 40 | 62 | −22 | 30 |
Eastern Conference memberWestern Conference memberCentral Division member
Changes from 1995: Creation of the Major League Soccer.
Changes from 1997: New York/New Jersey MetroStars simplified their name to New York MetroStars; the Miami Fusion were added in the 1998 expansion.
Changes from 1999: The Eastern Conference changed its name to Eastern Division with the creation of the Central Division; the Columbus Crew and the Tampa Bay Mutiny moved to the new division.
Changes from 2001: The Eastern Division changed back its name to Eastern Conference following the contraction of the Miami Fusion and the Tampa Bay Mutiny, resulting in the disbanding of the Central Division; Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew moved in from the Central Division
Changes from 2004: Kansas City Wizards moved in from the Western Conference.
Changes from 2005: The New York MetroStars were bought by Red Bull and changed their name to New York Red Bulls .
Changes from 2006: Toronto FC was added in the 2007 expansion.
Changes from 2009: Philadelphia Union was added in the 2010 expansion.
Changes from 2010: The Kansas City Wizards changed their name to Sporting Kansas City; Houston Dynamo moved in from the Western Conference.
Changes from 2011: Montreal Impact was added in the 2012 expansion.
Changes from 2014: New York City FC and Orlando City SC were added as expansion franchises; Sporting Kansas City and Houston Dynamo moved out to the Western Conference; [1] Columbus Crew adds "SC" to the official team name.
Changes from 2016: Atlanta United FC was added in the 2017 expansion. [2]
Changes from 2018: FC Cincinnati was added in the 2019 expansion. [3]
Changes from 2019: Inter Miami CF was added in the 2020 expansion, [4] Nashville SC was added since the MLS is Back Tournament up to the end of the 2020 season; [5] Chicago Fire SC was renamed Chicago Fire FC.
Changes from 2020: Nashville SC moved in from the Western Conference; [6] the Montreal Impact was renamed Club de Foot Montréal. Columbus Crew SC was briefly renamed to Columbus SC and then to Columbus Crew.
Changes from 2021: Charlotte FC was added as a then-unnamed expansion franchise in 2019, with its first season initially set for 2021 [7] but delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [8] Nashville SC moved back to the Western Conference. [9] [10]
Changes from 2022: Nashville SC was moved back to the Eastern Conference as expansion side St. Louis City SC was added to the Western Conference. [11]
Note: The conference finals were a best-of-three series through 2001 (including the MLS semifinals in 2000 and 2001, when a conference playoff format was not used). Matches tied after regulation were decided by a shoot-out. In 2002, a similar format was used except that draws were allowed and the team earning the most points advanced. From 2003 through 2011, the Finals were a single match. Matches tied after regulation moved to extra time (Golden goal extra time was implemented for 2003 only), then a shoot-out if necessary. Beginning in 2012, the finals were a two-match aggregate series. The away goals rule for series that finished even on aggregate was first implemented in 2014. Extra time and shoot-outs are used if necessary, although away goals did not apply in extra time. In 2019, the playoffs returned to a single match format (including the conference finals), hosted by the higher ranked team through the regular season.
Bold | MLS Cup champions |
W – Western Conference team.
No trophy is awarded for leading the conference standings at the end of the regular season, unless the regular season leader also wins the Supporters' Shield. The winner of the Conference play-offs is considered the Conference champion. Three clubs have topped the Eastern Conference standings at the end of the regular season, won the Supporters' Shield, the Eastern Conference (MLS) and the MLS Cup; D.C. United, twice, Columbus Crew and Toronto FC. Toronto in 2017 also won the Canadian Championship, being the only MLS team to therefore take a clean sweep of all titles available to them.
also won Supporters' Shield | |
Italic | also won Eastern Conference play off final |
Bold | also won MLS Cup |
^ – MLS did not have draws until the 2000 season.
† – Miami Fusion were declared winners of the Eastern Division in 2001 after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks forced the cancellation of the rest of the regular season. The MLS Cup playoffs began on September 20.
In 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2004, the Major League Soccer All-Star Game was contested between an all-star team from the Eastern Conference and an all-star team from the Western Conference. In total, the MLS East all-star team has 4 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss against the west.
Year | Result | Score | Series |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Won | 3–2 | East 1–0–0 |
1997 | Won | 5–4 | East 2–0–0 |
1999 | Lost | 4–6 | East 2–1–0 |
2000 | Won | 9–4 | East 3–1–0 |
2001 | Tied | 6–6 | East 3–1–1 |
2004 | Won | 3–2 | East 4–1–1 |
The 2017 MLS SuperDraft was the eighteenth SuperDraft conducted by Major League Soccer. The SuperDraft is held each year in conjunction with the annual National Soccer Coaches Association of America convention. The first two rounds of the 2017 SuperDraft were held in Los Angeles, California on January 13, 2017, as part of the NSCAA 2017 convention. Rounds three and four were held via conference call on January 17, 2017.
The 2016 Philadelphia Union season was the seventh season of the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. The team was managed by Jim Curtin, his third season with the club. The 2016 season marked the Union's second appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs, the first time since the 2011 season.
The 2016 season was New England Revolution's 21st season of existence and their 21st season in Major League Soccer, the top-flight of American soccer.
The 2018 MLS SuperDraft was the nineteenth SuperDraft conducted by Major League Soccer. As customary, the SuperDraft was held in conjunction with the annual United Soccer Coaches convention. The 2018 UCS was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between January 17–21, 2018. Rounds one and two of the SuperDraft were held on January 19, 2018. Rounds three and four of the 2018 SuperDraft were held via a conference call on January 21, 2018.
The 2020 MLS SuperDraft was the 21st edition of the SuperDraft conducted by Major League Soccer. The 2020 SuperDraft was the first SuperDraft held exclusively via conference call and web streaming. The first two rounds of the 2020 SuperDraft were held on January 9, 2020 while rounds three and four were held on January 13, 2020. Previously, the SuperDraft had been held in conjunction with the annual January United Soccer Coaches convention.
The 2020 New York Red Bulls season was the club's twenty-fifth season in Major League Soccer, the top division of soccer in the United States.
The 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs was the 25th edition of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the post-season championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top soccer league in the United States and Canada. The tournament culminated the 2020 MLS regular season. The playoffs began on November 20 and concluded with MLS Cup 2020 on December 12.
The 2020 Nashville SC season was the club's first season as an organization and its first season as a member of Major League Soccer, after two seasons in the Eastern Conference of the USL Championship by a club of the same name.
The 2020 New England Revolution season was the team's 25th season of existence, and their 25th season in Major League Soccer, the top-flight of American soccer.
The 2020 New York City FC season was the club's sixth season of competition and its sixth in the top tier of American soccer, Major League Soccer. New York City FC usually played its home games at Yankee Stadium in the New York City borough of The Bronx. However, the 2020 MLS season saw the club play several of their home games at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey due to scheduling conflicts at both Yankee Stadium and Citi Field as well as winterization procedures during the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League which were unavoidable.
The 2021 MLS SuperDraft was the 22nd edition of the SuperDraft conducted by Major League Soccer. The SuperDraft is held every January prior to the start of the MLS season. The 2020 SuperDraft was the first held exclusively via conference call and web streaming. The Draft was once again held virtually, and began on January 21, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and consisted of three rounds. Compensatory picks were conveyed to teams that received fourth-round picks via trades.
The 2021 Chicago Fire FC season was the club's 23rd year of existence, as well as their 24th in Major League Soccer. This was the Fire's first season with fans in Soldier Field since 2005. The Fire would fail to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth season in a row. Head coach Raphael Wicky was ultimately relieved of his position on September 30, with Assistant Coach Frank Klopas taking over on an interim basis.
The 2021 Nashville SC season was the club's second season as a member of Major League Soccer. This was the club's last season in the Eastern Conference after being added to the Conference in 2020 after the MLS is Back Tournament as the club returns to the Western Conference the following season in 2022 due to the addition of Charlotte FC.
The 2021 Columbus Crew season was the club's twenty-sixth season of existence and their twenty-sixth consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. The season covers the period from December 13, 2020, to November 7, 2021. It is the third season under head coach Caleb Porter.
The 2021 New York City FC season was the club's seventh season of competition and its seventh in the top tier of American soccer, Major League Soccer. New York City FC usually played its home games at Yankee Stadium in the New York City borough of The Bronx. Like the 2020 MLS season, the club also played several of their home games at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey due to scheduling conflicts with Yankee Stadium and its backup stadium, Citi Field. New York City FC won the clubs' first MLS Cup title by defeating the Portland Timbers 2–4 in penalty shoot-outs with a 1–1 score before going into extra time, in which neither of the teams scored.
The 2021 season was the 26th in the history of the Major League Soccer club New England Revolution, a professional soccer team based in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The team was under the management of Bruce Arena in his second full MLS season as head coach of the Revs. The regular season began on April 17, 2021. In addition to the league, the Revolution were to compete in the 2021 U.S. Open Cup, before the competition was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The 2023 New England Revolution season was the club's 28th season in existence, and their 28th consecutive season playing in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. The season began on February 25 when the club began their play in the MLS season. The Revolution also played in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup and the 2023 Leagues Cup. As the 6th place team overall, the Revolution qualified for the first round of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The 2023 Philadelphia Union season was the club's fourteenth season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. The team was managed by Jim Curtin, his tenth season with the club. The club's regular season began on February 25, 2023, and concluded on October 9. Outside of MLS, Philadelphia will participate in the U.S. Open Cup, the CONCACAF Champions League, and the Leagues Cup.
The 2023 Nashville SC season was the fourth season for Nashville SC as a member of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top flight of professional soccer in the United States. After finishing the 2022 season with a playoff berth and a first round exit, the club loaned out Designated Player and forward Aké Arnaud Loba to Mazatlán F.C. and made trades to add depth. Midfielder Hany Mukhtar had finished the previous season as the league's top goalscorer, earning the MLS Golden Boot with 23 goals, and was also won the most valuable player award.
The 2024 Nashville SC season was the fifth season for Nashville SC as a member of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top flight of professional soccer in the United States.