MLS has announced starting in 2026 the competition structure will change to one single table, though teams will be divided into 5 regional 6-team divisions. Teams will play their division home & away each season. They will play the rest of the league once each season. Hmm ... I have no idea what to think about this. I guess it is no coincidence that this is the NFL model.
The NFL has divisions, just like MLB, NHL, and NBA, but all of those have two conferences or leagues for the playoffs. MLS will not have that. I like it mostly because it means every team plays every other team at least once per year. And we still should get to play Dallas and Austin twice. I also like a national bracket for the playoffs instead of always East versus West.
It is a good point that I overlooked. NFL conferences. I agree with everyone playing everyone each year, but I still find playing only once problematic since home field advantage is so significant. I cannot think of a solution without splitting and going pro/rel. I don't see that happening. So I didn't mind the conferences. I do like playing Dallas and Austin 2x rather than 3x. I liked the conference brackets because it creates more repeat playoff confrontations which really gets rivalries going. But -- don't take my remarks as being negative on the balance. I'm a "MEH."
So who is in our division? That split is going to be weird. West Coast has seven teams, plus RSL and COR for 9. They need three more teams. Will they put Texas with Southern California? This is what I am guessing we get: Houston, Dallas, Austin, SDFC, LA x2. No one shoot the messenger. I think Denver, KC, RSL would be better but leaves West Coast unworkable and separates SKC from STL. Could Texas x3 + STL, SKC, Chicago? No way Minn escapes being with Cascadia....
How about this solution: The North: Cascadia x3, Minnehota, TFC, MTL The West: Cali x4, RSL, COR The Mid-West: Texas x3, SKC, STL, Chicago The South: FL x 2, ATL, Nashville, Charlotte, DCU The East: NY x 2, NER, PHU, Columbus, FCCin A lot to like in that solution. Here is what I see not to like: - DCU split from NYRB, - SSFC split from LA, - Travel for the North
Here is another solution: NorthWest: Cascadia x3, SJE, COR, RSL I-10 Division: SoCal x3, Texas x3 Great Lakes: MinU, Chi, Cincy, CLB, TFC, MTL Atlantic: NER, NY x 2, PHU, DCU, MIA South: ORL, ATL, Charlotte, Nashville, Stl, SKC Lets face it, Miami is just suburb of NYC anyway. SJE separated from SoCal. boo
Think Texas + SoCal teams makes sense - and probably is a more attractive division for Dynamo fans with home games with all 6 of those teams at a minimum
If one just goes with what has been in place for Regions under the USSF, this being Region I to IV. Basically a map that is easily understood as the Northeast, the Midwest, the South and then all States west of Texas. Start with what cities are inside each Region. Then distribute the outlier cities like a SLC, Minnesota or St. Louis to balance the play out. Hey, its a start! It does but it does not if California does not have San Jose included.
A reminder that the MLS has already committed to 32 teams in the near future with Las Vegas almost certainly getting a squad and Sacramento probably still on the radar. So it will be soon(ish) that there are 4 divisions (maybe 8?) with every one playing each other at least once & playing everyone in the division twice. I think this would put the Cascadia and California teams in divisions eventually leaving Hou, Frisco, Austin and KC as a group of 4 with Vegas, Min, RSL & Colorado as another to either be a division of 4 or lump together for a division of 8. Of course a city could be swapped here or there for reasons & the totality of logistics may not be perfect, but this makes the most sense to me.
Indianapolis appears to be further along for an expansion team than LV. I don't think LV is anywhere near ready as they once might have been, unless they go the route of the Raiders ownership, which I would hope they wouldn't.