History
When the 1994 World Cup tournament was awarded to the United States, US Soccer promised to help establish a Division I outdoor soccer league as soon as possible after the tournament ended.
World Cup USA Chairman Alan I. Rothenberg announced plans for Major League Soccer (MLS) on Dec. 17, 1993. Twenty-two cities submitted bids for teams. In October of 1995, it was announced that MLS would begin play in March of 1996 with ten teams: the Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, Dallas Burn, D. C. United, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, MetroStars, New England Revolution, San Jose Clash, and Tampa Bay Mutiny.
The Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion were added as expansion teams in 1998. The MLS originally had two conferences, but was reorganized into three divisions, with four teams each, in 2000. However, the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny were dropped before the 2002 season, and the league went back to the two-conference format.
The MLS did away with the penalty shootout in 2000. If a game is tied after regulation time, the teams play two five-minute overtime periods. If the score is still tied, that's the final result.
Standings are based on a point system, with 3 points award for a win and 1 point for a tie. The two conference champions and six wild-card teams go into the playoffs.
In 2002, the MLS put together a unique television package by acquiring English-language television rights to the 2002 and 2006 men's World Cup tournaments and the 2003 women's World Cup tournament. Those international tournaments have been combined with a five-year package of MLS games that will be broadcast by ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 through 2006.