2024 MLS Cup Betting Online
Founded in 1996, Major League Soccer is the second serious attempt at having a major league in the United States. The first effort was the North American Soccer League, which lasted from 1968 through 1984. The NASL had its moments, and the greatest superstar of the time, Pele, but it was underfinanced and was constantly losing and moving its teams.
To the credit of the MLS, it has had greater stability, particularly in more recent years. But the MLS had a rough start and suffered from the same issues that doomed the NASL. The difference in the two leagues was timing.
The MLS was fortunate enough to be created as cable television was exploding. As cable sports became one of the hottest properties in the United States, it continued to expand. With that expansion came the insatiable appetite for live content. At the time of its formation, nobody in America cared anything for soccer. But with cable TV providers promoting it non-stop, it began to gain traction.
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Another factor in the success of the MLS was signing washed-up superstars from other international leagues. The most famous, David Beckham, signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Beckham was no longer a top-shelf English Premier League player but was an instant star in the MLS.
The latest superstar import for the MLS is Lionel Messi, who plays for Inter Miami. Messi has a contract worth over $20 million and a stake in the franchise. Messi is best known for his World Cup heroics on team Argentina. But he was also a pro legend with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
Another strategy that has helped the MLS succeed is building stadiums meant exclusively for soccer. In the early years of the MLS, games were often held at massive NFL stadiums. Empty seats would dwarf small crowds. Even a good crowd of 20,000 or so would look miniscule. These days, most MLS stadiums have seating capacities in the 20,000 to 30,000 range.
MLS game experiences are engineered to have now more of a “soccer culture” than in the past. This has also proven to be popular with fans.
In 2023, the Columbus Crew won the MLS Cup in a single match (2-1) against Los Angeles FC. It was the third MLS Cup championship for Columbus.
Columbus finished with a regular season record of 16 wins, nine losses, and nine ties, with a goal differential of +21.
Cucho Hernandez led the Crew with 16 goals and 11 assists in the regular season. He added five goals and two assists in the playoffs. Hernandez won the 2023 MLS Cup MVP for his efforts.
FC Cincinnati had the best regular season record at 20 wins, five losses, and nine ties, with a goal differential of +18. FC Cincinnati became the team that clinched a playoff spot faster than any other club in MLS history (26 matches).
FC Cincinnati advanced to the conference, where they were upset by the eventual champion Columbus Crew 3-2.
Luciano Acosta led Cincinnati with 17 goals in the regular season and two in the MLS Cup. Acosta is a two-time MLS All-Star and was the 2023 MVP.
MLS Past Season Winners (2010)
| YEAR |
WINNER |
SCORE |
RUNNER-UP |
| 2023 |
Columbus Crew |
2-1 |
LAFC |
| 2022 |
LAFC |
3-3 (3-0 P) |
Philadelphia Union |
| 2021 |
New York City |
1-1 (4-2 P) |
Portland Timbers |
| 2020 |
Columbus Crew |
3-0 |
Seattle Sounders |
| 2019 |
Seattle Sounders |
3-1 |
Toronto FC |
| 2018 |
Atlanta United |
2-0 |
Portland Timbers |
| 2017 |
Toronto FC |
2-0 |
Seattle Sounders |
| 2016 |
Seattle Sounders |
0-0 (5-4 P) |
Toronto FC |
| 2015 |
Portland Timbers |
2-1 |
Columbus Crew |
| 2014 |
Los Angeles Galaxy |
2-1 (ET) |
New England Revolution |
| 2013 |
Sporting Kansas City |
1-1 (7-6 P) |
Real Salt Lake |
| 2012 |
Los Angeles Galaxy |
3-1 |
Houston Dynamo |
| 2011 |
Los Angeles Galaxy |
1-0 |
Houston Dynamo |
| 2010 |
Colorado Rapids |
2-1 |
FC Dallas |
The most successful team in the history of the MLS is the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Galaxy have won five MLS Cups, and they were the dominant team in the league at the start of the last decade. Los Angeles won it all in 2011, 2012, and 2014 with the most recent title breaking a tie with DC United as the most decorated team in the short history of the league.
DC United were the first MLS dynasty. They won three of the first four MLS Cups, and they won their fourth title in 2004. Unfortunately, the team in the nation’s capital has not had much success since that point, despite their publicized signing of Wayne Rooney in 2018.
The Seattle Sounders had been a juggernaut since entering the league in 2009 but their streak of making the playoffs ended at 13, as Seattle missed the playoffs in 2022. It was a dubious distinction for Seattle considering they made history by becoming the first MLS team to win the CONCACAF Champions League in 2022.
MLS Teams
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