Eastern Conference (MLS)
The Eastern Conference is one of Major League Soccer's two conferences.
League | Major League Soccer |
---|---|
Sport | Soccer |
Founded | 1996 |
Teams | |
No. of teams | 13 |
Championships | |
Most recent champion(s) | Toronto FC (2019) (3rd title) |
Most titles | D.C. United New England Revolution (5 titles each) |
2019 standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New York City FC | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 63 | 42 | +21 | 64 | Conference Semifinals & 2020 CONCACAF Champions League |
2 | Atlanta United FC | 34 | 18 | 12 | 4 | 58 | 43 | +15 | 58 | First round & 2020 CONCACAF Champions League[lower-alpha 1] |
3 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 16 | 11 | 7 | 58 | 50 | +8 | 55 | First round & 2020 Leagues Cup |
4 | Toronto FC[lower-alpha 2] | 34 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 57 | 52 | +5 | 50 | |
5 | D.C. United | 34 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 42 | 38 | +4 | 50 | |
6 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 53 | 51 | +2 | 48 | |
7 | New England Revolution | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 50 | 57 | −7 | 45 | First round |
8 | Chicago Fire | 34 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 55 | 47 | +8 | 42 | |
9 | Montreal Impact[lower-alpha 2] | 34 | 12 | 17 | 5 | 47 | 60 | −13 | 41 | 2020 CONCACAF Champions League[lower-alpha 3] |
10 | Columbus Crew SC | 34 | 10 | 16 | 8 | 39 | 47 | −8 | 38 | |
11 | Orlando City SC | 34 | 9 | 15 | 10 | 44 | 52 | −8 | 37 | |
12 | FC Cincinnati | 34 | 6 | 22 | 6 | 31 | 75 | −44 | 24 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored ; 8) home goals scored; 9) home goal differential; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots.
Notes:
- as 2019 U.S. Open Cup champions
- Canadian clubs could not qualify for the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League through MLS play.
- as 2019 Canadian Championship winners
Members
Current
Team | City | Stadium |
---|---|---|
Atlanta United FC | Atlanta, GA | Mercedes Benz Stadium |
Chicago Fire FC | Chicago, IL | Soldier Field |
Columbus Crew SC | Columbus, OH | Mapfre Stadium |
FC Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | Nippert Stadium |
D.C. United | Washington, D.C. | Audi Field |
Inter Miami CF | Miami, FL | Inter Miami CF Stadium |
Montreal Impact | Montreal, QC | Saputo Stadium |
Nashville SC | Nashville, TN | Nissan Stadium |
New England Revolution | Foxborough, MA | Gillette Stadium |
New York City FC | Bronx, NY | Yankee Stadium |
New York Red Bulls | Harrison, NJ | Red Bull Arena |
Orlando City SC | Orlando, FL | Orlando City Stadium |
Philadelphia Union | Chester, PA | Talen Energy Stadium |
Toronto FC | Toronto, ON | BMO Field |
Conference Lineups
1998–99
- Columbus Crew
- D.C. United
- MetroStars
- Miami Fusion
- New England Revolution
- Tampa Bay Mutiny
Changes from 1997
- The New York/New Jersey MetroStars changed their name to simply the MetroStars
- The Miami Fusion were added in the 1998 expansion
2000–01 (as Eastern Division)
Changes from 1999
- The Eastern Conference changed to the Eastern Division with the creation of the new Central Division
- The Columbus Crew and Tampa Bay Mutiny moved into the new Central Division
2002–04
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew
- D.C. United
- MetroStars
- New England Revolution
Changes from 2001
- The Eastern Division changed back to the Eastern Conference following the contraction of the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny, resulting in the disbanding of the Central Division
- The Miami Fusion were contracted after the season
- The Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew moved in from the Central Division
2006
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew
- D.C. United
- Kansas City Wizards
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
Changes from 2005
- The MetroStars changed their name to the New York Red Bulls.
2007–09
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew
- D.C. United
- Kansas City Wizards
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- Toronto FC
Changes from 2006
- Toronto FC was added as an expansion franchise.
2010
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew
- D.C. United
- Kansas City Wizards
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- Philadelphia Union
- Toronto FC
Changes from 2009
- Philadelphia Union was added as an expansion franchise.
2011
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew
- D.C. United
- Houston Dynamo
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- Philadelphia Union
- Sporting Kansas City
- Toronto FC
Changes from 2010
- The Kansas City Wizards changed their name to Sporting Kansas City.
- The Houston Dynamo moved from the Western Conference to the Eastern Conference.
2012–14
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew
- D.C. United
- Houston Dynamo
- Montreal Impact
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- Philadelphia Union
- Sporting Kansas City
- Toronto FC
Changes from 2011
- Montreal Impact was added as an expansion franchise
2015–16
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew SC
- D.C. United
- Montreal Impact
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- New York City FC
- Orlando City SC
- Philadelphia Union
- Toronto FC
Changes from 2014
- New York City FC and Orlando City SC added as expansion franchises.
- Sporting Kansas City and Houston Dynamo move to Western Conference[1]
- Columbus Crew adds "SC" to the official team name.
2017–18
- Atlanta United FC
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew SC
- D.C. United
- Montreal Impact
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- New York City FC
- Orlando City SC
- Philadelphia Union
- Toronto FC
Changes from 2016
- Atlanta United FC added as an expansion franchise.[2]
2019
- Atlanta United FC
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew SC
- FC Cincinnati
- D.C. United
- Montreal Impact
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- New York City FC
- Orlando City SC
- Philadelphia Union
- Toronto FC
Changes from 2018
- FC Cincinnati added as an expansion franchise.[3]
2020
- Atlanta United FC
- Chicago Fire
- Columbus Crew SC
- FC Cincinnati
- D.C. United
- Inter Miami CF
- Montreal Impact
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- New York City FC
- Orlando City SC
- Philadelphia Union
- Toronto FC
Changes from 2019
- Inter Miami CF added as an expansion franchise.[4]
- Nashville SC was added since the MLS is Back Tournament up to the end of the 2020 season.[5]
Eastern Conference Playoff champions by year
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 shootout. 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 shootout 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 shootouts are used if necessary. In 2019, the final returned to a single match format, hosted by the highest ranked team through the regular season.
Bold | MLS Cup Champions |
W – Western Conference team.
Eastern Conference regular season champions by year
Bold | Supporters' Shield Champions |
Season | Team | Record | Playoffs result |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 20–12–0^ (+15) | Lost Conference Finals |
1997 | D.C. United | 21–11–0^ (+17) | Won MLS Cup Finals |
1998 | D.C. United | 24–8–0^ (+30) | Lost MLS Cup Finals |
1999 | D.C. United | 23–9–0^ (+22) | Won MLS Cup Finals |
2000 | MetroStars | 17–12–3 (+8) | Lost Semifinals |
2001 | Miami Fusion† | 16–5–5 (+21) | Lost Semifinals |
2002 | New England Revolution | 12–14–2 (0) | Lost MLS Cup Finals |
2003 | Chicago Fire | 15–7–8 (+10) | Lost Conference Finals |
2004 | Columbus Crew | 12–5–13 (+8) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
2005 | New England Revolution | 17–7–8 (+18) | Lost MLS Cup Finals |
2006 | D.C. United | 15–7–10 (+14) | Lost Conference Finals |
2007 | D.C. United | 16–7–7 (+22) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
2008 | Columbus Crew | 17–7–6 (+14) | Won MLS Cup Finals |
2009 | Columbus Crew | 13–7–10 (+10) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
2010 | New York Red Bulls | 15–9–6 (+9) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
2011 | Sporting Kansas City | 13–9–12 (+10) | Lost Conference Finals |
2012 | Sporting Kansas City | 18–7–9 (+15) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
2013 | New York Red Bulls | 17–9–8 (+17) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
2014 | D.C. United | 17–9–8 (+15) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
2015 | New York Red Bulls | 18–10–6 (+19) | Lost Conference Finals |
2016 | New York Red Bulls | 16–9–9 (+17) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
2017 | Toronto FC | 20–5–9 (+37) | Won MLS Cup Finals |
2018 | New York Red Bulls | 22–7–5 (+29) | Lost Conference Finals |
2019 | New York City FC | 18–6–10 (+21) | Lost Conference Semifinals |
^ – 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.
MLS Cup Champions produced
- 1996: D.C. United
- 1997: D.C. United
- 1999: D.C. United
- 2004: D.C. United
- 2008: Columbus Crew
- 2013: Sporting Kansas City
- 2017: Toronto FC
- 2018: Atlanta United FC
References
- "MLS announces new strategy for Los Angeles market, 2015 conference alignment". mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
- "Atlanta to join Eastern Conference in 2017, Minnesota to compete in West". Major League Soccer. August 20, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
- "Cincinnati awarded MLS expansion club, will start play in 2019". Major League Soccer. May 29, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
- "It's official: Major League Soccer awards expansion team to Miami". MLSSoccer.com. MLS Digital. January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
- "Nashville SC moves to Eastern Conference for remainder of 2020 season". MLSsoccer.com. June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.