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Eastern Conference (MLS)

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Eastern Conference
LeagueMajor League Soccer
SportSoccer
Founded1996
No. of teams15
Most recent
champion(s)		Columbus Crew (2023)
(3rd title)
Most titlesD.C. United
(4 titles)
class=notpageimage|
Current Eastern Conference teams

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.

2024 standings

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MLS Eastern Conference table (2024)
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
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)

Members

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Current

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Team City Stadium
Atlanta United FC Atlanta, Georgia Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Charlotte FC Charlotte, North Carolina Bank of America Stadium
Chicago Fire FC Chicago, Illinois Soldier Field
Columbus Crew Columbus, Ohio Lower.com Field
FC Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio TQL Stadium
D.C. United Washington, D.C. Audi Field
Inter Miami CF Miami, Florida DRV PNK Stadium
CF Montréal Montreal, Quebec Saputo Stadium
Nashville SC Nashville, Tennessee Geodis Park
New England Revolution Foxborough, Massachusetts Gillette Stadium
New York City FC New York City, New York Yankee Stadium
New York Red Bulls Harrison, New Jersey Red Bull Arena
Orlando City SC Orlando, Florida Exploria Stadium
Philadelphia Union Chester, Pennsylvania Subaru Park
Toronto FC Toronto, Ontario BMO Field

Timeline

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Eastern Conference member Western Conference member Central Division member

Conference lineups by year

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1996–97 (5 teams)

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Changes from 1995: Creation of the Major League Soccer.

1998–99 (6 teams)

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  • Columbus Crew
  • D.C. United
  • New York MetroStars
  • Miami Fusion
  • New England Revolution
  • Tampa Bay Mutiny

Changes from 1997: New York/New Jersey MetroStars simplified their name to New York MetroStars; the Miami Fusion were added in the 1998 expansion.

2000–01 (as Eastern Division) (4 teams)

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  • D.C. United
  • New York MetroStars
  • Miami Fusion
  • New England Revolution

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.

2002–04 (5 teams)

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  • Chicago Fire
  • Columbus Crew
  • D.C. United
  • New York MetroStars
  • New England Revolution

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

2005 (6 teams)

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  • Chicago Fire FC
  • Columbus Crew
  • D.C. United
  • Kansas City Wizards
  • New York MetroStars
  • New England Revolution

Changes from 2004: Kansas City Wizards moved in from the Western Conference

2006 (6 teams)

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  • Chicago Fire FC
  • Columbus Crew
  • D.C. United
  • Kansas City Wizards
  • New England Revolution
  • New York Red Bulls

Changes from 2005: The New York MetroStars were bought by Red Bull and changed their name to New York Red Bulls.

2007–09 (7 teams)

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  • Chicago Fire FC
  • 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 (8 teams)

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  • Chicago Fire FC
  • Columbus Crew
  • D.C. United
  • Kansas City Wizards
  • New England Revolution
  • New York Red Bulls
  • Philadelphia Union
  • Toronto FC

Changes from 2009: The Philadelphia Union was added as an expansion franchise.

2011 (9 teams)

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Changes from 2010: The Kansas City Wizards changed their name to Sporting Kansas City; Houston Dynamo moved in from the Western Conference.

2012–14 (10 teams)

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  • Chicago Fire FC
  • 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: The Montreal Impact was added as an expansion franchise

2015–16 (10 teams)

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  • Chicago Fire FC
  • 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 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.

2017–18 (11 teams)

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  • Atlanta United FC
  • Chicago Fire FC
  • 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 was added as an expansion franchise.[2]

2019 (12 teams)

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  • Atlanta United FC
  • Chicago Fire FC
  • 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 was added as an expansion franchise.[3]

2020 (14 teams)

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  • Atlanta United FC
  • Chicago Fire FC
  • Columbus Crew SC
  • FC Cincinnati
  • D.C. United
  • Inter Miami CF
  • Montreal Impact
  • Nashville SC
  • New England Revolution
  • New York Red Bulls
  • New York City FC
  • Orlando City SC
  • Philadelphia Union
  • Toronto FC

Changes from 2019: Inter Miami CF was 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] Chicago Fire SC was renamed Chicago Fire FC.

2021 (14 teams)

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  • Atlanta United FC
  • Chicago Fire FC
  • FC Cincinnati
  • Columbus Crew
  • D.C. United
  • Inter Miami CF
  • CF Montréal
  • Nashville SC
  • New England Revolution
  • New York Red Bulls
  • New York City FC
  • Orlando City SC
  • Philadelphia Union
  • Toronto 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.

2022 (14 teams)

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  • Atlanta United FC
  • Charlotte FC
  • Chicago Fire FC
  • FC Cincinnati
  • Columbus Crew
  • D.C. United
  • Inter Miami CF
  • CF Montréal
  • New England Revolution
  • New York Red Bulls
  • New York City FC
  • Orlando City SC
  • Philadelphia Union
  • Toronto FC

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]

2023–24 (15 teams)

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  • Atlanta United FC
  • Charlotte FC
  • Chicago Fire FC
  • FC Cincinnati
  • Columbus Crew
  • D.C. United
  • Inter Miami CF
  • CF Montréal
  • Nashville SC
  • New England Revolution
  • New York Red Bulls
  • New York City FC
  • Orlando City SC
  • Philadelphia Union
  • Toronto FC

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]

Eastern Conference playoff champions by year

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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
Season Champions Score Runners-up
1996 D.C. United 2 matches to 0 Tampa Bay Mutiny
1997 D.C. United 2 matches to 0 Columbus Crew
1998 D.C. United 2 matches to 1 Columbus Crew
1999 D.C. United 2 matches to 1 Columbus Crew
2000 No conference playoffs
2001 No conference playoffs
2002 New England Revolution 5 points to 2 Columbus Crew
2003 Chicago Fire 1–0 (a.e.t.) New England Revolution
2004 D.C. United 3–3 (4–3 p) New England Revolution
2005 New England Revolution 1–0 Chicago Fire
2006 New England Revolution 1–0 D.C. United
2007 New England Revolution 1–0 Chicago Fire
2008 Columbus Crew 2–1 Chicago Fire
2009 Real Salt LakeW 0–0 (5–4 p) Chicago Fire
2010 Colorado RapidsW 1–0 San Jose EarthquakesW
2011 Houston Dynamo 2–0 Sporting Kansas City
2012 Houston Dynamo 4–2 agg. D.C. United
2013 Sporting Kansas City 2–1 agg. Houston Dynamo
2014 New England Revolution 4–3 agg. New York Red Bulls
2015 Columbus Crew SC 2–1 agg. New York Red Bulls
2016 Toronto FC 7–5 agg. (a.e.t.) Montreal Impact
2017 Toronto FC 1–0 agg. Columbus Crew SC
2018 Atlanta United FC 3–1 agg. New York Red Bulls
2019 Toronto FC 2–1 Atlanta United FC
2020 Columbus Crew SC 1–0 New England Revolution
2021 New York City FC 2–1 Philadelphia Union
2022 Philadelphia Union 3–1 New York City FC
2023 Columbus Crew 3–2 (a.e.t.) FC Cincinnati

W – Western Conference team.

Eastern Conference regular season champions by year

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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
Season Team Record (W–L–T) (GD) Playoffs result
1996 Tampa Bay Mutiny 20–12–0^ (+15) Lost conference finals
1997 D.C. United 21–11–0^ (+17) Won MLS Cup
1998 D.C. United 24–8–0^ (+30) Lost MLS Cup
1999 D.C. United 23–9–0^ (+22) Won MLS Cup
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
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
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
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
2018 New York Red Bulls 22–7–5 (+29) Lost conference finals
2019 New York City FC 18–6–10 (+21) Lost conference semifinals
2020 Philadelphia Union 14–4–5 (+24) Lost first round
2021 New England Revolution 22–5–7 (+24) Lost conference semifinals
2022 Philadelphia Union 19–5–10 (+46) Lost MLS Cup
2023 FC Cincinnati 20–5–9 (+18) Lost conference finals
2024 Inter Miami CF 22–4–8 (+30) TBD

^ – 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 East at the MLS All-Star Game

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Further information: MLS All-Star Game

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.

Yearly results
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

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "MLS announces new strategy for Los Angeles market, 2015 conference alignment". mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  2. ^ "Atlanta to join Eastern Conference in 2017, Minnesota to compete in West". Major League Soccer. August 20, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  3. ^ "Cincinnati awarded MLS expansion club, will start play in 2019". Major League Soccer. May 29, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  4. ^ "It's official: Major League Soccer awards expansion team to Miami". MLSSoccer.com. MLS Digital. January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  5. ^ "Nashville SC moves to Eastern Conference for remainder of 2020 season". MLSsoccer.com. June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  6. ^ Hills, Drake (December 9, 2020). "MLS Commissioner: Nashville SC in Eastern Conference next season but spot unknown beyond 2021". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  7. ^ Bogert, Tom (December 17, 2019). "Major League Soccer awards expansion team to Charlotte". Major League Soccer. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  8. ^ "MLS Expansion: New timeline released for inaugural season of newest clubs" (Press release). Major League Soccer. July 17, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  9. ^ "MLS Announces 2022 Schedule Format & Conference Alignment". MLSSoccer.com. MLS Digital. November 5, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  10. ^ Hills, Drake (November 5, 2021). "MLS reassigns Nashville SC to Western Conference for 2022 season. Here's what it means". Tennessean. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  11. ^ "MLS moving Nashville SC back to Eastern Conference". September 30, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
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