Western Conference (MLS)
League | Major League Soccer |
---|---|
Sport | Soccer |
Founded | 1996 |
No. of teams | 13 |
Most recent champion(s) | Seattle Sounders FC (2019) (3rd title) |
Most titles | LA Galaxy (8 titles) |
The Western Conference is one of Major League Soccer's two conferences.
2019 standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Los Angeles FC (P, S) | 34 | 21 | 4 | 9 | 85 | 37 | +48 | 72 | Playoffs Conference Semifinals & 2020 CONCACAF Champions League |
2 | Seattle Sounders FC (P, C) | 34 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 51 | 49 | +2 | 56 | Playoffs first round & 2020 CONCACAF Champions League[a] |
3 | Real Salt Lake (P, L) | 34 | 16 | 13 | 5 | 45 | 41 | +4 | 53 | Playoffs first round & 2020 Leagues Cup |
4 | Minnesota United FC (P, L) | 34 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 52 | 42 | +10 | 53 | |
5 | LA Galaxy (P, L) | 34 | 16 | 15 | 3 | 56 | 55 | +1 | 51 | |
6 | Portland Timbers (P, L) | 34 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 49 | 48 | +1 | 49 | |
7 | FC Dallas (P) | 34 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 48 | 46 | +2 | 48 | Playoffs first round |
8 | San Jose Earthquakes | 34 | 13 | 16 | 5 | 51 | 52 | −1 | 44 | |
9 | Colorado Rapids | 34 | 12 | 16 | 6 | 57 | 60 | −3 | 42 | |
10 | Houston Dynamo | 34 | 12 | 18 | 4 | 45 | 57 | −12 | 40 | |
11 | Sporting Kansas City | 34 | 10 | 16 | 8 | 49 | 67 | −18 | 38 | |
12 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC[b] | 34 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 37 | 58 | −21 | 34 |
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
(C) Champions; (L) Leagues Cup berth; (P) Playoffs berth; (S) Supporters' Shield winner
Notes:
- ^ As MLS Cup 2019 champions
- ^ Canadian clubs could not qualify for the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League through MLS play.
Members
Current
Conference Lineups
1996
Changes from 1995
- Creation of Major League Soccer
1997
Changes from 1996
- Kansas City changed their name from the Wiz to the Wizards
1998–99
Changes from 1997
- The Chicago Fire were added in the 1998 expansion
2000–01 (as Western Division)
Changes from 1999
- The Western Conference changed to the Western Division with the creation of the new Central Division
- The Chicago Fire and Dallas Burn moved into the new Central Division
- San Jose Clash changed their nickname from the Clash to the Earthquakes
2002–04
Changes from 2001
- The Western Division changed back to the Western Conference following the contraction of the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny, resulting in the disbanding of the Central Division
- The Dallas Burn moved in from the Central Division
2005
Changes from 2004
- Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake were added in the 2005 expansion
- The Kansas City Wizards moved to the Eastern Conference
- Dallas changed their name from the Dallas Burn to FC Dallas
2006–07
Changes from 2005
- The San Jose Earthquakes put on hiatus. Houston Dynamo join the league as new team.
2008
- Chivas USA
- Colorado Rapids
- FC Dallas
- Houston Dynamo
- Los Angeles Galaxy
- Real Salt Lake
- San Jose Earthquakes
Changes from 2007
- The San Jose Earthquakes return to MLS from their hiatus
2009–10
- Chivas USA
- Colorado Rapids
- FC Dallas
- Houston Dynamo
- Los Angeles Galaxy
- Real Salt Lake
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Seattle Sounders FC
Changes from 2008
- Seattle Sounders FC were added in the 2009 expansion
2011–14
- Chivas USA
- Colorado Rapids
- FC Dallas
- Los Angeles Galaxy
- Portland Timbers
- Real Salt Lake
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Seattle Sounders FC
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Changes from 2010
- The Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC were added in the 2011 expansion. Houston moved to the Eastern Conference.
2015–16
- Colorado Rapids
- FC Dallas
- Houston Dynamo
- Los Angeles Galaxy
- Portland Timbers
- Real Salt Lake
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Seattle Sounders FC
- Sporting Kansas City
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Changes from 2014
- Chivas USA ceases operations
- Sporting Kansas City and Houston Dynamo move to Western Conference[1]
2017
- Colorado Rapids
- FC Dallas
- Houston Dynamo
- Los Angeles Galaxy
- Minnesota United FC
- Portland Timbers
- Real Salt Lake
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Seattle Sounders FC
- Sporting Kansas City
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Changes from 2016
- Minnesota United FC was added in the 2017 expansion.[2]
2018–19
- Colorado Rapids
- FC Dallas
- Houston Dynamo
- LA Galaxy
- Los Angeles FC
- Minnesota United FC
- Portland Timbers
- Real Salt Lake
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Seattle Sounders FC
- Sporting Kansas City
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Changes from 2017
- Los Angeles FC was added in the 2018 expansion.
2020
- Colorado Rapids
- FC Dallas
- Houston Dynamo
- LA Galaxy
- Los Angeles FC
- Minnesota United FC
- Nashville SC
- Portland Timbers
- Real Salt Lake
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Seattle Sounders FC
- Sporting Kansas City
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Changes from 2019
- Nashville SC was added in the 2020 expansion, but moved to the East for the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament.[3]
Western 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 were used if necessary. In 2019, the playoffs returned to a single match, single elimination format, including the conference finals which were hosted by the highest placed teams in the regular season.
Bold | MLS Cup Champions |
E – Eastern Conference team.
Western Conference regular season champions by year
Bold | Supporters' Shield Champions |
^ – MLS did not have draws until the 2000 season.
† – The LA Galaxy were declared winners of the Western 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
- 1998: Chicago Fire
- 2000: Kansas City Wizards
- 2001: San Jose Earthquakes
- 2002: LA Galaxy
- 2003: San Jose Earthquakes
- 2005: LA Galaxy
- 2006: Houston Dynamo
- 2007: Houston Dynamo
- 2009: Real Salt Lake
- 2010: Colorado Rapids
- 2011: LA Galaxy
- 2012: LA Galaxy
- 2014: LA Galaxy
- 2015: Portland Timbers
- 2016: Seattle Sounders
- 2019: Seattle Sounders
See also
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.
- ^ "Nashville SC moves to Eastern Conference for remainder of 2020 season". MLSsoccer.com. June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.