MLS fans got to enjoy an off-season bonus in 2022 with the FIFA World Cup, but with the tournament – and the holidays – now in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to look ahead to the new season. The calendar for the new campaign has been released, with regular-season proceedings kicking off on 25 February and concluding on 21 October ahead of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
The reigning champions are Los Angeles FC, who completed the double in 2022 by winning their inaugural MLS Cup and the Supporter’s Shield. The latter they lifted for the second time, having also won it in 2019 in what was just their second season in MLS.
In both competitions, they were closely matched by Philadelphia Union. The 2 sides both finished on the same number of points, with LAFC claiming top spot by virtue of their greater number of wins, with 21 to Philadelphia’s 19. The Union had a far superior goal difference, however, having scored more and conceded fewer, and they also lost just 5 times across the regular season.
The title thrills continued into the MLS Cup Playoffs, with both the Union and LAFC progressing all the way to the final as Eastern and Western Conference champions, respectively. The final itself lived up to the hype, too, with the match finishing 3-3 after extra time. After 9 minutes of stoppage time was awarded, Jack Elliott – who had already scored in normal time – thought he’d won the game for the Union with a goal in the 124th minute of the game, but Gareth Bale dramatically equalised with a 128th- minute header for LAFC, who proceeded to triumph in the penalty shoot-out.
The 2023 season will hopefully bring similar thrills and spills, and it will also bring with it a new entrant into MLS; St. Louis City SC. To find out more information on MLS fixtures and tickets, including LAFC, Philadelphia Union, and St. Louis City, click here.