Major League Soccer begins its historic 30th season this weekend amid an exciting era for North American soccer. Defending champions LA Galaxy will look to claim a second consecutive title win. Currently, they are the most successful team in this tournament. Can they retain the title? Our MLS 2025 season betting guide will preview the chances of top contenders in this league.
Major League Soccer expands to 30 teams this season with the addition of San Diego FC. Overseen by the U.S. Soccer Federation, the elite soccer league features 27 American and 3 Canadian teams. This season, the MLS starts on February 22 and ends on October 19. Each team in the league will play 34 matches.
Unlike traditional leagues, MLS operates as a single entity. The league owns all teams, while investors manage them individually. This structure ensures financial stability and league-wide growth, shaping the sport’s future in North America.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | Major League Soccer Season 2025 |
| ⚽️ Venues: | Stadiums Across the United States Of America and Canada |
| 🗓️ Regular Season Dates: | 22nd February 2022 – 19th October 2025 |
Major League Soccer is split into Eastern and Western Conferences. Each team plays a 34-game regular season. Clubs face conference rivals twice (home and away) and play six inter-conference matches. The season includes a mid-year All-Star Game featuring top talents.
The top teams advance to the MLS Cup Playoffs, a postseason knockout tournament similar to other American leagues. As of 2023, 18 teams qualify, with lower-seeded teams competing in play-in matches. A best-of-three round follows before single-elimination matches determine the finalists. The MLS Cup Final, held in December, crowns the league champion.
Unlike most global leagues, MLS emphasizes playoffs rather than a points-based champion, making every postseason unpredictable. With the 2025 Major League Soccer season expanding to 30 teams, the competition is set to be more intense than ever.
Major League Soccer (MLS) was born from the U.S. Soccer Federation’s commitment to FIFA when it secured the 1994 World Cup. Officially established in 1995, the league launched in 1996 with 10 teams and expanded to 12 by 1998. Early financial struggles led to two clubs folding in 2001, but MLS rebounded with rising attendance and soccer-specific stadiums.
Now averaging over 20,000 fans per game, MLS ranks third in U.S. sports attendance behind the NFL and MLB and is seventh worldwide. D.C. United, led by Bruce Arena, dominated the league’s early years, winning three of the first four titles. However, Chicago Fire’s 1998 championship win disrupted their streak. LA Galaxy holds the most MLS Cup titles with six.
MLS introduced the Designated Player Rule to attract global stars, allowing teams to sign up to three players outside the salary cap. This rule has brought legends like Beckham, Henry, and Ibrahimovic to the country. Today, the league features former stars like Messi, Suárez, and Benteke.
The last five winners of the MLS Cup are the following:
MLS online bookies are offering the following odds for the top contenders to clinch the MLS Cup this season:
Inter Miami assembled the strongest squad in MLS history but fell short last season. Luis Suárez reunited with ex-Barcelona stars like Messi, Busquets, and Alba, led the Eastern Conference with 74 points last year. However, a 2-1 loss to Atlanta in the postseason knockouts ended their MLS Cup hopes. This season, new manager Javier Mascherano takes charge with the aim of securing the club’s first title. With his deep connection to former Barcelona teammates already in the squad, chemistry won’t be an issue. Their football relationship is expected to drive Miami’s title challenge. Due to these factors, betting apps for soccer view Inter Miami as the top contender for MLS glory this season.
Los Angeles FC captured their first MLS Cup in 2022, just four years after debuting. Last season, they edged LA Galaxy to top the Western Conference but fell 2-1 to Seattle Sounders in the playoffs. Their campaign had ups and downs, starting with a 3-0 loss to Real Salt Lake. A 13-game unbeaten streak followed before Columbus Crew shattered them with a 5-1 defeat. LAFC finished strong, winning six games to close the regular season. This year, they will aim for another title push with Denis Bouanga, their top scorer from last season, leading the line.
LA Galaxy ended their decade-long MLS Cup drought last season, securing a record-extending sixth title. Now, they aim for back-to-back championships, a feat achieved only three times in league history. They are also the most recent team with that record when they won it between 2011 and 2012. Two-time MLS Cup-winning coach Greg Vanney will guide the team in working with new arrivals. Their latest additions include 2024 MLS Newcomer of the Year Gabriel Pec, speedster Joseph Paintsil, and veteran international Marco Reus. However, they must overcome the absence of last season’s Player of the Year, Riqui Puig, who was sidelined with an ACL injury. With their firepower, they remain favorites for a historic seventh title. Galaxy’s 2025 MLS Cup winner odds are currently valued at 10.00 (9/1).
Three-time MLS Cup winner Columbus Crew is another strong contender in our 2025 MLS season predictions. They fell short last season after winning the 2023 title, finishing second to Inter Miami in the Eastern Conference. In the postseason, they went on to lose a playoff battle to the eventual finalists, New York Red Bulls. As a club that has competed in every MLS season, Columbus will look to make the league’s 30th anniversary campaign memorable. Their title hopes will rest on last season’s top scorer, Cucho Hernández, and Diego Rossi. Both players scored double figures last campaign, and their firepower could drive another championship push.
Cincinnati finished third last season with 59 points in the Eastern Conference but fell in the first playoff round. They lost 6-5 on penalties to New York City. Determined to go further in 2025, they made a statement by acquiring Kévin Denkey, Belgium league Golden Boot winner, for a club-record fee. The Togolese striker is seen as the missing piece in their MLS Cup pursuit. Paired with last season’s top scorer, Luciano Acosta, Denkey’s arrival strengthens Cincinnati’s attack. This could boost their chances of securing their first-ever league title.
Here are our 2025 MLS predictions for this season:
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Inter Miami enjoyed a near-perfect 2024 season, winning their first-ever Supporters’ Shield with a record 74 points. Lionel Messi’s brilliance earned him the Landon Donovan MLS MVP, but their championship dreams ended in the playoffs. This season, they return with their star-studded squad and a new leader in Javier Mascherano, a Barcelona and Argentina legend, now head coach. Known for his leadership and winning mentality, he aims to guide Miami to their first MLS Cup. With rising talents like Benjamin Cremaschi, Federico Redondo, and newcomer Telasco Segovia, Miami is poised for another dominant campaign and a serious title challenge.
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Luis Suárez is a generational talent. His reunion with Lionel Messi last season at Inter Miami in the previous season went according to plan, with both players scoring 21 goals each. A proven goal scorer across Europe, Suárez once claimed La Liga’s Pichichi Trophy with 40 goals, outscoring Messi and Ronaldo. He’s expected to increase his tally this season as Miami pushes for the title. With Messi’s support, Suárez remains a top contender for the MLS Golden Boot. His clinical finishing and experience could be key in leading Inter Miami’s attack toward championship glory.
Our best Major League Soccer Season predictions 2025 are:
With the leadership of Mascherano and the talent core of Inter Miami, we expect them to go a step further this season to win their first MLS Cup title. To win extra cash, use our Season predictions for MLS 2025 to stake on any of our recommended gambling sites.
