Soccer isn’t the first sport that comes to mind when thinking about the United States. However, it’s gaining more and more popularity. On this page, we’ll discuss betting on the MLS (Major League Soccer, the national league) and the best bookmakers to place your bets with, which you can find in the table below.
We won’t just review the top MLS bookmakers in this guide: we’ll start by analyzing the format and structure of the U.S. league along with some significant statistics. Then we’ll focus on the most popular betting markets and outline the criteria used to select the 5 bookmakers listed in the table. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s dive into the world of MLS betting!
Essential Information for Betting on MLS
Betting on MLS is a bit different from wagering on matches in any European league, so it’s important to first clarify the format of this entertaining American league. It’s crucial to know that Major League Soccer is divided into two Conferences: the Eastern and Western.
The season unfolds in two phases: the regular season and the playoffs. The two conferences serve as divisions, but the matches are not played in a home-and-away format like the English Premier League; instead, there’s a variable number of meetings—set at two against teams from the same conference and one against teams from the other for 2020. Three Canadian teams also participate in the league: Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps, and Montreal Impact. The season runs entirely within a calendar year, starting between February and March and concluding in November.
The total number of regular season matches reaches 34. The team that finishes first in each conference qualifies for the quarterfinals of the playoffs, known as Conference Semifinals, while teams finishing second through seventh enter a preliminary round. Since 2019, all playoff matches are single elimination and take place at the home field of the team that finished higher in the regular season. Similar to the NBA, there are no promotions or relegations. The team that finishes first at the end of the regular season receives a trophy called the Supporter's Shield. Four U.S. teams then qualify for the North American version of the Champions League (the winners of MLS, Supporter's Shield, the other conference winner, and the national cup winner), while Canadian teams qualify through the Canadian Championship.
Finally, there are player transfer windows: some bookmakers offer odds on these trades in their soccer market bets. Another feature of U.S. soccer is the salary cap, a limit on player salaries: each team can sign up to three designated players, allowing them to exceed the budget.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 edition of the tournament had to be significantly altered, leading to the creation of the so-called MLS is Back Tournament. 24 of the 26 MLS teams participated in 6 groups of 4 teams (over 3 matchdays) followed by playoffs, starting from the round of 16, also in single elimination format. The tournament concluded on August 11, 2020, with the Portland Timbers claiming victory.
The Most Renowned Teams in MLS
When betting on MLS, it's essential to not only get great soccer betting tips but also to know the most prestigious and successful teams. Below, you'll find clubs from several well-known cities (Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago), but notably not from New York, which, despite being one of the wealthiest and strongest teams, has yet to clinch a title. While the American audience may not be as passionate as the European one, they hold a strong attachment to their teams, as evident from the massive turnout of fans.
Los Angeles GalaxyD.C. UnitedSan Jose EarthquakesHouston DynamoSporting Kansas CitySeattle SoundersPortland TimbersChicago FireColumbus CrewReal Salt LakeColorado RapidsToronto FCAtlanta UnitedThe Major League Soccer Record Breakers
Here are some useful stats for your MLS betting: the records set by the top teams in the league. You can find them in the five blue boxes below, which will help you better understand the dynamics of power in the tournament. We'll discuss records for points, wins, consecutive results, and more.
