2017 Major League Soccer season
Season | 2017 |
---|---|
MLS Cup | Toronto FC (1st title) |
Supporters' Shield | Toronto FC (1st shield) |
2019 Champions League (United States) | Sporting Kansas City[lower-alpha 1] |
2018 Champions League (Canada) | Toronto FC[lower-alpha 2] |
Matches played | 374 |
Goals scored | 1,110 (2.97 per match) |
Top goalscorer |
Nemanja Nikolić (24 goals) |
Best goalkeeper |
Stefan Frei (13 shutouts) |
Biggest home win |
7 goals: ATL 7–0 NE (Sep 13) |
Biggest away win |
5 goals: MIN 1–6 ATL (Mar 12) |
Highest scoring |
8 goals: DAL 6–2 RSL (Jun 3) LA 2–6 RSL (Jul 4) TOR 3–5 MTL (Sep 20) |
Longest winning run |
6 games: Toronto FC (Apr 21 – May 13) |
Longest unbeaten run |
13 games: Seattle Sounders (Jun 17 – Sep 23) |
Longest winless run |
10 games: LA Galaxy (Jun 24 – Aug 27) |
Longest losing run |
6 games: D.C. United (Jun 24 – Jul 29) |
Highest attendance |
71,874 ATL 2–2 TOR (Oct 22) |
Lowest attendance |
10,165 NYC 1–1 HOU (Sep 23 at East Hartford) |
Total attendance | 8,269,919 |
Average attendance | 22,112 |
← 2016 2018 →
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The 2017 Major League Soccer season was the 22nd season of Major League Soccer, top division of soccer in the United States and Canada. The regular season began on March 3, 2017 and concluded on October 22, 2017. The MLS Cup Playoffs began on October 25, 2017 and concluded with MLS Cup 2017 on December 9, 2017.
Two new clubs joined the league as expansion franchises: Atlanta United and Minnesota United. The two franchises were the 21st and 22nd teams in the league.[1]
Seattle Sounders FC were the defending MLS Cup champions, while FC Dallas were the defending Supporters' Shield champions. Toronto FC became the first Canadian team to win the Cup and Shield. Toronto's win of the Canadian Championship in the same year earned them the first domestic treble by an MLS side.
Teams
Stadiums and locations
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- ^ Non-soccer specific stadium and artificially reduced capacity.
- ^ Due to construction delays to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta United FC played its home matches at Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium during the first half of the season.[2]
Personnel and sponsorship
Note: All teams use Adidas as kit manufacturer.
Coaching changes
Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy |
Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Houston Dynamo | End of interim period | October 28, 2016 | Pre-season | October 28, 2016 | ||
LA Galaxy | Signed by United States | November 22, 2016 | December 13, 2016 | |||
Real Salt Lake | Mutual consent | March 20, 2017 | 10th in West, 19th overall | March 20, 2017 | ||
End of interim period | March 29, 2017 | 9th in West, 19th overall | March 29, 2017 | |||
San Jose Earthquakes | Fired | June 25, 2017 | 5th in West, 12th overall | June 25, 2017 | ||
LA Galaxy | Fired | July 27, 2017 | 9th in West, 19th overall | July 27, 2017 | ||
Colorado Rapids | Fired | August 15, 2017 | 10th in West, 20th overall | August 15, 2017 | ||
New England Revolution | Fired | September 18, 2017 | 8th in East, 16th overall | September 18, 2017 |
Regular season
Format
Current teams: Each team in the league (except for expansion teams Atlanta United and Minnesota United) played 17 home and 17 away games (for a total of 34 games) using the following format:[4]
- 2 games (home and away) against 10 teams in its conference (20 games).
- 1 extra game against 3 of its conference rivals (3 games).
- 1 game against 11 teams in the other conference (11 games).
Expansion teams: As expansion teams to the league in 2017, Atlanta United and Minnesota United played 17 home and 17 away games (for a total of 34 games) in a secondary format:
- 2 games (home and away) against 10 teams in its conference (20 games).
- 1 extra game against 2 of its conference rivals (2 games).
- 1 game against 10 teams in the other conference (10 games).
- 2 games (1 home and 1 away) against each other (2 games).
Conference standings
Eastern Conference
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Toronto FC | 34 | 20 | 5 | 9 | 74 | 37 | +37 | 69 | Conference Semifinals[lower-alpha 1] |
2 | New York City FC | 34 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 56 | 43 | +13 | 57 | |
3 | Chicago Fire | 34 | 16 | 11 | 7 | 62 | 48 | +14 | 55 | Knockout Round |
4 | Atlanta United | 34 | 15 | 9 | 10 | 70 | 40 | +30 | 55 | |
5 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 16 | 12 | 6 | 53 | 49 | +4 | 54 | |
6 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 53 | 47 | +6 | 50 | |
7 | New England Revolution | 34 | 13 | 15 | 6 | 53 | 61 | −8 | 45 | |
8 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 50 | 47 | +3 | 42 | |
9 | Montreal Impact | 34 | 11 | 17 | 6 | 52 | 58 | −6 | 39 | |
10 | Orlando City | 34 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 39 | 58 | −19 | 39 | |
11 | D.C. United | 34 | 9 | 20 | 5 | 31 | 60 | −29 | 32 |
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.
Notes:
- ↑ Due to a change in format for the CONCACAF Champions League, the regular season conference champions will not automatically earn a berth in the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League.[5]
Western Conference
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Portland Timbers | 34 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 60 | 50 | +10 | 53 | Conference Semi-finals[lower-alpha 1] |
2 | Seattle Sounders | 34 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 52 | 39 | +13 | 53 | |
3 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 50 | 49 | +1 | 52 | Knockout round |
4 | Houston Dynamo | 34 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 57 | 45 | +12 | 50 | |
5 | Sporting Kansas City | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 40 | 29 | +11 | 49 | |
6 | San Jose Earthquakes | 34 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 39 | 60 | −21 | 46 | |
7 | FC Dallas | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 48 | 48 | 0 | 46 | |
8 | Real Salt Lake | 34 | 13 | 15 | 6 | 48 | 56 | −8 | 45 | |
9 | Minnesota United | 34 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 47 | 70 | −23 | 36 | |
10 | Colorado Rapids | 34 | 9 | 19 | 6 | 31 | 51 | −20 | 33 | |
11 | LA Galaxy | 34 | 8 | 18 | 8 | 45 | 67 | −22 | 32 |
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
Notes:
- ↑ Due to a change in format for the CONCACAF Champions League, the regular season conference champions will not automatically earn a berth in the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League.[6]
Overall table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification[lower-alpha 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Toronto FC (C, X) | 34 | 20 | 5 | 9 | 74 | 37 | +37 | 69 | 2018 CONCACAF Champions League |
2 | New York City FC | 34 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 56 | 43 | +13 | 57 | |
3 | Chicago Fire | 34 | 16 | 11 | 7 | 61 | 47 | +14 | 55 | |
4 | Atlanta United | 34 | 15 | 9 | 10 | 70 | 40 | +30 | 55 | |
5 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 16 | 12 | 6 | 53 | 49 | +4 | 54 | |
6 | Portland Timbers | 34 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 60 | 50 | +10 | 53 | |
7 | Seattle Sounders | 34 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 52 | 39 | +13 | 53 | |
8 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 50 | 49 | +1 | 52 | |
9 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 53 | 47 | +6 | 50 | |
10 | Houston Dynamo | 34 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 57 | 45 | +12 | 50 | |
11 | Sporting Kansas City | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 40 | 29 | +11 | 49 | 2019 CONCACAF Champions League |
12 | San Jose Earthquakes | 34 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 39 | 60 | −21 | 46 | |
13 | FC Dallas | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 48 | 48 | 0 | 46 | |
14 | Real Salt Lake | 34 | 13 | 15 | 6 | 49 | 55 | −6 | 45 | |
15 | New England Revolution | 34 | 13 | 15 | 6 | 53 | 61 | −8 | 45 | |
16 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 50 | 47 | +3 | 42 | |
17 | Montreal Impact | 34 | 11 | 17 | 6 | 52 | 58 | −6 | 39 | |
18 | Orlando City | 34 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 39 | 58 | −19 | 39 | |
19 | Minnesota United | 34 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 47 | 70 | −23 | 36 | |
20 | Colorado Rapids | 34 | 9 | 19 | 6 | 31 | 51 | −20 | 33 | |
21 | D.C. United | 34 | 9 | 20 | 5 | 31 | 60 | −29 | 32 | |
22 | LA Galaxy | 34 | 8 | 18 | 8 | 45 | 67 | −22 | 32 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goals scored; 7) away goal differential; 8) coin toss or drawing of lots
(C) Champion; (X) Supporters' Shield winner.
Notes:
- ↑ CONCACAF Champions League
Selection Procedure- Four US-based teams qualify for the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League. Due to a change in format to the tournament, two qualifiers will come from each of the 2017 and 2018 MLS seasons.[7] This combined qualification method will be used for the 2019 tournament only. For the 2017 season, the following teams will qualify:
- The winner of MLS Cup 2017; this berth will be reallocated to the best US team in aggregate points in both 2017 and 2018 MLS seasons as Toronto FC won the Cup.
- The winner of the 2017 U.S. Open Cup (Sporting Kansas City).
One Canada-based team qualifies for the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League, also entering at the second phase (NOTE: Canadian teams cannot qualify through MLS):- The winner of both the 2016 and 2017 Canadian Championship (Toronto FC)
- The winner of MLS Cup 2017; this berth will be reallocated to the best US team in aggregate points in both 2017 and 2018 MLS seasons as Toronto FC won the Cup.
- Four US-based teams qualify for the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League. Due to a change in format to the tournament, two qualifiers will come from each of the 2017 and 2018 MLS seasons.[7] This combined qualification method will be used for the 2019 tournament only. For the 2017 season, the following teams will qualify:
MLS Cup Playoffs
Bracket
Knockout Round | Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | MLS Cup | |||||||||||||||||||
October 26 – Atlanta, Georgia | ||||||||||||||||||||||
E4 | Atlanta United | 0 (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
E5 | Columbus Crew | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
E5 | Columbus Crew (p) | 0 (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
E2 | New York City FC | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||||||||||
October 25 – Bridgeview, Illinois | E5 | Columbus Crew | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
E1 | Toronto FC | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
E3 | Chicago Fire | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E6 | New York Red Bulls | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
E6 | New York Red Bulls | 4 | December 9 – Toronto, Ontario | |||||||||||||||||||
E1 | Toronto FC (a) | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
October 26 – Houston, Texas | E1 | Toronto FC | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
W2 | Seattle Sounders | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W4 | Houston Dynamo (a.e.t.) | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W4 | Houston Dynamo | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
W5 | Sporting Kansas City | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W1 | Portland Timbers | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Western Conference | ||||||||||||||||||||||
October 25 – Vancouver, British Columbia | W4 | Houston Dynamo | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
W2 | Seattle Sounders | 2 | 3 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
W3 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W3 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
W6 | San Jose Earthquakes | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W2 | Seattle Sounders | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
Knockout Round
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Conference | ||||
Chicago Fire (E3) | 0–4 | New York Red Bulls (E6) | ||
Atlanta United (E4) | 0–0 (1–3 p) |
Columbus Crew (E5) | ||
Western Conference | ||||
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (W3) | 5–0 | San Jose Earthquakes (W6) | ||
Houston Dynamo (W4) | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Sporting Kansas City (W5) |
Conference Semifinals
Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Conference | ||||
New York Red Bulls (E6) | 2–2 (a) | Toronto FC (E1) | 1–2 | 1–0 |
Columbus Crew (E5) | 4–3 | New York City FC (E2) | 4–1 | 0–2 |
Western Conference | ||||
Houston Dynamo (W4) | 2–1 | Portland Timbers (W1) | 0–0 | 2–1 |
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (W3) | 0–2 | Seattle Sounders FC (W2) | 0–0 | 0–2 |
Conference Finals
Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Conference | ||||
Columbus Crew (E5) | 0–1 | Toronto FC (E1) | 0–0 | 0–1 |
Western Conference | ||||
Houston Dynamo (W4) | 0–5 | Seattle Sounders FC (W2) | 0–2 | 0–3 |
MLS Cup
Attendance
Average home attendances
Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.
Pos. | Team | GP | Cumulative | High | Low | Mean |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Atlanta United FC | 17 | 819,404 | 71,874 | 42,511 | 48,200 |
2 | Seattle Sounders FC | 17 | 742,314 | 51,796 | 40,182 | 43,666 |
3 | Toronto FC | 17 | 470,005 | 29,203 | 25,200 | 27,647 |
4 | Orlando City SC | 17 | 425,477 | 25,527 | 23,018 | 25,028 |
5 | New York City FC | 17 | 379,455 | 33,679 | 10,165* | 22,321 |
6 | LA Galaxy | 17 | 378,128 | 25,667 | 17,404 | 22,243 |
7 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 17 | 364,073 | 25,083 | 17,368 | 21,416 |
8 | New York Red Bulls | 17 | 359,977 | 25,219 | 16,213 | 21,175 |
9 | Portland Timbers | 17 | 359,448 | 21,144 | 21,144 | 21,144 |
10 | Minnesota United FC | 17 | 349,138 | 35,043 | 17,491 | 20,538 |
11 | Montreal Impact | 17 | 340,783 | 34,373 | 16,005 | 20,046 |
12 | San Jose Earthquakes | 17 | 337,873 | 50,617 | 17,256 | 19,875 |
13 | Sporting Kansas City | 17 | 332,121 | 20,933 | 18,648 | 19,537 |
14 | New England Revolution | 17 | 329,233 | 33,767 | 10,487 | 19,367 |
15 | Real Salt Lake | 17 | 319,284 | 20,348 | 16,434 | 18,781 |
16 | D.C. United | 17 | 304,369 | 41,418 | 11,972 | 17,904 |
17 | Houston Dynamo | 17 | 297,507 | 22,115 | 14,148 | 17,500 |
18 | Chicago Fire | 17 | 295,511 | 21,891 | 11,244 | 17,383 |
19 | Philadelphia Union | 17 | 285,797 | 18,619 | 15,107 | 16,812 |
20 | Columbus Crew SC | 17 | 262,469 | 20,391 | 10,318 | 15,439 |
21 | Colorado Rapids | 17 | 260,476 | 17,648 | 13,102 | 15,322 |
22 | FC Dallas | 17 | 257,077 | 16,291 | 14,016 | 15,122 |
– | Total | 374 | 8,269,919 | 71,874 | 10,165 | 22,112 |
- game played at East Hartford
Highest attendances
Regular season
Rank | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance | Date | Week | Stadium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Atlanta United FC | 2–2 | Toronto FC | 71,874 | October 22, 2017 | 33 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
2 | Atlanta United FC | 3–3 | Orlando City SC | 70,425 | September 16, 2017 | 28 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
3 | Atlanta United FC | 1–2 | New York Red Bulls | 55,297 | March 5, 2017 | 1 | Bobby Dodd Stadium |
4 | Seattle Sounders FC | 1–1 | Portland Timbers | 51,796 | August 27, 2017 | 25 | CenturyLink Field |
5 | San Jose Earthquakes | 2–1 | LA Galaxy | 50,617 | July 1, 2017 | 18 | Stanford Stadium |
6 | Seattle Sounders FC | 4–0 | FC Dallas | 48,478 | October 15, 2017 | 32 | CenturyLink Field |
7 | Seattle Sounders FC | 1–0 | Portland Timbers | 47,362 | May 27, 2017 | 13 | CenturyLink Field |
8 | Atlanta United FC | 1–3 | D.C. United | 46,011 | April 30, 2017 | 9 | Bobby Dodd Stadium |
9 | Atlanta United FC | 4–0 | Chicago Fire | 45,922 | March 18, 2017 | 3 | Bobby Dodd Stadium |
10 | Seattle Sounders FC | 3–1 | New York Red Bulls | 45,600 | March 19, 2017 | 3 | CenturyLink Field |
Player statistics
Goals
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Assists
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