Eastern Conference (MLS)

The Eastern Conference is one of Major League Soccer's two conferences.

Eastern Conference
LeagueMajor League Soccer
SportSoccer
Founded1996
Teams
No. of teams13
Championships
Most recent champion(s)Toronto FC (2019)
(3rd title)
Most titlesD.C. United
New England Revolution
(5 titles each)
Current MLS team locations; Eastern Conference teams are marked blue

2019 standings
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 New York City FC 34 18 6 10 63 42 +21 64 Conference Semifinals & 2020 CONCACAF Champions League
2 Atlanta United FC 34 18 12 4 58 43 +15 58 First round & 2020 CONCACAF Champions League[lower-alpha 1]
3 Philadelphia Union 34 16 11 7 58 50 +8 55 First round & 2020 Leagues Cup
4 Toronto FC[lower-alpha 2] 34 13 10 11 57 52 +5 50
5 D.C. United 34 13 10 11 42 38 +4 50
6 New York Red Bulls 34 14 14 6 53 51 +2 48
7 New England Revolution 34 11 11 12 50 57 −7 45 First round
8 Chicago Fire 34 10 12 12 55 47 +8 42
9 Montreal Impact[lower-alpha 2] 34 12 17 5 47 60 −13 41 2020 CONCACAF Champions League[lower-alpha 3]
10 Columbus Crew SC 34 10 16 8 39 47 −8 38
11 Orlando City SC 34 9 15 10 44 52 −8 37
12 FC Cincinnati 34 6 22 6 31 75 −44 24
Source: MLS
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:
  1. as 2019 U.S. Open Cup champions
  2. Canadian clubs could not qualify for the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League through MLS play.
  3. as 2019 Canadian Championship winners

Members

Current
Team City Stadium
Atlanta United FC Atlanta, GA Mercedes Benz Stadium
Chicago Fire FC Chicago, IL Soldier Field
Columbus Crew SC Columbus, OH Mapfre Stadium
FC Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH Nippert Stadium
D.C. United Washington, D.C. Audi Field
Inter Miami CF Miami, FL Inter Miami CF Stadium
Montreal Impact Montreal, QC Saputo Stadium
New England Revolution Foxborough, MA Gillette Stadium
New York City FC Bronx, NY Yankee Stadium
New York Red Bulls Harrison, NJ Red Bull Arena
Orlando City SC Orlando, FL Orlando City Stadium
Philadelphia Union Chester, PA Talen Energy Stadium
Toronto FC Toronto, ON BMO Field

Conference Lineups

1996–97

Changes from 1995

1998–99

Changes from 1997

2000–01 (as Eastern Division)

Changes from 1999

2002–04

Changes from 2001

  • The Eastern Division changed back to the Eastern Conference following the contraction of the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny, resulting in the disbanding of the Central Division
  • The Miami Fusion were contracted after the season
  • The Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew moved in from the Central Division

2005

Changes from 2004

2006

Changes from 2005

2007–09

Changes from 2006

2010

Changes from 2009

2011

Changes from 2010

  • The Kansas City Wizards changed their name to Sporting Kansas City.
  • The Houston Dynamo moved from the Western Conference to the Eastern Conference.

2012–14

Changes from 2011

2015–16

Changes from 2014

2017–18

Changes from 2016

2019

Changes from 2018

2020

Changes from 2019

  • Inter Miami CF added as an expansion franchise.[4]
  • Nashville SC was added for the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament.[5]

Eastern 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 are used if necessary. In 2019, the final returned to a single match format, hosted by the highest ranked team through the regular season.

Bold MLS Cup Champions
Season Champions Score Runners-up
1996 D.C. United 2 matches to 0 Tampa Bay Mutiny
1997 D.C. United 2 matches to 0 Columbus Crew
1998 D.C. United 2 matches to 1 Columbus Crew
1999 D.C. United 2 matches to 1 Columbus Crew
2000 No conference playoffs
2001 No conference playoffs
2002 New England Revolution 5 points to 2 Columbus Crew
2003 Chicago Fire 1–0 (a.e.t.) New England Revolution
2004 D.C. United 3–3 (4–3 p) New England Revolution
2005 New England Revolution 1–0 Chicago Fire
2006 New England Revolution 1–0 D.C. United
2007 New England Revolution 1–0 Chicago Fire
2008 Columbus Crew 2–1 Chicago Fire
2009 Real Salt LakeW 0–0 (5–4 p) Chicago Fire
2010 Colorado RapidsW 1–0 San Jose EarthquakesW
2011 Houston Dynamo 2–0 Sporting Kansas City
2012 Houston Dynamo 4–2 agg. D.C. United
2013 Sporting Kansas City 2–1 agg. Houston Dynamo
2014 New England Revolution 4–3 agg. New York Red Bulls
2015 Columbus Crew SC 2–1 agg. New York Red Bulls
2016 Toronto FC 7–5 agg. (a.e.t.) Montreal Impact
2017 Toronto FC 1–0 agg. Columbus Crew SC
2018 Atlanta United FC 3–1 agg. New York Red Bulls
2019 Toronto FC 2–1 Atlanta United FC

W – Western Conference team.

Eastern Conference regular season champions by year
Bold Supporters' Shield Champions
Season Team Record Playoffs result
1996 Tampa Bay Mutiny 20–12–0^ (+15) Lost Conference Finals
1997 D.C. United 21–11–0^ (+17) Won MLS Cup Finals
1998 D.C. United 24–8–0^ (+30) Lost MLS Cup Finals
1999 D.C. United 23–9–0^ (+22) Won MLS Cup Finals
2000 MetroStars 17–12–3 (+8) Lost Semifinals
2001 Miami Fusion† 16–5–5 (+21) Lost Semifinals
2002 New England Revolution 12–14–2 (0) Lost MLS Cup Finals
2003 Chicago Fire 15–7–8 (+10) Lost Conference Finals
2004 Columbus Crew 12–5–13 (+8) Lost Conference Semifinals
2005 New England Revolution 17–7–8 (+18) Lost MLS Cup Finals
2006 D.C. United 15–7–10 (+14) Lost Conference Finals
2007 D.C. United 16–7–7 (+22) Lost Conference Semifinals
2008 Columbus Crew 17–7–6 (+14) Won MLS Cup Finals
2009 Columbus Crew 13–7–10 (+10) Lost Conference Semifinals
2010 New York Red Bulls 15–9–6 (+9) Lost Conference Semifinals
2011 Sporting Kansas City 13–9–12 (+10) Lost Conference Finals
2012 Sporting Kansas City 18–7–9 (+15) Lost Conference Semifinals
2013 New York Red Bulls 17–9–8 (+17) Lost Conference Semifinals
2014 D.C. United 17–9–8 (+15) Lost Conference Semifinals
2015 New York Red Bulls 18–10–6 (+19) Lost Conference Finals
2016 New York Red Bulls 16–9–9 (+17) Lost Conference Semifinals
2017 Toronto FC 20–5–9 (+37) Won MLS Cup Finals
2018 New York Red Bulls 22–7–5 (+29) Lost Conference Finals
2019 New York City FC 18–6–10 (+21) Lost Conference Semifinals

^ – MLS did not have draws until the 2000 season.
† – Miami Fusion were declared winners of the Eastern 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

See also

References
  1. "MLS announces new strategy for Los Angeles market, 2015 conference alignment". mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  2. "Atlanta to join Eastern Conference in 2017, Minnesota to compete in West". Major League Soccer. August 20, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  3. "Cincinnati awarded MLS expansion club, will start play in 2019". Major League Soccer. May 29, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  4. "It's official: Major League Soccer awards expansion team to Miami". MLSSoccer.com. MLS Digital. January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  5. "Nashville SC moves to Eastern Conference for remainder of 2020 season". MLSsoccer.com. June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
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