The Potential MLS New Teams
By
Will Brown
Contributor Updated: 06 November 2024
Will Brown Contributor
William Brown is a Content Writer with strong expertise in US and global gambling industry trends. Having covered the local sports betting market since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, William approaches his gambling guides with passion and diligence. He is a keen player of online slots, blackjack, and a regular sports bettor.
Since its humble 10-team beginnings, the Major League Soccer (MLS) has grown to 29 teams, with the 30th set to debut in 2025. However, there remains speculation that more MLS new teams could debut as the league grows in popularity. It is also a key strategy in its ambitions to become one of the world’s largest sports leagues. In this guide, we’ve highlighted the potential new franchise locations that could debut in the coming years, including arguments for why they would be successful.
Intro to the MLS Expansion Teams Topic
While the MLS does have a strong following in the USA, we understand that it isn’t as popular as leagues such as the NFL, NBA, or NHL. This is why we’ve opened this guide with some background information about the MLS, before looking at the newest team to debut.
In the second half of this guide, we’ve covered the potential new MLS expansion teams, looking at the earmarked locations from coast to coast. To round the article out, we have then discussed the future of the MLS on both a national and global scale.
About Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer (MLS) is the premier professional soccer league in the USA and Canada. It was launched in 1996, with 10 teams included in the initial competition. It has since grown to 29 teams, with Saint Louis SC being the latest team to join in 2023.
In 2025, San Diego will become the next city to launch a new team, with the 30-team roster marking a significant milestone in the growth of soccer. While MLS initially struggled financially in its earliest years, changes to its structure and the ability to recruit major international talent has given the sport a huge boost.
The MLS regular season is typically held between March and October, with teams playing 34 games. The top 18 teams go on to compete in the MLS Cup Playoffs, culminating in the championship MLS Cup in November. As this event nears, betting apps with MLS are beginning to offer special MLS promos.
Cities such as Atlanta, Nashville, and Cincinnati have all seen unexpected success, with game audience attendance figures routinely surpassing over 10,000. This has indicated that future MLS teams can find popularity in smaller, overlooked markets.
Confirmed: San Diego
San Diego’s long-awaited MLS team will finally debut in 2025, playing at their home ground of San Diego State University’s Snapdragon Stadium, a modern venue with a capacity for 35,000 visitors. The team has been backed by Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Mansour as well as the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation Native Americans.
The team will be coached by Mikey Viras, with a lineup already including players from the UK, Mexico, and Denmark. San Diego’s prime weather conditions make it a perfect home ground, and its proximity to Mexico has already contributed to a passionate soccer fanbase forming. The team’s jersey colors will be chrome and Azul.
The Potential Future MLS Teams
In this section, we’ve discussed the potential MLS new teams that could debut in the next decade. It’s important to note that some of these cities have made formal bids, while others are just speculative, so it remains to be seen whether an expansion will happen any time soon.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is currently the top contender for becoming one of the next MLS expansion teams. It has recently bid for a franchise to the league, and it has greatly expanded its representation in major sports leagues over the past 10 years. A new MLS team could capitalize on the city’s entertainment economy to secure lucrative deals, though there are concerns that the extreme summer heat could pose challenges.
Phoenix, Arizona
One of the numerous potential future MLS team locations with a built-in fan base, Phoenix is home to the successful Phoenix Rising FC, a USL team. This could provide a foundation for an MLS franchise. The city also benefits from its proximity to Mexico, which could allow for international gameplay opportunities. However, like Vegas, there are concerns about the extreme summer heat.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit’s rich sporting history makes it a great potential location for one of the MLS new teams. The city is currently home to the semi-professional team Detroit City FC, so a passionate local fanbase would be supportive of an MLS bid. However, with teams in all of the Big Four US Leagues, it could be challenging for a soccer team to vie for locals’ attention without significant investment.
Sacramento, California
With California already a stronghold in professional soccer, there’s no reason to think that more future MLS team locations couldn’t be based in the state. Sacramento has long been considered a front-runner for expansion due to its successful USL team, Sacramento Republic FC, and its passionate fan base. It has failed previous expansion bids, though, and it’s unlikely that the next team will be based in California after San Diego’s launch.
Tampa Bay, Florida
Tampa Bay has already been home to a MLS team, the Tampa Bay Mutiny, which collapsed in 2001. While this may give the league pause before approval, it’s worth noting that the health of the MLS is in much better shape since then. With its large population, strong soccer tradition, and pre-existing fandom, more future MLS teams in Florida could be a safe bet.
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is another city that offers a large market with a pre-existing soccer culture. The city’s USL team, San Antonio FC, has a strong following, and its large Hispanic population would likely be quick to embrace a deepening connection to soccer. There is also a soccer-specific stadium that could be renovated for professional league use. However, its proximity to Austin FC may put this out of contention.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis has a strong sporting culture despite its relatively small population, making it an attractive option for soccer. Its USL Indy Eleven Academy is proof of a growing soccer community, and an MLS team could help bridge the gap between Eastern and Western conferences. The biggest hurdles to its expansion would be the lack of a soccer stadium and competition with other established leagues.
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
The beauty of the MLS is that smaller cities can be represented by a professional league team, with Raleigh-Durham potentially one of them. The city has a fast-growing population of young professionals and college students, making it well-aligned with MLS’s target demographic. The biggest challenge lies in the fact that it is close to Charlotte FC, which joined the MLS in 2022.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is home to a passionate sports market with strong European origins, making it a perfect location to host one of the MLS new teams. An MLS team would allow the city to rival the Chicago Fire FC and Minnesota United FC. The biggest challenge is that Milwaukee is smaller in size than other candidates, though this hasn’t stopped it from having an NBA and MLB team.
New Orleans, Louisiana
If the league was looking to create MLS expansion teams in the Southeast, they couldn’t look further than New Orleans. The city has a rich cultural atmosphere and is experienced in hosting major sporting events. That said, there currently isn’t a pre-existing soccer culture or soccer stadium, so there would be much work to make this happen.
The Future of the MLS
For those wondering when will MLS announce expansion teams, the answer remains to be seen. The league has been undergoing significant growth over the past decade, with roughly one team launching every year since 2015. Therefore, we expect another team to be announced in the coming year.
The future of Major League Soccer (MLS) will rely on maintaining a high level of play, developing younger talent, and building local audiences. One of the best ways to do this is to nurture its local talent pool, whether by attracting international stars or creating homegrown stars of its own that perform on the global stage.
In 2024, ticket sales and revenues were up 15% since the previous year, with the recruitment of Lionel Messi’s recruitment to Inter Miami being a major driver of this. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted in Mexico, Canada, and the US, should also help to drive unprecedented local attention to soccer and, in turn, the MLS.
