The Major League Soccer has released the schedule for the 2022 MLS Regular Season which will commence on February 26 and end on October 9, 2022.
For the first time in the history of the United States and Canada soccer league, the 27th edition of the league will have 28 clubs, thanks to the addition of Charlotte FC as an expansion club.
Despite having more teams, the 2022 MLS Regular season is structured in such a way that the regular season would have ended and the MLS Cup Final would have taken place (November 5), 16 days before the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
In the 2022 MLS Regular Season, New York City FC that defeated Portland Timbers via penalties in MLS Cup 2021, will commence their title defense against Los Angeles FC.
On the other hand, the reigning champions of Supporters’ Shield winners, New England Revolution will start their campaign against Portland Timbers.
Also, at the start of the MLS regular season, the followers of the league will witness the opening of Nashville’s 30,000-seat soccer-specific stadium on May 1 when they play against Philadelphia.
The format of the 2022 MLS regular season
As usual, the 2022 regular season is made up of Eastern Conference and Western Conference.
There are 14 teams in each conference and each of the teams in the conferences will play against each team under their conference twice (home and away).
Also, all the teams in the two conferences are expected to play eight cross-conference games against different opponents before the end of the regular season.
Based on this, each team is expected to play 34 matches in the 2022 MLS Regular Season which will include 17 homes games and 17 away games.
The teams that top the Easter and Western Conferences will meet on November 5, 2022, to play the MLS Cup final which signifies the end of the 2022 season.
Below is the 2022 schedule for the MLS regular season
Atalanta United will commence the regular season with a game against Sporting Kansas City on 27 February 2022 at 9 PM.
Austin FC will commence the regular season with a game against FC Cincinnati on 27 February 2022 at 12 am.
Charlotte FC will commence the regular season with a game against DC United on 27 February 2022 at 12 am.
Chicago Fire FC will commence the regular season with a game against Inter Miami on 27 February 2022 at 12 am.
FC Cincinnati will commence the regular season with a game against Austin FC on 27 February 2022 at 12 am.
Colorado Rapids will commence the regular season with a game against Los Angeles Football Club on February 26 at 9:30 PM.
Columbus Crew SC will commence the regular season with a game against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at 9:30 PM.
D.C. United will commence the regular season with a game against Charlotte FC on 27 February 2022 at 12 am.
FC Dallas will commence the regular season with a game against Toronto FC on 26 February 2022 at 11:30 PM.
Houston Dynamo FC will commence the regular season with a game against Real Salt Lake on 28 February 2022 at 1:00 AM.
Los Angeles Football Club will commence the regular season with a game against Columbus Crew on 26 February 2022 at 9:30 p.m.
LA Galaxy will commence the regular season with a game against New York City FC on 27 February 2022 at 11:00 p.m.
Inter Miami FC will commence the regular season with a game against Chicago Fire FC on 27 February 2022 at 12 am.
Minnesota United FC will commence the regular season with a game against Philadelphia Union on 26 February 2022 at 7 pm.
CF Montreal will commence the regular season with a game against Orlando City FC on 27 February 2022 at 7 pm.
Nashville SC will commence the regular season with a game against Seattle Sounders on 28 February 2022 at 2:00 am.
New England Revolution will commence the regular season with a game against Portland Timbers on 27 February 2022 at 1:30 am.
New York City FC will commence the regular season with a game against LA Galaxy on 27 February 2022 at 11:00 p.m.
New York Red Bulls will commence the regular season with a game against San Jose Earthquakes on 27 February 2022 at 12:00 am.
Orlando City FC will commence the regular season with a game against CF Montreal on 27 February 2022 at 7 pm.
Philadelphia Union will commence the regular season with a game against Minnesota United FC on 26 February 2022 at 7 pm.
Portland Timbers will commence the regular season with a game against New England Revolution on 27 February 2022 at 1:30 am.
Real Salt Lake will commence the regular season with a game against Houston Dynamo FC on 28 February 2022 at 1:00 AM.
San Jose Earthquakes will commence the regular season with a game against New York Red Bulls on 27 February 2022 at 12:00 am.
Seattle Sounders will commence the regular season with a game against Nashville SC on 28 February 2022 at 2:00 am.
Sporting Kansas City will commence the regular season with a game against Atalanta on 27 February 2022 at 9 PM.
Toronto FC will commence the regular season with a game against Dallas on 26 February 2022 at 11:30 PM.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC SC will commence the regular season with a game against Columbus Crew at 9:30 PM.
The MLS conference realignment
Eastern Conference: Atlanta United, Chicago Fire, Charlotte FC, FC Cincinnati, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, Inter Miami, CF Montreal, New England Revolution, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City, Philadelphia Union, Toronto FC
Western Conference: Austin FC, Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Sporting Kansas City, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, Minnesota United, Nashville SC, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps
