MLS commissioner Don Garber announced the league is keen to expand further, as Las Vegas stands as the frontrunner to become the 30th member.
Major League Soccer currently hosts 27 clubs, with Charlotte FC entering as number 28 in the upcoming 2022 season. St. Louis CITY SC will follow in 2023, tallying the league at 29 teams.
The current plan is to expand the league further, making it a 30 team league. While the latest side remains unclear, Garber noted that Las Vegas is the likely favorite.
The motion is led by businessman Wed Edens.
“We’re making progress in Las Vegas,” Garber said. “We’re excited about the market, as are all the other leagues in North America. Wes is a guy we have long-standing relationships with, he had looked at other MLS clubs over the years. We’ll continue those discussions and continue to try and get something done with our 30th team within the next 10 months.”
Vegas has seen a rise in professional sports in recent years, with the induction of the National Hockey League team the Las Vegas Knights and the National Football League side Raiders. The city also built Allegiant Stadium, which hosted this year’s Leagues Cup final and the summer’s Concacaf Nations League final between Mexico and the United States.
While the odds are high that Vegas will be awarded the 30th spot, nothing is 100 percent done.
“I want to point out that we’re still in discussions with other markets, both Phoenix and San Diego,” Garber said. “Interest in Major League Soccer continues to grow.”
Once a market is selected, however, the timeline for entering the league will become available. Garber ruled out anything before 2023, giving Charlotte FC and St. Louis a chance to accommodate themselves.
Additionally, 2023 is the year set for the expanded Leagues Cup between Major League Soccer and Liga MX.
“We have not yet determined when that 30th team will start playing,” Garber said. “The 30th team will not be in by 2023 [for Leagues Cup]. That’s something everybody should be aware of.”