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Soccer Betting - USA Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer or MLS is the top soccer league in the United States in the American Soccer Pyramid.
It is certified by the professional division of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF or U.S. Soccer), a member of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Then in 2007 when Toronto FC becomes part of the league, MLS will replace the USL First Division as the top soccer league in Canada.
MLS was created on December 17, 1993, as a promise to FIFA to establish a "Division One" professional football (soccer) league in trade for the staging of the FIFA World Cup USA 1994 in the United States. This league started to play in 1996 with ten teams.
The original 10 teams were divided into two conferences: the Western Conference (Colorado Rapids, Dallas Burn, Kansas City Wiz, Los Angeles Galaxy and San Jose Clash) and the Eastern Conference (Columbus Crew, D.C. United, New England Revolution, NY/NJ MetroStars, and Tampa Bay Mutiny).
The league expanded to 12 teams in 1998, adding the Chicago Fire to the Western Conference and Miami Fusion to the Eastern Conference. In 2000 the league was reorganized into Eastern, Central, and Western Divisions; Chicago, Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Columbus were moved to the new Central Division.
But in 2001, both Florida teams (Miami and Tampa Bay) were disbanded and the league return to its original conformation of ten teams with just two conferences Eastern and Western and Chicago was placed in the Eastern Conference.
Subsequent to the 2004 season, the league expanded again, adding Real Salt Lake and C.D. Chivas USA, which shares the Home Depot Center with the Los Angeles Galaxy. The two new teams were placed in the Western Conference, with Kansas City moving East.
Following the conclusion of the 2005 season, the San Jose Earthquakes were relocated to Houston and renamed Houston Dynamo.
MLS is expected to expand by two new teams by the 2007 season, with Toronto having been approved by the league. A soccer stadium will be built to host all the upcoming games.
Other current increase possibilities include San Jose, Seattle, Cleveland, St. Louis, and Milwaukee. Other cities frequently mentioned for future expansion include Rochester, San Antonio, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Detroit, and a return to Miami, which itself has one of the largest soccer fan bases in the country.
In 2006, the MetroStars organization was renamed Red Bull New York, with the squad being called the New York Red Bulls.
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Soccer Betting
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