How Many Games are in the MLS Standings? – A Comprehensive Guide

Major League Soccer (MLS) fans often wonder, “How Many Games are in the MLS Standings?” In other words, how many matches does each team play, as reflected in the league table? The MLS standings list teams’ games played (GP), wins, losses, draws, points, and more. In the current MLS format (2024–2025), each team plays 34 regular-season games – 17 at home and 17 away. This means the “Games Played” column in the standings can reach a total of 34 by season’s end. In this article, we’ll break down exactly how those 34 games are structured, why that number was chosen, and what it means for the standings and playoffs.

Table of Contents

Whether you’re a new fan or a long-time enthusiast, you’ll learn everything about the MLS schedule and standings (plus helpful FAQs) to fully understand the league’s format.

Understanding the MLS Standings and “Games Played”

The MLS standings (or league table) ranks teams by points earned during the season. It typically includes columns such as GP (Games Played), W (Wins), L (Losses), D (Draws), GF (Goals For), GA (Goals Against), GD (Goal Differential), and Pts (Points). Each column tells part of the story of a team’s season.

GP (Games Played): How many matches each team has played so far. By the end of the season this will be 34 for every team in the standings.
W, L, D: The number of games a team has won, lost, or drawn.
GF, GA, GD: Goals scored, goals conceded, and the goal difference (GF minus GA).
Pts (Points): The total points earned (3 for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss). Teams are ranked by points, and tiebreakers (like total wins, goal differential, etc.) if needed.

Figure: A stadium scoreboard during an MLS match – the standings will eventually list up to 34 games per team once the regular season concludes.

Understanding Games Played (GP) is key to the standings. As matches occur each week, the GP column increases for each team. For example, after 10 matchdays, most teams will have GP=10. By Decision Day (the final matchday, typically in mid-October), each team’s GP will reach 34. The number of games (34) is fixed for all teams – nobody plays more or fewer in the regular season. This uniform schedule ensures fairness: all teams have equal opportunity to earn points.

MLS Regular Season: 34 Games Per Team

In MLS, the regular season schedule consists of 34 matches per team. This long-standing format is used year after year, and has been in place since the league expanded in 2011. Each team’s 34 games break down evenly into 17 home and 17 away matches. Thus, the maximum “Games Played” (GP) in the standings for a full season is 34.

Total Games: 34 per team (17 home + 17 away).
2024 Season: Each of the 29 teams played 34 games.
2025 Season: With 30 teams, each plays 34 games.
Historical Note: When MLS had 18 teams (2011), each team also played 34 games (each opponent twice).

In practice, this means the standings’ GP column will count up to 34 for every team. For example, if you check the Conference Standings on the official MLS site late in the season, all teams will show GP=34 (barring any unusual cancellations). The table then determines playoff spots: the top teams by points in each conference advance to the MLS Cup playoffs. (Playoff games are not counted in the regular-season standings.)

Conference vs. Cross-Conference Games

The 34-game schedule is achieved by a combination of intra-conference and inter-conference matches. MLS is divided into two conferences (Eastern and Western), each with 15 teams (in 2025). The breakdown is:

Intra-conference games (28): Each team plays the other 14 teams in its conference twice (one home, one away), for a total of 28 games. This double round-robin ensures that within a conference, teams face off evenly.
Inter-conference games (6): Each team also plays 6 games against teams from the opposite conference. These 6 are single matchups against six different teams in the other conference (home or away, determined by schedule rotation).

Together, 28 + 6 = 34 games. In summary:

28 intra-conference games: Home-and-away vs. each same-conference team.
6 cross-conference games: One match (home or away) against six teams from the other conference.

This structure balances regional rivalries (conference matchups) with a taste of inter-conference play. It also explains why some teams in the standings may have faced one another only once or not at all in a given season. The exact cross-conference opponents rotate year to year, but the total remains 6.

Figure: Soccer players battle on the field – each MLS team will do this 34 times in a season (17 home games, 17 away). The standings’ “Games Played” column will reach 34.

MLS’s use of a 34-game schedule aligns with the number of teams: with 15 teams per conference, a double round-robin yields 28 games, plus additional inter-conference games to reach 34. If MLS were to expand significantly, the league could adjust (e.g. more teams per conference or additional games), but as of 2025 the format is stable at 34 games.

Why 34 Games? The Logic of the MLS Schedule

Why does MLS use 34 games instead of, say, 38 like some European leagues? The answer lies in league size and logistics:

Conference Size: With 15 teams per conference in 2025, a balanced schedule (home and away against each conference rival) naturally gives 28 games. Adding 6 cross-conference games brings the total to 34.
Travel and Calendar: Unlike many European leagues, MLS seasons run spring–fall (February/March to October). A 34-game format fits well within this calendar and limits travel burden across North America.
Stability Since 2011: When new teams joined in 2011 (for 18 total), MLS moved to 34 games by having each team play all others twice. As more teams joined, the league kept the 34-game model, adjusting conference assignments as needed.
Comparison to Other Leagues: For context, England’s Premier League has 20 teams and 38 games per team (home and away vs. 19 opponents). MLS, with currently 30 teams, has fewer games because its conferences and schedule are structured differently.

In short, 34 games per team is the sweet spot for MLS’s current format. Every team ends up playing the same number of games, ensuring the standings are fair. If MLS were to expand to an even number of teams per conference (e.g. 16 and 16), the league might explore 38 games or a modified schedule. For now, all official sources – from MLS’s own guidelines to Wikipedia – confirm: each MLS team plays 34 games in the regular season.

Implications for the Standings and Playoffs

Knowing that there are 34 games per team helps interpret the standings and playoff race:

Maximum Points: A perfect season would yield 102 points (34 wins × 3 points) – unheard of, but it shows the scale. In reality, top teams often reach the mid-70s to 80s in points. (For example, Inter Miami set a Supporters’ Shield record with 85 points in 2023.)
Standings Columns: The “Games Played” (GP) column will steadily fill from 0 up to 34 as the season progresses. By Decision Day (final matchday), every team should have GP=34. Teams with games in hand will have GP less than 34 temporarily, but the schedule evens out.
Playoff Qualification: In 2025, the top 7 teams from each conference automatically qualify for the playoffs, and the next two in each conference enter a wild-card play-in. (Note: MLS playoff formats can change – e.g. 2023 expanded playoffs to include more teams – but the regular season GP count remains 34.)
Tiebreakers: If teams are level on points, MLS applies tiebreakers. The first tiebreaker is total wins, followed by goal differential and goals scored. Subsequent tie-breaking criteria ensure a clear ordering in the standings.
Standings Example: Imagine Team A and Team B both have 60 points after 34 games. If Team A has 18 wins and Team B has 17 wins, Team A ranks higher (since most wins is the first tiebreaker).

Total Games in the League

With 30 teams each playing 34 games, the total number of matches in an MLS regular season is 510 (because each match involves two teams: 30×34/2 = 510). This is useful for scheduling (34 weeks with one match per team each week) and media planning. Fans watching a full round of games are seeing 15 matches per matchday on average.

Standings, Playoffs, and Beyond

It’s important to note that the MLS standings only include regular-season games. Playoff games (postseason) are not counted in the GP column. Once the regular season finishes (34 games each), the standings determine playoff seeding and titles like the Supporters’ Shield (best regular-season record). Postseason results (MLS Cup playoffs and Cup) are separate competitions.

Overall, knowing that each team’s regular season consists of 34 games means you can read the standings correctly. When you see GP=34 in the final table, that team has completed the full slate of matches. If GP is less than 34 mid-season, that team has games remaining.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How many games does each MLS team play in a season?
A: Each MLS team plays 34 regular-season games (17 at home and 17 away). This format has been used since 2011 and continues in 2024–2025. The “Games Played” column in the standings will count up to 34 for each team by season’s end.

Q: What does “Games Played” (GP) mean in the standings?
A: “Games Played” (GP) is simply the number of matches a team has completed in the season. In the MLS standings, GP will increase from 0 (before the season starts) to 34 (after Decision Day). It includes only regular-season matches, not preseason or playoffs.

Q: Why isn’t the number of games higher, like 38 or 40?
A: MLS uses 34 games because of its size and structure. With 30 teams (15 per conference) in 2025, the schedule of 34 ensures each team plays others in its conference home-and-away (28 games) plus 6 cross-conference games. Other leagues (e.g. English Premier League) have 20 teams and 38 games, but MLS’s format and calendar lead to 34.

Q: Are playoff games included in the MLS standings games total?
A: No. The standings show only regular-season games. Playoff games are part of the postseason and are not counted in GP, W/L/D columns of the regular-season table. Playoffs begin after all 34 games are played by each team.

Q: Do all teams end up playing 34 games? What if a game is postponed or canceled?
A: The schedule is designed so every team plays 34 games. Occasionally a match might be postponed (due to weather, etc.) and rescheduled, but the league aims to complete all 34 games. In very rare cases (like the 2020 pandemic), the format was shortened; however, barring such extraordinary events, each team finishes with 34 games in the table.

Q: How does the MLS points system work with these 34 games?
A: Teams earn 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. Over 34 games, teams accumulate points to determine their rank in the standings. The team with the most points at the end of the regular season wins the Supporters’ Shield, and the top teams qualify for the playoffs.

Q: How can I view the MLS standings and stats?
A: Official MLS standings (including games played) are published on the MLS website (mlssoccer.com) under Standings. Sports news sites (ESPN, Fox Sports, etc.) also display the current table. These are updated after each matchday, reflecting the latest GP, points, and other stats.

Q: How does MLS handle tiebreakers if teams are level on points?
A: If two or more teams tie on points after 34 games, MLS applies tiebreakers. The first tiebreaker is total wins; next is goal differential (GD); then goals scored (GF). Further criteria include fewer disciplinary points, away goals, etc. This ensures a unique ordering in the final standings.

Conclusion

To answer the question “How Many Games are in the MLS Standings?” – each MLS team plays 34 regular-season games. This means that by the end of the season, the standings table will show 34 games played for every team (17 at home, 17 away). Understanding this clarifies the “Games Played” column and the balance of the schedule.

Whether you’re tracking your favorite team or analyzing the league table, knowing that 34 games make up the full MLS regular season helps you interpret points and rankings correctly. Feel free to share this guide on social media or comment below with your thoughts on the MLS schedule. Let us know how you think this season will unfold, and keep an eye on the standings as the teams fight through all 34 games!

Sources: Official MLS rules and guides confirm the 34-game format, and historical records (MLS 2024 and 2011 seasons) also show each team playing 34 matches. These citations provide the basis for our explanation of the MLS schedule and standings.