USA Football League: A Complete Guide to Football in the United States

Football in the United States has never been more relevant on the global stage. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup arriving on American soil this summer, Major League Soccer celebrating its 31st season, Lionel Messi lighting up stadiums coast to coast, and a new generation of US players competing at the highest levels in Europe, football in the USA is in the middle of a genuine transformation.

For international bettors and football fans who want to follow and bet on the USA football league landscape, this guide covers everything you need to know. You will learn about Major League Soccer, its key clubs, the wider American football league pyramid, the World Cup connection, and how you can place bets on US football at 96.com.

What Is the USA Football League?

When people refer to the USA football league in a soccer context, they are typically referring to Major League Soccer, which is the top tier of professional football in the United States. MLS is the recognised Division One league, sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation and affiliated with CONCACAF and FIFA.

However, the USA football league system extends well beyond MLS. The full pyramid includes multiple professional and semi-professional divisions, with the USL Championship operating as the second division and USL League One sitting at the third tier. This structure supports hundreds of clubs across the country and gives football a genuine competitive depth from coast to coast.

Major League Soccer: The Premier USA Football League

Origins and Growth

Major League Soccer was established in 1993 as part of the conditions attached to the United States hosting the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The league officially launched in 1996 with ten founding teams, and its first MLS Cup was won by D.C. United.

The journey from that 10-team startup to the 30-club league it is today has involved enormous growth, significant risks and some genuinely transformative decisions. The introduction of soccer-specific stadiums, the Designated Player Rule that allowed clubs to sign international stars and heavy investment in youth academies all played a role in building a product that could sustain long-term fan interest.

In 2025, MLS celebrated its 30th season. Average club valuations surpassed $700 million, with five clubs valued above $1 billion. The league now fields 30 teams across the United States and Canada, with all 510 regular-season matches available on Apple TV in 2026.

The 2026 MLS Season

The 2026 MLS season kicked off on 21 February at the LA Coliseum in Los Angeles, with the opening fixture pitting Los Angeles FC against Inter Miami. That match showcased two of the biggest stars currently playing in America: Lionel Messi for Inter Miami and Son Heung-min for LAFC, who joined the Los Angeles club ahead of the 2026 season.

Inter Miami are defending MLS Cup champions after winning the 2025 title by defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3 goals to 1 in the final. Messi, who scored 29 league goals during the regular season and finished with 43 goal contributions across all competitions in 2025, is targeting consecutive MLS Cup glory.

Inter Miami also opened its new home ground, Freedom Park, a 25,000-seat venue near Miami International Airport, in April 2026. The club had spent six seasons playing at a temporary facility while the permanent stadium was developed.

MLS paused after matches on 24 May 2026 to allow for the FIFA World Cup, with the league scheduled to return to action on 16 July, three days before the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Key MLS Teams to Follow

Understanding the leading clubs in the USA football league gives you a stronger foundation for following matches and assessing betting markets.

Inter Miami CF

Inter Miami CF are the most high-profile club in the league right now, built around Lionel Messi, whose arrival in 2023 transformed the commercial and competitive landscape of American football. David Beckham serves as club president, and Inter Miami have now won two Supporters’ Shields and one MLS Cup.

Los Angeles FC

Los Angeles FC are one of the strongest clubs in the Western Conference and a consistent contender for the MLS Cup. Their signing of Son Heung-min made the 2026 season opener one of the most anticipated matches in MLS history.

LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy are the most decorated club in MLS history, having won five MLS Cup titles. They remain a major market club and a consistent presence in the Western Conference playoff picture.

The New England Revolution

The New England Revolution are one of the founding MLS clubs and a consistently competitive force in the Eastern Conference. They have appeared in multiple MLS Cup finals throughout the league’s history.

Seattle Sounders FC

Seattle Sounders FC are one of the strongest clubs the league has produced in recent years, winning back-to-back MLS Cups in 2019 and 2022 as well as earning CONCACAF Champions Cup glory. They competed in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup alongside Inter Miami and Los Angeles FC.

New York City FC and New York Red Bulls

New York City FC and New York Red Bulls both represent the New York market, giving the USA’s largest city two competing top-flight clubs that generate strong local rivalry and betting interest.

Portland Timbers, Atlanta United and Austin FC

Portland Timbers, Atlanta United and Austin FC are among the other clubs that have built passionate supporter cultures and strong competitive records in recent seasons.

The USA Football League Pyramid

Beyond MLS, the American football pyramid offers further competitive football across multiple levels.

The USL Championship is the second division of American football, operating as a Division Two league under US Soccer Federation sanctioning. The 2025 USL Championship was won by Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. The league has 25 clubs and offers a development pathway to MLS.

USL League One is the third tier, featuring 17 clubs in 2026 and providing further professional competition below the USL Championship. One Knoxville SC won the 2025 USL League One title.

MLS Next Pro operates as the reserve and development league for MLS clubs, giving younger players competitive experience within club environments. The New York Red Bulls II won the 2025 MLS Next Pro title.

The US Soccer Federation is also evaluating a potential rival to MLS at the top level, after the United Soccer League announced its intention to create a new Division One men’s professional league to challenge MLS’s status as the sole top-flight competition.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup: Football in the USA on the Biggest Stage

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, running from 11 June to 19 July 2026. The USA will host 11 of the 16 host cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Seattle and San Francisco. MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the final.

This is the second time the United States has hosted the men’s World Cup, following the 1994 tournament that directly led to the creation of MLS. The 2026 edition is also the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, expanded from 32, giving more nations the chance to participate.

The tournament arrives at a moment of genuine momentum for American football. MLS players are well represented in World Cup squads, with the league projecting a record number of players featured across national teams competing in 2026. The US national team, coached by Mauricio Pochettino, will play all of its group stage matches on home soil.

The World Cup connection matters for football betting as well. The competition generates enormous global betting interest across every round, from the group stage through to the final, and 96.com covers international football, including the FIFA World Cup.

MLS and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

The United States also hosted the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, the expanded 32-team edition that took place from 14 June to 13 July 2025. Three MLS clubs participated: Inter Miami, Los Angeles FC and Seattle Sounders FC.

Chelsea won the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, defeating Paris Saint-Germain 3 goals to 0 in the final. The tournament’s presence on American soil gave football a massive platform in the country’s largest stadiums and introduced millions of American sports fans to elite global club football ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Betting on the USA Football League and MLS

Following MLS closely gives you a useful foundation for football betting on American fixtures. Here are some practical angles worth considering.

Home advantage in MLS is significant. MLS clubs tend to perform notably better at home, partly because of travel distances between venues. The Eastern and Western Conference structure means clubs regularly face long trips, which affects form and squad fitness.

Fixture congestion affects squad depth. MLS clubs compete in the regular season, MLS Cup Playoffs, US Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions Cup simultaneously. Clubs managing multiple competitions often rotate, which affects which starting line-ups take to the field in any given match.

High-scoring league. MLS typically produces more goals per match than the major European leagues, which can make over and under goals markets particularly active on MLS fixtures. Both teams to score markets are also worth considering when two attacking clubs meet.

Messi factor. When Inter Miami play with Lionel Messi in the starting line-up, markets shift significantly. His presence changes the goalscorer, both teams to score and match result odds considerably. Checking team news before placing bets on Inter Miami fixtures is important, given Messi’s age and the way Miami manages his minutes in a World Cup year.

Live crypto betting on MLS. Because MLS teams play with high pressing and attacking intent, match momentum can shift quickly. Live football betting lets you react to early goals, red cards or tactical changes rather than committing to a view before kick off.

Outright MLS Cup markets. Before each season or at key points during the playoffs, outright markets on MLS Cup winners can offer strong value. Inter Miami have been the most consistent performers in recent seasons, but clubs like LAFC, LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders have the squad depth to challenge in any given year.

How to Bet on the USA Football League at 96.com

You can place bets on MLS and other American football competitions at 96.com in a few simple steps:

Create or log in to your 96.com account.
Deposit using a supported payment method, including crypto where available.
Open the sportsbook.
Select football from the sports menu.
Browse by competition and choose MLS or another available US football league.
Select your match.
Pick your betting market.
Add your selection to the bet slip.
Enter your stake.
Confirm your bet.

You can place pre-match bets before kick-off or use live football betting markets to follow matches in real time as they develop.

Why Use 96.com for Football Betting?

96.com gives you a mobile-friendly way to bet on football from the USA and around the world, with crypto payment support and access to live markets across major competitions.

At 96.com, you can:

Bet on MLS fixtures and other American football competitions
Follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup with pre-match and live betting markets.
Explore live football betting with real-time odds updates during matches.
Build accumulators combining MLS and other global football selections.
Use crypto to deposit and manage your betting account.
Access football markets from a mobile device at any time
Bet across global football, including the Champions League, La Liga, Premier League, Copa America and more, alongside MLS

Final Thoughts on the USA Football League

The USA football league landscape has never been more compelling. MLS is in its 31st season with global superstars on the pitch, a new generation of American players developing at the top level, and the FIFA World Cup arriving on American soil for the first time since 1994. The combination of domestic competition, international exposure and growing investment makes American football a genuine pillar of the global football calendar.

Whether you are following Inter Miami and Lionel Messi, tracking the Western Conference playoff race or placing bets around the 2026 World Cup, the USA football league gives you compelling content across every week of the calendar.

At 96.com, you can follow and bet on MLS and international football online. Always set a budget before you begin, understand what you are backing, and treat football betting as entertainment.

Frequently Asked Questions About the USA Football League

What is the USA Football League?

The main USA football league is Major League Soccer, the top flight of professional football in the United States. MLS launched in 1996 with 10 teams and now operates with 30 clubs across the USA and Canada. The second and third tiers are the USL Championship and USL League One.

Who won the 2025 MLS Cup?

Inter Miami CF won the 2025 MLS Cup, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3 goals to 1 in the final. Lionel Messi scored 29 league goals during the regular season and finished with 43 goal contributions across all competitions.

How many teams are in MLS in 2026?

MLS has 30 clubs in the 2026 season, competing across the Eastern and Western Conferences. The league began in 1996 with 10 teams and has expanded steadily across three decades.

Can I bet on MLS at 96.com?

Yes. At 96.com, you can bet on MLS fixtures and other American football competitions through the sportsbook, with pre-match and live betting markets available across the regular season and playoffs.

Who are the biggest clubs in the USA football league?

Inter Miami CF, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, Seattle Sounders FC and New England Revolution are among the most prominent clubs in MLS. Inter Miami are the defending MLS Cup champion and home to Lionel Messi.

What is the USL Championship?

The USL Championship is the second division of the US football league system, operating below the MLS. It has 25 clubs and offers a competitive pathway for players developing toward the MLS level. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC won the 2025 USL Championship title.

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