2021 Major League Soccer season
The 2021 Major League Soccer season was the 26th season of Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. The 2021 season included the addition of Austin FC as an expansion club, which took the league to 27 teams.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the season was originally scheduled to begin on April 3, as opposed to the normal late February or early March start. This was later pushed back to April 16, the latest ever start to an MLS season, due to negotiations with the MLS Players Association for a new collective bargaining agreement. The regular season concluded on November 7. The 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs began on November 20, and concluded with MLS Cup 2021 on December 11.
At the beginning of the season, COVID-19 cross-border restrictions imposed by the Canadian government has also made the Canadian teams to play their home matches in the United States from the start of the season, while also sharing stadiums with other American MLS teams. On July 14, MLS announced that a select Toronto FC and CF Montréal matches would be played in Canada while working with the Canadian government on how the matches were to be held. Nearly a week later, the MLS announced that the Canadian teams would play home matches in Canada in August 2021.
The Columbus Crew were the defending champions, having defeated Seattle Sounders FC in MLS Cup 2020 but was eliminated from playoffs during the regular season, while the Philadelphia Union were the defending Supporters' Shield winners. The New England Revolution won their first Supporters' Shield, in the process breaking the record for most regular season points collected. New York City FC won their first ever MLS Cup, beating Portland Timbers in the decider.
Teams
Stadiums and locations
Regular season
Format
Each team played 34 matches, including 17 home games and 17 away games. Due to the difference in the number of teams in each conference, each conference had its own schedule construction format:- All 14 Eastern Conference teams played six regional Eastern Conference opponents three times and the remaining seven Eastern Conference opponents twice. Each of them also played two cross conference games against different opponents.
- 11 out of the 13 Western Conference teams played eight regional Western Conference opponents three times and the remaining four Western Conference opponents twice. Each of them also played two cross conference games against different opponents.
- The remaining two teams from the Western Conference played seven Western Conference opponents three times and the remaining five Western Conference opponents twice. Each of them also played three cross conference games against different opponents.
Tiebreakers
The tie-breaker was used in this order:- Points
- Total wins
- Total goal differential
- Total goals scored
- Fewer disciplinary points
- Away goal differential
- Away goals scored
- Home goals differential
- Home goals scored
- Coin toss or drawing of lots
- Foul
- Technical area warning
- Yellow card
- Second yellow card
- Straight red card
- Coach dismissal
- Any supplemental discipline
Overall table
The leading team in this table wins the Supporters' Shield.Fixtures and results
All cross-conference matches are shown on the Eastern Conference table. In some cases, a team hosted another more than once; in this case, the first matchup is listed on top and the second is listed below.COVID-19 restrictions
From the start of the season, all Canadian teams played home matches behind closed doors at venues in a U.S. market due to Canadian border restrictions.On July 14, MLS announced that both CF Montreal and Toronto FC planned to return to playing matches at their home stadiums beginning July 17, citing new policies allowing vaccinated individuals to enter the country without 14 days self-isolation, provided that they test negative on a COVID-19 test. Unvaccinated individuals must still self-isolate, but a member of the MLS Players Association stated that nearly 95% of the league's player pool had been vaccinated, and Toronto FC manager Ali Curtis stated that all but two of their players were fully vaccinated. Toronto FC planned to admit 7,000 essential workers for the first match before expanding to 15,000 for subsequent matches, and CF Montreal planned to admit 5,000. However, Sportsnet reported that the plans had not yet been formally approved by the Public Health Agency of Canada, and that the Canadian government was expected to issue a statement on the matter.
| Team | Limitations | Source | |
| Austin FC | All Home matches starting with the first home match at Q2 Stadium scheduled for June 19, 2021 to be operated at full capacity | ||
| Atlanta United FC | Capped at 50% capacity at start of season. Operating at full capacity since May 15, 2021. | ||
| Chicago Fire FC | Capped at 25% capacity from start of season. | ||
| FC Cincinnati | First home match at TQL Stadium was held on May 16, 2021. Capped up to 6,000 fans since the home opening match. Operating at full capacity since May 24, 2021. | ||
| Colorado Rapids | Capped at 44% capacity from start of season. | ||
| Columbus Crew | Capped at 30% capacity from start of season at Historic Crew Stadium. Operating at full capacity since June 20, 2021, including at Lower.com Field. | ||
| D.C. United | Capped at 25% capacity from start of season. Operating at full capacity since June 20, 2021. | ||
| FC Dallas | Capped at 50% capacity from start of season. Plans to have full capacity starting June 1, 2021. | ||
| Houston Dynamo FC | Capped at 30% capacity from start of season. | ||
| Inter Miami CF | Capped at 45% capacity for the first 3 matches of the season. Current plan is to host 16,000 fans starting May 29. | ||
| LA Galaxy | Allowed at least 100 spectators per match. Operating at full capacity since June 19. | ||
| Los Angeles FC | Currently allow at least 100 spectators per match. Operating at full capacity since June 19, 2021. | ||
| Minnesota United FC | Capped at 25% capacity from start of season. | ||
| CF Montréal | Home matches played at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale and in other stadiums were played without any audience. All home matches played at Saputo Stadium since July 17 are currently capped at 5,000 fans. | ||
| Nashville SC | Capped at 40% capacity from start of season. | ||
| New England Revolution | Capped at 12% capacity from start of season. | ||
| New York City FC | Capped at 20% capacity from start of season. Negative COVID-19 PCR test within past 72 hours, negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test within past 6 hours, or vaccination completed no fewer than 14 days prior to the game required to enter for home matches at Yankee Stadium; although this is no longer a requirement since June 15, 2021. Capacity for home matches at Red Bull Arena will also be capped at 15%. | ||
| New York Red Bulls | Capped at 15% capacity from start of season. | ||
| Orlando City SC | Capped at 50% capacity from start of season. Opened to 100% capacity beginning June 22. | ||
| Philadelphia Union | Capped at 30% capacity from start of season. | ||
| Portland Timbers | Capped at 25% capacity from start of season. Starting June 19, the Timbers will allow 80% capacity with spectators 16 and over required to be fully vaccinated. | ||
| Real Salt Lake | Capped at 50% capacity from start of season. | ||
| San Jose Earthquakes | Capped at 20% capacity from start of season. | ||
| Seattle Sounders FC | Capped at 25% capacity from start of season. | ||
| Sporting Kansas City | Capped at 35% capacity from start of season. Opened to 100% capacity beginning May 29. | ||
| Toronto FC | Home matches played at Exploria Stadium in Orlando before July were played with no audience. Home matches played at BMO Field were capped at 7,000 fans on July 17 followed by 15,000 fans since July 21. | ||
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Have returned to BC Place |
Attendance
Average home attendances
Games without fans are not counted in averages or games played. Additionally, multiple games did not have their attendance listed and are also not counted in averages or games played.Highest attendances
Regular season| Rank | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance | Date | Week | Stadium |
| 1 | Atlanta United FC | 0–1 | Columbus Crew | 67,507 | 13 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | |
| 2 | Atlanta United FC | 1–0 | New York Red Bulls | 67,503 | 19 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | |
| 3 | Seattle Sounders FC | 1–3 | Portland Timbers | 45,737 | 22 | Lumen Field | |
| 4 | Atlanta United FC | 0–0 | New York Red Bulls | 42,575 | 9 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | |
| 5 | Atlanta United FC | 2–2 | Philadelphia Union | 42,523 | 8 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | |
| 6 | Atlanta United FC | 0–1 | New England Revolution | 42,517 | 12 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | |
| 7 | Atlanta United FC | 2–2 | Nashville SC | 40,748 | 7 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | |
| 8 | Atlanta United FC | 1–0 | CF Montréal | 40,116 | 5 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | |
| 9 | Seattle Sounders FC | 1–3 | Sporting Kansas City | 32,790 | 13 | Lumen Field | |
| 10 | Seattle Sounders FC | 0–1 | San Jose Earthquakes | 32,704 | 14 | Lumen Field |
Player movement
The 2020 MLS Expansion Draft was held on December 15, 2020, at 10:00 am.Player statistics
Hat-tricks
| Player | For | Against | Score | Date | |||||||||
 Clean sheets
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