It was also the 102nd season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 36th with a national first-division league.

The MLS Cup Playoffs began on October 29 and ended on December 7, when the LA Galaxy claimed their fifth league title by defeating the New England Revolution, 2–1, in MLS Cup Teams played 34 games: 17 at home and 17 away.

[3] A proposal to cut the regular season to 28 matches and allow for balanced in-conference schedules was reported in the media but not adopted.

Major League Soccer employs twelve methods to acquire players.

The allocation rankings may also be used in the event two or more clubs file a request for the same player on the same day.

The allocations will be ranked in reverse order of finish for the 2013 season, taking playoff performance into account.

Once the club uses its allocation ranking to acquire a player, it drops to the bottom of the list.

For the first time in league history, the away goals rule will be used in two-legged MLS Cup playoff matches.

The team salary cap, which as in previous years covers the first 20 of the 30 available roster spots, has increased to $3.1 million.