Rivalries, road trips, and realignment: A five-division proposal for MLS

Adam Booker

27 Aug 2025 — 3 min read

As Major League Soccer continues to expand the idea of realigning the league into more geographically compact divisions is an increasingly practical and exciting prospect.

With the league set at 30 teams (for now), organizing them into five divisions of six teams each provides an opportunity to enhance regional rivalries, and create a structure more familiar to fans of other North American sports.

Here’s a proposed breakdown of the 30 MLS teams into those divisions, based primarily on geography, historic rivalries, and regional identity.

Northeast Division

The Northeast Division would bring together some of the league's biggest cities and fiercest rivalries. From the Hudson River Derby in New York/New Jersey, to the Canadian Classique north of the border, this division is packed with tradition. The proximity of these cities also means shorter travel times and strong local fan engagement.

New England Revolution
New York City FC
New York Red Bulls
Philadelphia Union
CF Montréal
Toronto FC

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