FM24 Guide: MLS

The Unique Challenges of MLS

For fans of both football and Football Manager, Major League Soccer (MLS) offers a distinctive and exciting challenge. With its unique rules, salary caps, and intricate roster-building mechanisms, managing an MLS team in Football Manageris a refreshing departure from the traditional European league experience. The recent arrival of global superstar Lionel Messi and his high-profile friends at Inter Miami has further elevated the league’s status, blending international talent with homegrown development to create a captivating environment for both players and fans.

Here’s what you need to know to succeed in the world of American soccer:

Understanding the MLS League Structure

MLS operates unlike most other football leagues, with a franchise-based system and no promotion or relegation. The league features two conferences—Eastern and Western—each with its own schedule dynamics. Teams play a total of 34 regular-season matches, divided between intra-conference and inter-conference games, with unique scheduling quirks that reflect the uneven number of teams in each conference.

• Eastern Conference: Each team plays two matches against every other conference opponent and one match against six teams from the Western Conference.
• Western Conference: Teams face intra-conference opponents twice and one or two additional matches within the conference, plus single matches against either six or seven Eastern Conference teams.

The regular season builds toward the MLS Cup Playoffs, where the top seven teams from each conference earn automatic qualification. Teams finishing in eighth and ninth place enter a Wild Card match to claim the final playoff spot. From the first round onward, matches are decided in a best-of-three format, culminating in the MLS Cup Final in early December.

Conquering the Playoffs

Unlike the season-long league tables of Europe, MLS emphasizes the playoffs as the ultimate prize. Reaching the playoffs requires consistent performance to secure a top-nine spot in your conference, but true glory lies in navigating the high-stakes knockout rounds and winning the MLS Cup.

Mastering the Additional Competitions

Beyond the MLS season, teams contend in prestigious knockout tournaments such as the U.S. Open Cup, North American Champions Cup, and Leagues Cup, providing further opportunities to build your legacy and showcase your managerial skills.

Whether you’re captivated by the allure of high-profile signings or intrigued by the league’s distinctive structure, MLS offers a one-of-a-kind football experience that challenges even the most seasoned managers.

MLS Squad Building Rules

Mastering the squad registration rules is crucial in MLS, especially with the salary cap:

• Salary Cap: For 2024, it's set at £4.170 million p/a. You've got different contract types to juggle:
  • On Budget:
    • Senior Contracts: Standard pro contracts.
    • Designated Players (DP): For the big earners.
    • Young Designated Player (YDP) & U22 Initiative: For young stars with less cap impact.
  • Off Budget:
    • Generation Adidas (GA): League-funded for top college prospects.
    • MLS Reserve (RES): For new, young players under 25.
    • Senior Minimum Salary (SMS): Can be on or off budget.
    • Homegrown Players: From your academy, always off-budget initially.
• Roster Rules: You can have up to 30 players, but only 20 can be Seniors affecting your cap. Adjust your roster during the season if players are injured for long periods.
• International Slots: Each team gets 8, but you can trade for more. Canadian teams have 11 and must have 3 Canadians.
• Choice: Do you go for a few high-profile players or a larger, more flexible squad?

TRADES AND TRANSFERS

Trading is a big deal in MLS:

• What You Can Trade: Players, money (GAM, TAM), draft picks, player rights, and international slots.
• Player Rights: If you have rights to a player, even if they're not with you, you can use these in trades.
• Money Management: Use GAM and TAM to make contracts fit under the cap or to convert a DP to a senior player.

DRAFTS

MLS has several drafts:

• SuperDraft: In January, pick up to four players from college. The draft order favors the worst teams from last season.

• Waiver Drafts: Before and after the season to pick up players others don't want.
• Re-Entry Draft: For players out of contract. Stage 1 gives automatic extensions, Stage 2 requires new contract negotiations.

Top Tips to Master the MLS

• Strategy: use different contract types wisely. You can't just give out Reserve deals to everyone!
• Budget: stay within the salary cap. Use allocation money to adjust contracts.
• Trading: make smart trades. Don't let good players go for free if you can't afford them.
• Drafts: they're your chance to find gems without breaking the bank. Scout well during showcase games.