From brilliant goals to scoreless draws, stupendous transfers to woeful campaigns, it was a year to remember in MLS
The 2024 MLS campaign has officially wrapped, with the regular season coming to an end with one of the most dramatic Decision Days ever.
Atlanta United jumpied into the postseason unexpectedly, eliminating Golden Boot winner Christian Benteke and D.C. United from contention, while LAFC stole the regular season Western Conference title out from underneath the LA Galaxy.
Those are just two moments across 39 matchdays, though. For nine months, MLS sides made the push for the ultimate goal of qualifying for the playoffs. Some, such as the Columbus Crew and Inter Miami, were brilliant and played to their standard. Others, such as St. Louis CITY SC, San Jose Earthquakes and the New England Revolution, were unmitigated failures.
From brilliant goals to scoreless draws, from stupendous transfers to woeful campaigns, it was a year to remember – well, for most. GOAL hands out regular season grades for all 29 MLS teams.
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USA Today Images29San Jose Earthquakes: F
"Everything is a disaster, frankly. We can’t talk about next year because I don’t know if I’m going to be here next year. I don’t know if some of the guys in the locker room will be here."
That was striker Jeremy Ebobisse, who said it best after a Sept. 21 loss to CITY. There's nothing more to add, really.
They were the worst team in MLS this season, and frankly, it was not close. They had no head coach, a skeleton of a roster and a squad with little to no confidence in the direction of the club.
They ended their campaign with just six total wins in 35 matches, claiming the Wooden Spoon, while setting the most undesirable MLS record of having the worst defense in league history, conceding 78-total goals.
A change of direction is a must.
Advertisement28New England Revolution: F
Caleb Porter's debut season with New England was, frankly, a disaster. The Revolution missed the postseason, finishing 26th in the Supporters' Shield standings, while tying San Jose for the worst goal-differential in the league at -37.
The lowest-scoring team in the league with just 37 total goals, the Revs averaged just .91 points-per-game this season.
Porter was brought in to elevate the team, as he's a two-time MLS Cup-winning manager. That did not happen. From feuding with a local media member in a press conference to being fined, suspended by MLS in September for comments about referees, to reportedly arguing with his own players in public, nothing went well.
And this entire roster will likely be re-evaluated, too.
27Chicago Fire: D-
Chicago's 2024 season was full of twists and turns, but ultimately, one to forget. There was progress made though, in terms of establishing a future for 2025.
Going 7-18-9 (WLD) across the campaign, the Fire finished bottom of the Eastern Conference, and 28th in the league standings. Nothing clicked defensively or offensively, despite bringing in reinforcements before the campaign began.
The positive spin, though, is they look set to compete next year.
The departure of Designated Player Xherdan Shaqiri took one of MLS' most expensive players off their books, while they also brought in a club-record signing in striker Hugo Cuypers. Add in that they'll be led by ex-USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter in 2025, and there's some light at the end of the tunnel. However, their 2024 campaign is one to forget.
26Sporting Kansas City: D-
Sporting had one of worst campaigns in their history in 2024. The lone highlight was their impressive U.S. Open Cup run, where they ended as runners-up in the historic tournament. However, their regular season was, as best, uneventful.
They finished 27th in the race for the MLS Supporters' Shield, averaging .91 points-per-game with a record of 8-19-7 (WDL). Conceding 66 goals, they had the league's third-worst defense, too.
Peter Vermes, who has been in charge of the club since 2009, is a coach to watch this offseason. He's long been the heart of Sporting as a soccer team, but change may be needed if they want to revert to their winning ways.
Their last Cup title came in 2017, and their last MLS Cup was in 2013.
