Major League Soccer to expand to 30 teams

League is in talks with Sacramento and St Louis about joining

LOS ANGELES: Major League Soccer said Thursday it plans to expand to 30 teams, but was unable to say when or which cities it would add to reach that figure.

The league, which currently has 24 teams in the US and Canada, said Thursday that it would charge the 28th and 29th teams an expansion fee of $200 million.



The league said it is in talks with Sacramento and St Louis about joining the league. No details were given for the fee or possible name of a 30th expansion team.

"Professional soccer at all levels is thriving in the United States and Canada and we believe there are many markets that could support a successful MLS club," MLS commissioner Don Garber said on Thursday.

Garber was speaking at the league's board of governors meeting in Los Angeles.



Sacramento currently has a team that competes in the second tier United Soccer League.

FC Cincinnati became the 24th MLS team after joining the league this season.

The next MLS cities added will be Nashville and Miami next year and Austin FC in Texas, in 2021.