Although it has a long way to go before it can compete with soccer leagues across Europe, Major League Soccer in North America has established itself as a premier soccer league. Despite lower availability than other major sports betting lines, many sportsbooks accept action on MLS matches, futures, and props throughout the year.
With the help of this MLS betting guide, you can learn the basics of betting on soccer and how the leagues work in the United States. We will cover the legalities, the best betting options, supplementary soccer information, and much more.
The Best MLS Betting Sites 2026
| Site Name | Current Bonus | Age | U.S. | Visit Site | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | 75% Up To $750 | 18+ |  | Visit Site Review |
| 2 |  | 50% Max $250 | 18+ | | Visit Site Review |
| 3 |  | 25% Max $500 | 18+ | | Visit Site Review |
| 4 |  | 125% Max $3,125 | 18+ | | Visit Site Review |
| 5 |  | 100% Max $1,000 | 21+ | | Visit Site Review |
| 6 |  | 50% Max $250 | 18+ | | Visit Site Review |
| 7 |  | 50% Max $200 | 21+ | | Visit Site Review |
2026 MLS Schedule
- MLS Season Begins: February 2026
- MLS Playoffs: October 22, 2026
- 2026 MLS Cup: December 6th
How To Bet On Major League Soccer
With the growing availability of legal sports gambling in the United States, placing bets on the FIFA World Cup and other soccer games has never been easier. If you are in a state with regulated in-person sports betting, a soccer wager is as easy as telling a casino clerk your request.
Thankfully, online options are not much more complex. With most applications and websites, there is a dedicated “MLS” or “soccer” tab that offers the option to place money on the desired match, future, or proposition bet. With a verified email address and a funded account, gambling is just a few clicks away.
Common MLS Bet Types
MLS sportsbooks offer many of the same wagering options found across international soccer leagues. Bettors can wager on individual matches, player performance, season-long results, and the MLS Cup Playoffs, with available markets varying by sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Bet on the home team, away team, or draw to win the match in regulation.
- Three-Way Moneyline: Offers separate odds for a home win, away win, or draw after 90 minutes plus stoppage time.
- Draw No Bet: Removes the draw from the wager. If the match finishes tied, the stake is generally refunded.
- Totals: Bet on whether the combined number of goals will finish over or under a sportsbook's posted total, such as 2.5 goals.
- Both Teams to Score: Wager on whether both clubs will score at least one goal during the match.
- Asian Handicap: Gives one team a virtual goal advantage or disadvantage to create more balanced betting lines.
- Player Props: Markets can include anytime goalscorer, first goalscorer, shots, assists, and other individual statistics.
- Futures: Longer-term wagers include MLS Cup winner, conference champion, Supporters' Shield winner, and other season awards.
- Live Betting: Odds update throughout a match, allowing bettors to wager on the result, next goal, totals, and other markets after kickoff.
MLS Betting Odds - Who Will Win The 2026 MLS Cup?
The MLS playoffs begin each October, but the odds to win the MLS Cup are available year-round on many sportsbooks. Below are the current soccer futures odds to win the 2026 MLS Cup.
How Do the MLS Playoffs Work?
The MLS Cup Playoffs feature the top nine teams from the Eastern and Western Conferences, creating an 18-team postseason field. The top seven clubs in each conference advance directly to the first round, while the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds must compete in a Wild Card match for the final spot in the bracket.
The Wild Card round is a single-elimination game hosted by the No. 8 seed. If the score is tied after 90 minutes, the match goes directly to a penalty shootout with no extra time. The winner advances to face the No. 1 seed in its conference.
Round One uses a best-of-three format rather than the two-leg aggregate format common in many soccer competitions. The matchups are No. 1 versus the Wild Card winner, No. 2 versus No. 7, No. 3 versus No. 6, and No. 4 versus No. 5. The higher seed hosts Games 1 and 3, when necessary, while the lower seed hosts Game 2. The first club to win two matches advances, and any game tied after 90 minutes goes directly to penalties.
Beginning with the Conference Semifinals, the playoffs switch to a traditional single-elimination format. The higher-seeded team hosts each Conference Semifinal and Conference Final, and tied matches include two 15-minute periods of extra time before penalties are used if necessary. The Eastern and Western Conference champions then meet in MLS Cup to determine the league champion.
This format creates several different opportunities for MLS bettors. Sportsbooks may offer moneylines, totals, goal props, advancement odds, series prices during Round One, conference winner futures, and MLS Cup futures throughout the postseason. Bettors should pay particular attention to home-field advantage because higher seeds can host two of the three Round One games and continue to receive hosting advantages during the later single-elimination rounds.
2026 MLS Teams
The MLS was founded in December 1993 and began play in 1996 with ten teams. Since then, the league has undergone several changes among teams. Luckily for the league, most changes have been expansion teams as it continues to grow in popularity. are MLS currently has 30 teams.
Soccer Betting Tips
The biggest tip for betting on soccer is to become familiar with the rules and gameplay, whether it's MLS, Premier League, or another soccer league. As soccer is not the most popular sport in America, many bettors may not fully understand the game and how bets can be strategized.
Aside from understanding soccer, other tips include managing your bankroll and shopping the odds.
- Manage bankroll: the key to any successful business is maintaining a healthy stream of cash. With betting, that includes making deposits, winning bets, and limiting losses. A general rule of thumb is to only bet 1-3% of your total bankroll per line. This strategy allows for more bets over time and smaller losses in the long run.
- Shop odds: There are many sportsbooks available in the United States and online. Because each one is unique with its own oddsmakers, most books will have different odds for the same competitions. For example, Sportsbook A might give +150 odds on the bet you want to make, while Sportsbook B has +200. With just a few clicks and some research, you could make extra money without doing anything too differently.
Is MLS Betting Legal?
Yes. Betting on soccer odds, including the professional leagues, either domestically or through online sportsbooks, is legal in 48 states in the USA. Bettors can utilize at least one of two sports betting options, depending on their state laws:
- Domestic sportsbooks are regulated locally
- Legal online sportsbooks that are regulated offshore
For states with and without legal domestic sports betting, this guide offers a variety of offshore online sportsbooks that accept MLS bets.