In this article, 2hanBall will accompany you to explore whether MLS is part of FIFA, how they’re connected, and what that means for players, clubs, and fans.
Right away: Major League Soccer (MLS) is not a direct member of FIFA—but yes, through its national federations, MLS operates under FIFA’s umbrella. The league itself doesn’t vote in FIFA Congress, but USSF (U.S. Soccer Federation) and CSA—which sanction and govern MLS—are full FIFA members. So, MLS follows FIFA’s rules.
Let’s dig in deeper—how this relationship works, what it implies, and what fans should understand.
What is FIFA and what is MLS
To understand the relationship, we need to define both clearly.
- FIFA is the global governing body of association football (soccer), responsible for international tournaments (World Cup, etc.), setting Laws of the Game, regulating international transfers, discipline, refereeing standards, and so on.
- MLS (Major League Soccer) is a professional club soccer league in the United States and Canada. It’s the top-tier professional league in that region, made up of 27 teams.
How MLS is connected to FIFA
Here’s how the affiliation works in practice:
United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and Canadian Soccer Association (CSA)
- USSF is a full member of FIFA and of the regional confederation CONCACAF. It regulates professional leagues in the U.S., including MLS.
- Similarly, CSA is a full FIFA member, governing soccer in Canada.
Sanctioning and oversight
- MLS is sanctioned by the USSF; that means MLS must comply with USSF’s rules, statutes, and governance frameworks.
- Because USSF (and CSA for Canadian MLS teams) are under CONCACAF and FIFA, MLS is also indirectly subject to FIFA laws—things like player transfers (including International Transfer Matching System), disciplinary codes, refereeing standards, registration rules, etc.
What MLS is not
- MLS is not a member association of FIFA in its own right. It does not have its own independent vote in FIFA assemblies or direct obligations under FIFA statutes beyond those enforced by its national federation.
Key implications for players, clubs, and fans
Understanding this relationship matters for several practical reasons:
International competitions & player eligibility
- MLS clubs can compete in FIFA-sanctioned regional club competitions like the CONCACAF Champions Cup, because their national federations are FIFA members.
- Players in MLS are eligible to be called up by their national teams for World Cup qualifiers, continental tournaments, and friendlies. MLS must release them for FIFA window matches as required under FIFA regulations mediated via USSF/CSA.
Regulation and discipline
- MLS must follow FIFA’s statutes indirectly, for example when it comes to transfer processes, registration of player contracts, disciplinary issues, alignment with the Laws of the Game. If there’s a dispute or issue, the USSF or CSA may be involved in ensuring consistency with CONCACAF / FIFA rules.
Scheduling conflict & international breaks
- Because the league is under USSF (which answers to FIFA), there are tensions sometimes between MLS scheduling and FIFA international windows. MLS has in some cases continued play during FIFA international breaks. This is controversial for fans and clubs especially when key players are away.
Why people get confused
Some commonurces of confusion:
- People assume “part of FIFA” means “direct member”—but that’s not how the governance structure works.
- The league being “sanctioned” vs “member of” are different things. Sanctioned leagues follow regulations through federations; only federations are members of FIFA.
- Because MLS teams play in international competitions, and players go to national teams, it feels like MLS is part of FIFA in the same way that e.g. La Liga or Premier League teams are. In reality, the route is always via USSF/CSA.
Status as of 2025 and relevant updates
- MLS remains a Division I professional league and is officially sanctioned by USSF.
- USSF remains a full FIFA member. CSA remains a full FIFA member.
- There have been debates about MLS participation in some domestic cup competitions (e.g., the U.S. Open Cup) largely due to fixture congestion, competing tournaments, scheduling, and obligations. These also reflect the pressures of complying with both domestic and international (including FIFA/CONCACAF) obligations.
What does this mean for the question “Is MLS part of FIFA”?
Putting it all together:
- Answer: Yes, but indirectly. MLS is not a member of FIFA, but is governed by FIFA through the USSF and CSA, which are full FIFA members. Because of that, MLS clubs and players are bound by FIFA rules where relevant.
That means:
- MLS must follow many FIFA regulations (transfers, international windows, disciplinary actions).
- MLS teams participate in FIFA-sanctioned international competition.
- Players in MLS are subject to FIFA eligibility rules for national team play.
Conclusion
In conclusion, 2hanBall confirms that while MLS is not directly a member of FIFA, it absolutely functions within FIFA’s framework by means of its affiliation through the U.S. Soccer Federation and Canadian Soccer Association. The keyword “is mls part of fifa” leads us to understand that the league and its stakeholders adhere to global rules, compete internationally, and are governed by the institutions that make FIFA’s authority real.
If you want, I can pull up more details: recent rulings, examples of when MLS clashed with FIFA rules, or how MLS’s status compares to other leagues around the world. Want me to dig into that?
