World Cup USA Chairman Alan I. Rothenberg announced plans for Major League Soccer (MLS) on Dec. 17, 1993. Twenty-two cities submitted bids for teams. In October of 1995, it was announced that MLS would begin play in March of 1996 with ten teams: the Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, Dallas Burn, D.C. United, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, MetroStars, New England Revolution, San Jose Clash, and Tampa Bay Mutiny.
The Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion were added as expansion teams in 1998. The MLS originally had two conferences but was reorganized into three divisions, with four teams each, in 2000. However, the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny were dropped before the 2002 season, and the league returned to a two-conference format.
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August 26, 2005 marked a significant day in Australian football history when the first match of the inaugural Hyundai A-League season kicked off in Newcastle. After almost two years in the making, Australia’s latest national competition hit the sporting landscape and the hearts and minds of the Australian public.
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The league was established in 1943 and as of 2011 had 18 clubs. Until June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing for league titles. In July 2011 the league removed group play and now holds two tournaments each season: the Apertura in summer and the Clausura in winter.
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The idea of identifying the strongest champion and cup winner in the country was implemented during Soviet times, when the "Komsomolskaya Pravda" proposed the Cup season. The competition format changed several times, with matches played both on neutral ground and home and away.
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