The 2007 Major League Soccer season was the 12th season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 95th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 29th with a national first-division league.
This year marked the inaugural season for expansion franchise, Toronto FC who began play in the Eastern Conference. Two new soccer-specific stadiums opened as well. The Colorado Rapids moved into Dick's Sporting Goods Park in the Denver-suburb of Commerce City and, before the season began, BMO Field opened for expansion side, Toronto FC.
This season is often cited as the first in the modern-era of Major League Soccer because of the introduction of the Designated Player Rule which permitted each team to sign one big-ticket player without it counting against the salary cap. Six such players were signed for the 2007 season: David Beckham, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Juan Pablo Ángel, Luciano Emilio, Denílson and Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
The regular season began on April 7, and concluded on October 21. The 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs began on October 25, and concluded with MLS Cup 2007 on November 18. For the first time in league history, the same two clubs consecutively won the MLS Cup and the Supporters' Shield. The Houston Dynamo repeated as MLS Cup Champions by defeating the New England Revolution in the final and D.C. United won the Supporters' Shield by edging Chivas USA by two points in the standings.
Overview
Season Format
The season began on April 7 and concluded with MLS Cup on November 18. The 13 teams were split into two conferences with 7 playing the Eastern Conference and 6 playing in the Western Conference. Each team played 30 games that were evenly divided between home and away. Each team played every other team twice, home and away, for a total of 26 games. The remaining four games were played against four regional rivals, two at home and two away.
The top three teams from each conference automatically qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs. In addition, the two highest remaining point totals, regardless of conference, also qualified. In the first round, aggregate goals over two matches determined the winners. The conference finals were played as a single match, and the winners advanced to MLS Cup. In all rounds, draws were broken with two 15-minute periods of extra time, followed by penalty kicks if necessary. The away goals rule was not used in any round.
The team with the most points in the regular season was awarded the MLS Supporters' Shield and qualified for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. Additionally, the winner of MLS Cup also qualified for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. If a team qualified for multiple berths into the Champions' Cup, then additional berths were awarded to the highest overall finishing MLS team(s) not already qualified. Also, Toronto FC, as a Canadian-based team, could not qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League through MLS, and had to instead qualify through the Canadian Championship.
Automatic qualification for the U.S. Open Cup was awarded to the top three finishers in each conference. The rest of the U.S.-based MLS teams had to qualify for the remaining two berths via a series of play-in games.
Qualification for the SuperLiga was determined by the overall table with the top four overall finishers qualifying for the 2008 edition.
Stadiums and locations
Personnel and sponsorships
Coaching changes
Standings
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Overall Standings
MLS Cup Playoffs
1 The Kansas City Wizards earned the eighth and final playoff berth, despite finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference.They represent the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoff bracket, as only three teams in the Western Conference qualified for the playoffs.
Player statistics
Goals
Assists
Clean Sheets
Awards
Individual awards
Best XI
Weekly awards
Monthly awards
Attendance
International competitions
CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2007
D.C. UnitedDefeated Club Deportivo Olimpia in the QuarterfinalsLost Club Deportivo Guadalajara in the Semifinals.
Houston DynamoDefeated Puntarenas FC in the Quarterfinals.Lost C.F. Pachuca in the Semifinals.
SuperLiga 2007
FC DallasFinished in fourth place and did not advance fromGroup A after going 0-1-2 in group play.
D.C. UnitedRunner-up of Group B after going 1-1-1 in group play.Lost to Los Angeles Galaxy in Semifinals.
Houston DynamoWinner of Group B after going 2-0-1 in group play.Lost to C.F. Pachuca on penalty kicks in the Semifinals.