MLS unveils plans to expand to 30 teams

Major League Soccer announced plans to expand to 30 teams following Thursday's Board of Governors meetings in Los Angeles.

MLS is currently comprised of 24 teams but will increase to 27 by 2021 when Miami CF (2020), Nashville SC (2020) and Austin FC (2021) officially join the league.

Expansion fees for the next two clubs have been set at $200 million, but a fee for a 30th team to join MLS has yet to be decided.

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

"Expansion during the last 15 years has been enormously successful and a key driver behind the league's continued rise, and we are pleased that some of the top business and community leaders representing great markets in North America are aggressively pursuing MLS expansion clubs."

Although a final decision over future expansion markets has yet to be made, ownership groups representing Sacramento, Calif., and St. Louis will be asked to make formal presentations to the MLS Expansion Committee regarding the details of their respective bids.

Those details will include "final stadium plan(s), corporate commitments, the composition of the respective ownership groups, detailed economics on funding, strategic plans for fan development, commitments on player development, and details on community programs."

Successful expansion bids for the league's two newest teams will be announced in the coming months. A date for the announcement of the 30th team has yet to be determined.