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Chivas USA disbanded, Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas to play in Western Conference as of 2015

The league confirms disbandment of Chivas USA

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber announced today a new strategy for the Los Angeles market. Effective immediately, Chivas USA will cease operations. On Thursday, Oct. 30, the League will announce a new MLS Los Angeles club and ownership group. The new club will begin play in 2017 , confirming the league's intention to keep 2 clubs in LA.

The decision was made unanimously by the MLS Board of Governors and in consequence, there will be 20 clubs in the 2015 MLS season.

Letter from MLS Commissioner Don Garber

As part of our new strategy for Southern California -- a major hotbed of soccer participation and fan support -- we believe that engaging with a new ownership group which has the resources and local community ties, and a plan for a dedicated soccer-specific stadium, provides us with the best chance for success

With the arrival of Orlando City SC and New York City FC in 2015, MLS will have 20 clubs for the league's 20th season. A new conference alignment will happen:

The Houston Dynamo and 2013 MLS Cup Champions Sporting Kansas City will move to the Western Conference, creating two 10-team conferences. The 2015 conference will look as below:

Eastern Conference                                                                  Western Conference

Chicago Fire
Columbus Crew
D.C. United
Montreal Impact
New England Revolution
New York City FC
New York Red Bulls
Orlando City SC
Philadelphia Union
Toronto FC
Colorado Rapids
FC Dallas
Houston Dynamo
Sporting Kansas City
LA Galaxy
Portland Timbers
Real Salt Lake
San Jose Earthquakes
Seattle Sounders FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC


As per MLS

For the 2015 season, the 20 teams will each play 34 games during the regular season. Clubs will play each team in the opposing conference once for five home and five away matches. Clubs will play each of their nine conference opponents at least twice (one home, one away), plus six additional intra-conference games -- three home and three away.

The league will conduct a Dispersal Draft of the Chivas USA roster in the near future as we await for more details regarding the Draft.