MLS

The 2026 MLS Competition Guidelines specify 14 Ball Stands positioned around the field perimeter at each MLS venue.

Maximum 19 individuals on each bench: 9 named substitute players, 9 staff members, 1 club physician; Two Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs) must be on the bench; Coaches/staff/substitutes who leave the bench to egregiously protest an official's decision or express dissent face fines and/or suspen...

The IFAB list of cautionable and sending-off offenses applies in full. Two yellow cards in the same match results in a sending-off (red card by accumulation).

MLS operates under the league's Concussion Management Protocol, developed in conjunction with U.S. Soccer and the league medical staff.

For matches played in extreme heat conditions, the referee may authorize cooling breaks of up to three minutes around the 30th and 75th minutes, distinct from the half-time interval. Mandatory cooling breaks apply when WBGT (Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature) is at or above 82°F (27.8°C).

The home club is responsible for ensuring the field of play meets league surface standards. Lightning detection and the league lightning policy halt outdoor activity within a defined radius of detected strikes; play resumes only after the all-clear interval has elapsed.

MLS matches are played on a rectangular field within IFAB Law 1 limits — a length of 100 to 110 meters (110 to 120 yards) and a width of 64 to 75 meters (70 to 80 yards). The league's preferred dimensions favor the upper end of the range and are subject to venue capacity.

Touchlines (sidelines) and goal lines bound the field; Halfway line with a centre mark and a 9.15 m centre circle; Goal area (5.5 m × 18.32 m) and penalty area (16.5 m × 40.32 m) at each end