Atlanta in MLS Eastern Conference and Minnesota in West from 2017
Monday 22 August 2016 12:20, UK
Atlanta United will join the MLS Eastern Conference in 2017 and Minnesota United will compete in the Western Conference.
Major League Soccer officially announced with Minnesota United on Friday that the North American Soccer League (NASL) club will be added to US soccer's top tier in the 2017 season, and will play in the Western Conference.
Atlanta United will compete in the Eastern Conference from the beginning of the 2017 season in a move that means both conferences will have 11 clubs each.
Last season, the inclusion of New York City and Orlando City to the Eastern Conference meant Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City were switched to the West.
The MLS regular season is currently a 34-game format. That could change with the arrival of two new teams, but the scheduling format for next season is yet to be confirmed.
Atlanta have already sold more than 22,000 season tickets ahead of the new season, and have made seven signings which include designated player Hector Villalba from San Lorenzo and former Premier League striker Kenwyne Jones.
Minnesota also announced on Friday they would play their home matches at TCF Bank Stadium while they wait for their 25,000-seat soccer specific stadium to be built, with completion expected in 2018.
