Sports

Houston switches to MLS Eastern Conference

  • Associated Press
  • Friday, January 28, 2011 10:50am
  • Sports

NEW YORK — Houston is switching to Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference this season as the league realigns to make room for expansion teams in Portland and Vancouver, B.C.

The league said Friday that with the Timbers and Whitecaps joining the Western Conference each conference will have nine teams.

The 18-team MLS will have a balanced schedule, with each team playing all the others twice. All teams will play 17 home games and 17 road games. The league season starts March 15, with the Los Angeles Galaxy at Seattle.

Toronto and Vancouver must have at least three Canadian players on their rosters. The rule will apply to Montreal when it joins MLS for the 2012 season.

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