Major League Soccer (MLS) is a professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. The league was founded in 1993 and began play in 1996. MLS is composed of 27 teams, 24 in the United States and 3 in Canada. The league is headquartered in New York City and is governed by a board of governors consisting of representatives from each team. MLS is one of the fastest-growing professional sports leagues in North America and has a strong following among soccer fans. The league is committed to promoting the growth of soccer in the United States and Canada and has invested heavily in youth development programs.