As you may have heard by now, April 6, 1996 marked the official start of Major League Soccer when D.C. United and the San Jose Clash met at Spartan Stadium.
In celebration of all that’s since unfolded, the league is throwing it back to reflect on how far MLS has come in the past quarter century. Here’s some of what to expect across digital and social platforms.
Watch it with the legends
MLS Classics: Remix have helped fill the downtime caused by COVID-19, and the one that airs 3 p.m. CT Monday is special for neutrals and diehards alike. The match will air on the MLS YouTube and Facebook channels with live coverage on Twitter.
The stream will include MLS legends Jeff Agoos and Eric Wynalda, who played in the game, providing real-time video commentary via KISWE's streaming technology alongside current D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid and MLS Extratime host David Gass.
90s look
If MLSsoccer.com and our various social media channels look a bit different, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. The league has turned back to 1996, with the old MLS logo and colorways found across those platforms. Teams that have been part of MLS since the beginning have also changed their social media handles to their old logos. You’ll be able to track the #MLSin96 hashtag, too.
What you need to know
Feeling nostalgic about what used to be in MLS? The league website been covering all angles with insight and analysis.
- The untold stories leading up to MLS's first-ever game – Players, coaches and team staff members give a sense of behind-the-scenes anticipation before the inaugural match.
- A league is born: An oral history of the inaugural MLS match – Some of American soccer’s biggest names given their unfiltered account of what went into the return of top-flight soccer on our shores.
- Remembering MLS's inaugural match in 1996 – Check out highlights and scenes from Spartan Stadium as MLS finally arrived.
- Wynalda looks back on first MLS game, goal – Former US men’s national team forward Eric Wynalda gives his account of the inaugural match.
New Instagram handle
The new instagram handle @MLSin96 will chronicle the entirety of the inaugural MLS season in “real-time” throughout 2020. There’s already plenty of content up there, so be sure to press follow, sit back and enjoy.
