World Series of Soccer (MLS)


The World Series of Soccer was a series of club games hosted by Major League Soccer from 2005 to 2007. It was used by MLS to provide its teams with opportunities to compete against top international teams.

Previous uses of name

The term, World Series of Soccer, was originally used for a series of senior international soccer matches hosted by the United States Soccer Federation between 1991 and 1994. In 2005, Major League Soccer re-introduced the name for a series of professional matches in the United States

2005

In 2005, Major League Soccer began the World Series of Soccer, a series of games pitting MLS and big name international clubs against each other. The games took place across the United States. The WSS was a round robin style competition between two MLS teams: D.C. United and Chicago Fire as well as two European power houses: Chelsea of the English Premiership and Milan of Italy's Serie A. The games were played during the MLS season, the European off-season.

Results

July 24 Milan 0–1 Chelsea
July 27 Chicago Fire 1–3 Milan
July 28 D.C. United 1–2 Chelsea
July 31 Milan 1–1 Chelsea

2006

In 2006, MLS continued the WSS and expanded it to include Real Madrid and Barcelona from Spain, Celtic from Scotland, Everton from England and Club América, Necaxa and Tigres from Mexico.

Results

July 12 D.C. United 4–0 Celtic
July 12 Chicago Fire 1–2 Club América
July 12 Los Angeles Galaxy 0–1 Necaxa
July 19 New England Revolution 1–1 Celtic
July 19 FC Dallas 2–0 Tigres UANL
July 23 Chivas USA 1–1 Club América
July 26 Columbus Crew 1–1 Everton
August 9 D.C. United 1–1 Real Madrid
August 12 New York Red Bulls 1–4 FC Barcelona
August 12 Real Salt Lake 0–2 Real Madrid

2007

The World Series of Soccer returned in 2007 as a four-team affair, primarily used to promote the arrival of English footballer David Beckham to the United States. His Los Angeles Galaxy had a round-robin with Chelsea of the Premier League, the Suwon Samsung Bluewings of the K League, and the UANL Tigres of the Primera División de México. UANL Tigres won the competition by virtue of goal difference over Chelsea.

Results

July 17 2:30 pm PDT Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0–1 Chelsea
July 17 5:30 pm PDT UANL Tigres 3–0 Los Angeles Galaxy
July 21 2:30 pm PDT UANL Tigres 3–0 Suwon Samsung Bluewings
July 21 5:30 pm PDT Chelsea 1–0 Los Angeles Galaxy