Most Games Played in a Season

The expanded CONCACAF Champions League has meant more games for more MLS teams. The group stage guarantees at least six games added to the schedule, which means that 40+ game seasons are no longer an unusual occurrence. Already this season, Toronto is on schedule to play 42 total games. Columbus and Seattle are in line for 41, while Real Salt Lake gets a slightly lighter load of 38. The numbers could increase if any of them qualify for the playoffs, and if CLB/SEA make the Open Cup final. However, none will be able to break the MLS record for most competitive games in a season. That happened in 2008, which was the year CONCACAF switched formats, playing the Champions Cup early in 2008 followed by starting the new Champions League later in the season. Houston and DC had to deal with plenty of fixture congestion, and rank 1-2 all time games played. It's no surprise that their players dominate the individual list below. Most Competitive Games in a Season 1 2008 Houston 48 2 2008 DC United 47 3 2000 Chicago 44 3 1997 DC United 44 3 2009 DC United 44 3 2009 Houston 44 7 1998 DC United 43 7 2007 DC United 43 7 2007 Houston 43 10 1999 DC United 42 10 2005 DC United 42 10 2008 New England 42 Most Games Played in a Season (all competitions) Year Team Total Start Sub 1 Clyde Simms 2008 DC 45 43 2 2 Brian Mullan 2008 HOU 44 37 7 2 Marc Burch 2008 DC 44 34 10 4 Dema Kovalenko 2000 CHI 43 40 3 4 Bobby Boswell 2008 HOU 43 43 0 6 Jaime Moreno 1998 DC 42 42 0 6 Ben Olsen 1998 DC 42 35 7 6 Richie Williams 1998 DC 42 41 1 6 Brian Carroll 2005 DC 42 40 2 6 Wade Barrett 2007 HOU 42 42 0 6 Gonzalo Martinez 2008 DC 42 37 5 6 Devon McTavish 2008 DC 42 40 2 Simms holds the record for playing the most games in a calendar year with 45. He's tied with Boswell for the most starts at 43, while in 2005 Carroll played the most games of anyone to play every game for their team in a season.