The 2021 season was the 109th season of competitive soccer in the United States. A significant number of games scheduled for 2021 are matches postponed from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The draw for the tournament took place on 9 January 2020, 19:00 CST (UTC−6), at the Estadio Akron, in Guadalajara, Mexico.[5][6] On March 13, 2020 CONCACAF suspended all upcoming Concacaf competitions scheduled to take place over the next 30 days.[7]
On 14 January 2021, CONCACAF announced that the Men's Olympic Qualifying will take place between 18 March and 30 March.[8]
The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in Honduras between 20 June and 5 July 2020.[9] However, on 13 May 2020, CONCACAF announced the decision to postpone the tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the new dates of the tournament to be confirmed later.[10] CONCACAF decided on 4 January 2021 that the 2020 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, which served as the regional qualifiers, would be cancelled.[11]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the games have been postponed to the summer of 2021. However, their official name remains 2020 Summer Olympics with the rescheduled 2021 dates have yet to be announced.[13]
The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in August/September 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FIFA announced on 3 April 2020 that the tournament would be postponed and rescheduled.[14] On 12 May 2020, FIFA announced that the tournament will be held between 20 January–6 February 2021, subject to further monitoring.[15] On November 17, 2020 tournament was moved to 2022.[16]
Note: the table below has no impact on playoff qualification and is used solely for determining host of the MLS Cup, certain CCL spots, the Supporters' Shield trophy, seeding in the 2021 Canadian Championship, and 2022 MLS draft. The conference tables are the sole determinant for teams qualifying for the playoffs.
Source: USL Championship Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal differential; 4) total points earned against in-division opponents; 5) total regular season wins against in-division opponents; 6) total goal differential against in-division opponents; 7) total goals scored against in-division opponents; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots.
Source: USL Championship Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal differential; 4) total points earned against in-division opponents; 5) total regular season wins against in-division opponents; 6) total goal differential against in-division opponents; 7) total goals scored against in-division opponents; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots.
Source: USL League One Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 6) disciplinary points; 7) drawing of lots. (C) Champions; (X) Regular Season Champion
Source: nisasoccer.com Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal differential; 3) goals scored; 4) head to head; 5) goals allowed; 6) coin toss (X) Spring Legends Cup champion; (Y) Fall Champion, qualifies for season final; (Z) Spring Legends Cup runner-up, qualifies for spring final [2] Notes:
^If either 2020 Fall Champion Detroit or 2021 Legends Cup runner-up Chattanooga finish the spring season in first place, or both teams finish in the top two, the spot in the spring final will go to the next best team.
Source: nisasoccer.com Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal differential; 3) goals scored; 4) head-to-head (C) Champions Notes:
^ abThe November 13 match between the LA Force and Detroit City FC was cancelled due to several players testing positive for COVID-19. The match was declared a 0-0 draw.[17]
