USA · first half goals
MLS First Half Goals
Across 2,994 MLS matches, 73.6% produced at least one goal before halftime, at an average of 1.34 first-half goals per match.
MLS first-half scoring
| A goal before halftime (over 0.5) | 73.6% |
|---|---|
| Two or more (over 1.5) | 38.4% |
| Three or more (over 2.5) | 15.3% |
| Average first-half goals | 1.34 |
| Matches counted | 2,994 |
| Seasons covered | 6 (2021 to 2026) |
That places MLS 23 of 108among the leagues covered here for how often a first half produces a goal. Figures pool every season held for the competition, so they describe the league’s long-run tendency rather than current form.
How MLS compares
| Competition | Over 0.5 | Over 1.5 | Avg goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLS | 73.6% | 38.4% | 1.34 |
| Average of all 108 leagues | 69.4% | 33.6% | 1.19 |
| Esiliigahighest | 81.2% | 48.7% | 1.67 |
| Greek Football Cuplowest | 52.6% | 24.4% | 0.86 |
MLS teams: first-half goals
Every club with enough MLShistory to carry its own page. “Scored” and “conceded” are the share of matches in which the club scored or conceded at least once before halftime: a frequency, not a per-match average, so a 3-0 first half and a 1-0 first half each count once.
| Club | Over 0.5 | Over 1.5 | Scored | Conceded | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles FC6 seasons | 75.9% | 38.4% | 54.6% | 45.4% | 216 |
| New York City6 seasons | 73.1% | 35.2% | 50.9% | 42.6% | 216 |
| FC Cincinnati6 seasons | 72.2% | 42.9% | 51.4% | 50.5% | 212 |
| Philadelphia Union6 seasons | 72.6% | 36.3% | 53.3% | 38.2% | 212 |
| Seattle Sounders6 seasons | 69.3% | 31.1% | 43.4% | 43.4% | 212 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps6 seasons | 76.9% | 40.1% | 49.5% | 48.6% | 212 |
| Columbus Crew6 seasons | 75.8% | 40.3% | 55.9% | 43.1% | 211 |
| Orlando City6 seasons | 75.4% | 35.5% | 49.8% | 44.5% | 211 |
| Inter Miami6 seasons | 76.7% | 45.7% | 53.3% | 51.9% | 210 |
| New York RB6 seasons | 71.4% | 34.3% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 210 |
| Real Salt Lake6 seasons | 73.3% | 36.2% | 48.6% | 48.1% | 210 |
| Atlanta United FC6 seasons | 71.3% | 31.6% | 42.6% | 48.8% | 209 |
| Minnesota United6 seasons | 72.2% | 37.3% | 47.4% | 48.3% | 209 |
| Portland Timbers6 seasons | 78.9% | 41.1% | 48.3% | 55.0% | 209 |
| LA Galaxy6 seasons | 78.8% | 44.7% | 50.0% | 55.3% | 208 |
| Nashville SC6 seasons | 71.6% | 36.1% | 49.5% | 39.9% | 208 |
| FC Dallas6 seasons | 73.9% | 39.6% | 49.8% | 53.6% | 207 |
| Houston Dynamo6 seasons | 71.5% | 34.3% | 49.3% | 41.5% | 207 |
| Sporting KC6 seasons | 80.1% | 46.1% | 48.1% | 55.8% | 206 |
| Austin6 seasons | 72.2% | 35.6% | 44.4% | 48.3% | 205 |
| Chicago Fire6 seasons | 71.4% | 35.5% | 45.8% | 47.3% | 203 |
| Colorado Rapids6 seasons | 73.4% | 36.5% | 45.3% | 50.2% | 203 |
| Montreal Impact6 seasons | 72.4% | 41.4% | 43.3% | 51.2% | 203 |
| New England Revolution6 seasons | 71.4% | 42.4% | 49.3% | 45.8% | 203 |
| SJ Earthquakes6 seasons | 76.1% | 41.8% | 48.8% | 57.7% | 201 |
| Toronto6 seasons | 70.0% | 32.5% | 35.0% | 52.5% | 200 |
| DC United6 seasons | 73.9% | 43.7% | 41.7% | 55.3% | 199 |
| Charlotte5 seasons | 70.5% | 33.5% | 48.0% | 43.4% | 173 |
| St. Louis City4 seasons | 69.4% | 38.8% | 51.5% | 43.3% | 134 |
| San Diego2 seasons | 78.3% | 50.7% | 56.5% | 55.1% | 69 |
Counted from 2,994 matches · 6 seasons · 2021 to 2026.
How to read these numbers
- A high over 0.5 rate means goalless first halves are rare, not that any particular match will score.
- The gap between the over 0.5 and over 1.5 rates shows how often first halves go beyond a single goal.
- League rates are a starting point. The fixture in front of you depends on the two teams, not the average.
- Seasons are pooled, so a competition that has changed character recently reads as the average of what it was and what it is.
These are historical rates for the competition, counted from completed matches. They are not a prediction for any upcoming fixture. For match-level estimates see first half goals predictions and how the model works.
For which clubs are actually ahead at the interval rather than how often the goals come, see the MLS first half table: the same competition scored at half-time, with three points for leading at the break.
Research today’s first-half goals
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First Half Score is a research and information tool. Predictions and historical hit rates are provided for informational purposes only and are not financial, investment, or betting advice. Outcomes are uncertain and no figure guarantees a result. Intended for users 18+.