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USA · first half goals

MLS First Half Goals

Across 2,401 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

MLS first-half goal rates
A goal before halftime (over 0.5)73.6%
Two or more (over 1.5)38.6%
Three or more (over 2.5)15.5%
Average first-half goals1.34
Matches counted2,401
Seasons covered5 (2022 to 2026)

That places MLS 13 of 40among 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

MLS against the covered leagues
CompetitionOver 0.5Over 1.5Avg goals
MLS73.6%38.6%1.34
Average of all 40 leagues69.6%34.1%1.20
Kakkonenhighest78.2%46.7%1.60
Prim B Nacionallowest56.7%21.4%0.84

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.

MLS first-half goal rates by team
ClubOver 0.5Over 1.5ScoredConcededMatches
Los Angeles FC5 seasons75.3%37.9%53.4%45.4%174
FC Cincinnati5 seasons71.3%42.7%54.4%47.4%171
New York City5 seasons73.5%37.1%51.8%43.5%170
Columbus Crew5 seasons76.9%40.2%58.6%42.0%169
Inter Miami5 seasons78.6%46.4%57.7%53.0%168
Orlando City5 seasons73.2%34.5%48.2%42.3%168
Seattle Sounders5 seasons72.0%32.7%45.2%45.8%168
Vancouver Whitecaps5 seasons76.8%41.7%51.8%45.2%168
New York RB5 seasons71.9%36.5%46.7%46.7%167
Philadelphia Union5 seasons72.5%38.9%52.7%39.5%167
Atlanta United FC5 seasons73.5%33.1%41.6%53.0%166
LA Galaxy5 seasons78.9%44.6%48.8%56.6%166
Minnesota United5 seasons69.3%34.9%47.0%44.6%166
Charlotte5 seasons70.3%33.3%47.9%42.4%165
FC Dallas5 seasons73.9%39.4%50.3%53.9%165
Houston Dynamo5 seasons70.9%30.9%49.7%39.4%165
Nashville SC5 seasons71.3%36.0%47.6%40.9%164
Real Salt Lake5 seasons73.2%36.6%47.6%48.2%164
Austin5 seasons72.4%38.0%46.0%49.1%163
Portland Timbers5 seasons79.8%38.7%47.2%55.2%163
Sporting KC5 seasons79.0%45.1%44.4%58.6%162
Montreal Impact5 seasons77.0%46.0%44.7%55.9%161
Chicago Fire5 seasons72.5%35.6%47.5%46.9%160
Colorado Rapids5 seasons74.4%38.1%45.0%54.4%160
New England Revolution5 seasons70.0%43.1%47.5%45.0%160
SJ Earthquakes5 seasons75.5%42.8%49.1%57.2%159
DC United5 seasons71.5%41.8%37.3%55.1%158
Toronto5 seasons66.5%31.6%34.8%48.7%158
St. Louis City4 seasons68.3%37.3%49.2%42.9%126
San Diego2 seasons77.0%49.2%57.4%50.8%61

Counted from 2,401 matches · 5 seasons · 2022 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.

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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+.