MUMBAI: The full season of Major League Soccer (MLS) is to be telecast on Discovery Networks’ newly launched sports channel Dsport. The channel will telecast the league live from 4 March 2017.

Launched in 1996 with 10 teams, Major League Soccer will kick-off its 22nd edition with 22 teams, up from 20 last year. The new teams are the Atlanta United and Minnesota United.

MLS officially kicks-off the 2017 season with a match between hosts Portland Timbers and the debutants Minnesota United.

Portland Timbers were the MLS Cup champions in 2015 but failed to make the playoffs last season. The two teams played out a 2-2 draw in the pre-season.

Some of the star players who are poised to figure prominently in the quest for MLS Cup 2017 glory include David Villa (New York City FC), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Giovani Dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Kaka (Orlando City), Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC), Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United), Nicolas Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders), Cyle Larin (Orlando City), and Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers).