2003 Major League Soccer season

2003 Major League Soccer season
Season2003
MLS CupSan Jose Earthquakes (2nd title)
Supporters' ShieldChicago Fire (1st shield)
2004 CONCACAF Champions' CupSan Jose Earthquakes
Chicago Fire
Matches played150
Goals scored433 (2.89 per match)
Top goalscorerCarlos Ruiz
Los Angeles Galaxy
Goals: 15
Taylor Twellman
N.E. Revolution
Goals: 15
Biggest home winCHI 4–0 COL
CLB 6–2 CHI
Biggest away winSJ 1–4 CHI
DAL 0–3 SJ
Highest scoringNY 4–4 SJ
CLB 6–2 CHI
Longest winning runColorado Rapids
Games: 5
(07/04 – 08/09)
MetroStars
Games: 5
(04/26 – 05/24)
Longest unbeaten runChicago Fire
Games: 7
(07/19 – 08/24)
Colorado Rapids
Games: 7
(08/16 – 10/01)
Longest losing runColorado Rapids
Games: 4
(05/03 – 05/25)
Dallas Burn
Games: 4
(07/19 -08/13)
Highest attendanceLos Angeles Galaxy
Season: 329,752
Game Avg.: 21,983
Lowest attendanceDallas Burn
Season: 118,585
Game Avg.: 7,906
Total attendance2,234,747
Average attendance14,898
2002
2004

The 2003 Major League Soccer season was the eighth season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 91st season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 25th with a national first-division league.

The Los Angeles Galaxy moved into the league's second soccer-specific stadium when the Home Depot Center opened on June 1, 2003. The Chicago Fire continued to play at Cardinal Stadium in Naperville but returned to the newly renovated Soldier Field for their final regular season game.

The number of games was increased to 30 after a reduction to 28 for the 2002 season. Instead of a best-of-three series, the playoffs were tweaked so that the conference semifinals would be determined by a home-and-away aggregate score over two matches. Additionally, the two conference finals became one match fixtures instead of two legs.

The regular season began on April 5, and concluded on October 26. The 2003 MLS Cup Playoffs began on November 1, and concluded with MLS Cup 2003 on November 23. The San Jose Earthquakes won their second MLS Cup in three years with a victory over Chicago.