Stats
MLS cards 2025: full season
Full season: 526 matches, February 22, 2025 to December 6, 2025How we count
In the 2025 season, matches in MLS averaged 4.5 cards (4.4 yellow and 0.16 red) over 526 matches, from February 22, 2025 to December 6, 2025. Most cards received: Real Salt Lake, 2.9 per match (103 in 35 matches), then DC United, 2.8 (95 in 34). Most cards shown to opponents: Houston Dynamo, 2.9 per match. Most in a team's matches, both sides: Houston Dynamo, 5.7 per match.
The referee who showed the most cards per match: Rosendo Mendoza, 5.6 per match (163 in 29 matches), then Tim Ford (5.6) and Ismir Pekmic (5.6). 48.3% of matches had over 4.5 cards (254 of 526), 67.1% over 3.5 and 15.2% a red card.
Next matches in MLS: Friday, November 20 (2 matches)See them on the current season's page
- Average per match
- 4.5
- home 2.2 · away 2.4
- Over 4.5
- 48.3%
- 254 of 526 matches
- Over 5.5
- 28.5%
- Matches in the season
- 526
- since February 22, 2025
Teams: cards in their matches
Each team's matches of that season: cards of both sides, its own and its opponents', at home and away, and over 4.5. The sign is the difference from the league average.
| League average | 526 | 4.5 | 2.3 | 2.3 | – | – | 48% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Dynamo | 34 | 5.7, +1.1 against the average | 2.8 | 2.9 | 6.0 | 5.3 | 82% |
| Philadelphia Union | 37 | 5.4, +0.8 against the average | 2.7 | 2.7 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 68% |
| Real Salt Lake | 35 | 5.3, +0.7 against the average | 2.9 | 2.3 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 54% |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 38 | 5.0, +0.5 against the average | 2.4 | 2.6 | 4.9 | 5.1 | 53% |
| San Diego | 38 | 4.9, +0.4 against the average | 2.1 | 2.8 | 5.8 | 3.8 | 58% |
| Charlotte | 37 | 4.8, +0.3 against the average | 2.0 | 2.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 62% |
| DC United | 34 | 4.8, +0.3 against the average | 2.8 | 2.0 | 5.2 | 4.4 | 47% |
| New York Red Bulls | 33 | 4.7, +0.2 against the average | 2.6 | 2.1 | 5.1 | 4.4 | 49% |
| CF Montreal | 34 | 4.7, +0.2 against the average | 2.4 | 2.4 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 53% |
| FC Dallas | 36 | 4.7, +0.2 against the average | 2.5 | 2.2 | 4.4 | 4.9 | 56% |
| Orlando City SC | 34 | 4.7, +0.1 against the average | 2.4 | 2.3 | 4.1 | 5.2 | 53% |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 34 | 4.7, +0.1 against the average | 2.7 | 2.0 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 53% |
| Austin | 36 | 4.7, +0.1 against the average | 2.3 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 4.9 | 50% |
| Inter Miami | 37 | 4.7, +0.1 against the average | 2.7 | 2.0 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 43% |
| Portland Timbers | 36 | 4.6, 0.0 against the average | 2.3 | 2.3 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 53% |
| Chicago Fire | 35 | 4.6, 0.0 against the average | 2.3 | 2.3 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 37% |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 32 | 4.6, 0.0 against the average | 2.4 | 2.2 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 56% |
| Los Angeles FC | 36 | 4.5, 0.0 against the average | 1.9 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 5.6 | 53% |
| New England Revolution | 33 | 4.4, −0.2 against the average | 2.2 | 2.2 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 52% |
| Sporting Kansas City | 33 | 4.4, −0.2 against the average | 2.2 | 2.1 | 4.8 | 3.9 | 36% |
| Nashville SC | 37 | 4.4, −0.2 against the average | 1.9 | 2.4 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 46% |
| Seattle Sounders | 35 | 4.3, −0.2 against the average | 1.9 | 2.4 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 40% |
| New York City FC | 37 | 4.3, −0.3 against the average | 2.2 | 2.1 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 46% |
| St. Louis City | 34 | 4.2, −0.4 against the average | 2.2 | 2.0 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 41% |
| FC Cincinnati | 37 | 4.1, −0.4 against the average | 2.1 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 32% |
| Toronto FC | 33 | 4.1, −0.5 against the average | 2.0 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 4.7 | 46% |
| Atlanta United FC | 32 | 4.1, −0.5 against the average | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 41% |
| Colorado Rapids | 32 | 3.9, −0.7 against the average | 2.1 | 1.8 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 31% |
| Minnesota United FC | 37 | 3.7, −0.9 against the average | 2.1 | 1.5 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 30% |
| Columbus Crew | 36 | 3.6, −1.0 against the average | 1.4 | 2.1 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 28% |
Cards: quick answers
Which MLS team received the most cards in 2025?
Most: Real Salt Lake, 2.9 per match (103 in 35 matches), then DC United, 2.8 (95 in 34). Fewest: Columbus Crew, 1.4 per match (51 in 36).
Against which MLS team did opponents receive the most cards in 2025?
Most: Houston Dynamo, 2.9 per match (98 in 34 matches), then Charlotte, 2.8 (105 in 37). Fewest: Minnesota United FC, 1.5 per match (56 in 37).
Which MLS teams' matches had the most cards in 2025, both sides together?
Most: Houston Dynamo (5.7), Philadelphia Union (5.4), and Real Salt Lake (5.3). Fewest: Columbus Crew (3.6), Minnesota United FC (3.7), and Colorado Rapids (3.9). Both sides' cards in the team's matches of the whole season count.
Which MLS team received the most cards at home in 2025?
Most: Inter Miami, 3.0 per match in 19 matches at home, then DC United, 2.9.
Which MLS team received the most cards away in 2025?
Most: Real Salt Lake, 3.1 per match in 18 matches away, then Philadelphia Union, 3.0.
Which MLS team's matches most often had over 4.5 cards in 2025?
Most often: Houston Dynamo, in 82% of matches (28 of 34), then Philadelphia Union, in 68% (25 of 37).
Which MLS referee showed the most cards in 2025?
In the 2025 season: Rosendo Mendoza (5.6), Tim Ford (5.6), and Ismir Pekmic (5.6). Referees with at least 5 matches in the league count.
Today's matches in the Cards module
Today's list across all leagues, with both teams' recent matches.
How many cards a match has
Share of the season's matches with each total (both teams together).
- 0: 0% of matches (0 matches)
- 1: 5% of matches (24 matches)
- 2: 11% of matches (60 matches)
- 3: 17% of matches (89 matches)
- 4: 19% of matches (99 matches)
- 5: 20% of matches (104 matches)
- 6: 13% of matches (68 matches)
- 7: 6% of matches (31 matches)
- 8: 6% of matches (32 matches)
- 9: 2% of matches (13 matches)
- 10+: 1% of matches (6 matches)
The most common total was 5 (20% of matches).
Over the line
- Over 3.5
- 67%
- 353 of 526 matches
- Over 4.5
- 48%
- 254 of 526 matches
- Over 5.5
- 29%
- 150 of 526 matches
Referees: who shows the most cards
Most yellow cards per match among referees with 5+ matches: Ismir Pekmic, 5.4 (92 in 17 matches); the league average is 4.4.
How we count
Yellow and red cards shown to both teams' players, from the match statistics or else the live record. A league is listed once cards are known for 80% of its matches; teams from 6 matches. A percentage is a frequency, not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions
- How many cards were there on average per MLS match in 2025?
- 4.5 per match over the 2025 season: 4.4 yellow and 0.16 red (526 matches).
- How often did MLS matches have over 4.5 cards in 2025?
- In 48.3% of the season's matches (254 of 526); over 3.5 in 67.1%, over 5.5 in 28.5% and a red card in 15.2%. That is a frequency in played matches, not a forecast.
- How many cards did MLS matches most often have in 2025?
- Most often 5: 20% of the 2025 season's matches had that many, with an average of 4.5 per match.
Today's matches in the Cards module
Today's list across all leagues, with both teams' recent matches.