For quite a few years now, the Eastern Conference of MLS has been seen as the weaker of the two, with the Western Conference dominating. In fact, of the 21 MLS Cups to date, the West has won all but 6, and four of those were in the first four years of the league’s existence. No Eastern Conference team has won the Cup since the Columbus Crew in 2008.
Therefore, it has been quite a surprise to most observers that the Eastern Conference has been the stronger of the two in 2017. This has in no small part to do with the addition of Atlanta United, as well as the resurgence of the perennial basement-dwelling Chicago Fire, but mostly the emergence of Toronto FC, and perhaps a certain David Villa has had an influence on the proceedings.