Major League Soccer has announced a multi-year partnership with technology company Second Spectrum to become the league's first official advanced tracking data provider, reports SportBusiness.

Over the off-season, Second Spectrum installed its optical tracking system in every MLS stadium.

Leveraging their cameras and a cloud-based analytics engine, Second Spectrum captures data on the location of every player, the referees, and the ball 25 times per second. The data will then be used to calculate a player's speed, acceleration, deceleration, and shot velocity, as well as advanced statistics like passing probability and expected goals, in near real time.

Initially, fans will experience the new comprehensive tracking system with enhanced highlight videos on MLSsoccer.com and the MLS App featuring new metrics and data visualisations. Over time, the new tracking data will be integrated into MLS game broadcasts.