Major League Soccer (MLS) has revised its expansion plans by announcing that it hopes to have 30 teams in the coming years, reports www.sportspromedia.com/.

The decision, which was made by owners at an MLS board of governors meeting in Los Angeles last week, will see the league's 28th and 29th franchises require an expansion fee of US$200 million.

North America's top soccer league said no official decision has been made on future expansion markets, but commissioner Don Garber's office has been authorised to advance exclusive discussions with the Sacramento and St Louis ownership groups, with a view to the cities becoming home to MLS's 28th and 29th teams.

Sacramento and St Louis will now make formal presentations to the MLS expansion committee in the coming weeks, with the league hoping to make a final decision on both prospective franchises before the All-Star Game in Orlando on 31st July.

MLS said that its board of governors have deferred a decision regarding the expansion fee and timetable for the 30th team, although it added that it remains in discussions with several ownership groups in other cities.

"Professional soccer at all levels is thriving in the United States and Canada and we believe there are many markets that could support a successful MLS club," said Garber.

"Expansion during the last 15 years has been enormously successful and a key driver behind the league's continued rise, and we are pleased that some of the top business and community leaders representing great markets in North America are aggressively pursuing MLS expansion clubs."