The allocation ranking is the mechanism used to determine which MLS club has first priority to acquire a U.S. National Team player who signs with MLS after playing abroad, or a former MLS player who returns to the League after having gone to a club abroad for a transfer fee. The allocation rankings may also be used in the event two or more clubs file a request for the same player on the same day. The allocations will be ranked in reverse order of finish for the 2011 season, taking playoff performance into account.

Once the club uses its allocation ranking to acquire a player, it drops to the bottom of the list. A ranking can be traded, provided that part of the compensation received in return is another club’s ranking. At all times, each club is assigned one ranking. The rankings reset at the end of each MLS League season.

2012 Allocation Order

1. Toronto FC

2. Chivas USA

3. San Jose Earthquakes

4. D.C. United

5. Portland Timbers

6. Chicago Fire

7. Columbus Crew

8. FC Dallas

9. Vancouver Whitecaps

10. Seattle Sounders

11. Sporting KC

12. Real Salt Lake

13. Houston Dynamo

14. LA Galaxy

15. Montreal Impact (Eddie Johnson)

16. Colorado Rapids (Kamani Hill)

17. Philadelphia Union (Bakary Soumare)

18. New York Red Bulls (Luis Robles)

19. New England Revolution (Juan Toja)