in early 2015, the league announced that two teams—los angeles fc and minnesota united—would join mls in either 2017 or 2018. the 20th season of mls saw the arrivals of several players who have starred at the highest levels of european club soccer and in international soccer: giovanni dos santos, kaká, andrea pirlo, frank lampard, steven gerrard, didier drogba, david villa, and sebastian giovinco. on december 6, 2015, mls announced its intent to expand to 28 teams. mls confirmed in august 2016 that minnesota united would begin play in 2017 along with atlanta united fc.