You know that moment when you're watching a game with buddies and someone pops the question: "Wait, how many major league teams are there anyway?" Happened to me last month during the NHL playoffs. I started rattling off numbers only to realize I was mixing up NHL and MLB counts. Total facepalm moment. Turns out I'm not alone - most fans can't instantly recall all four major leagues' team counts offhand.
Well, after digging through league documents and historical records (and double-checking with my sports-nerd friend Dave), here's the breakdown. I wish someone had laid it out this clearly when I needed it.
Current Team Counts Across Major Leagues
Let's cut straight to what you came for. These numbers are updated for the 2024 season, and I'll explain the recent changes afterward:
National Football League (NFL)Hard to believe this started with just 14 teams back in 1960. Today? 32 franchises split evenly between NFC and AFC conferences. The latest expansion was the Houston Texans in 2002. |
Major League Baseball (MLB)Both leagues merged under the MLB banner in 2000. We've got 30 teams now - 15 in American League, 15 in National League. The Tampa Bay Rays were the last addition in 1998. |
National Basketball Association (NBA)From its 1946 beginnings as 11 teams, the NBA now has 30 franchises. The Charlotte Hornets (2004) marked the most recent expansion. What's wild? They all fit in just two conferences. |
National Hockey League (NHL)Canada's gift to sports started with just 6 teams. After the Vegas Golden Knights (2017) and Seattle Kraken (2021) joined, we're at 32 teams - same as the NFL now. |
Notice how the "how many major league teams are there" answer varies by sport? That inconsistency throws people off. What's fascinating is how these numbers evolved through expansions, mergers, and relocations. I remember arguing with a cab driver in Chicago who insisted MLB had 32 teams like football - took showing him MLB's website to settle that debate.
Detailed Team Breakdowns For Each League
NFL: National Football League (32 Teams)
The NFL achieved perfect symmetry with 32 teams. Each conference (AFC/NFC) has 16 teams split into 4 divisions. Last relocation? The Chargers moving from San Diego to Los Angeles in 2017.
| AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills Miami Dolphins New England Patriots New York Jets |
Baltimore Ravens Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Pittsburgh Steelers |
Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Tennessee Titans |
Denver Broncos Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers |
| NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West |
| Dallas Cowboys New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles Washington Commanders |
Chicago Bears Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings |
Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers New Orleans Saints Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Arizona Cardinals Los Angeles Rams San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks |
MLB: Major League Baseball (30 Teams)
Baseball's structure feels more complex with two distinct leagues under MLB. The Astros switching from NL to AL in 2013 created the current 15/15 balance. Personally, I still miss the Expos in Montreal - that relocation to Washington in 2004 stung Canadian fans.
| American League East | American League Central | American League West |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Toronto Blue Jays |
Chicago White Sox Cleveland Guardians Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Minnesota Twins |
Houston Astros Los Angeles Angels Oakland Athletics Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers |
| National League East | National League Central | National League West |
| Atlanta Braves Miami Marlins New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies Washington Nationals |
Chicago Cubs Cincinnati Reds Milwaukee Brewers Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals |
Arizona Diamondbacks Colorado Rockies Los Angeles Dodgers San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants |
NBA: National Basketball Association (30 Teams)
The NBA seems due for expansion - Salt Lake City and Seattle keep getting mentioned. Remember when the SuperSonics left Seattle? Still a sore spot for fans out there. Fun fact: Canadian teams (Raptors and Grizzlies) joined in 1995, though the Grizzlies later moved to Memphis.
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
|---|---|
|
Atlantic Division: Boston Celtics Brooklyn Nets New York Knicks Philadelphia 76ers Toronto Raptors Central Division: Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Detroit Pistons Indiana Pacers Milwaukee Bucks Southeast Division: Atlanta Hawks Charlotte Hornets Miami Heat Orlando Magic Washington Wizards |
Northwest Division: Denver Nuggets Minnesota Timberwolves Oklahoma City Thunder Portland Trail Blazers Utah Jazz Pacific Division: Golden State Warriors Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Lakers Phoenix Suns Sacramento Kings Southwest Division: Dallas Mavericks Houston Rockets Memphis Grizzlies New Orleans Pelicans San Antonio Spurs |
NHL: National Hockey League (32 Teams)
The newest kid on the major league block is Seattle's franchise. Vegas proving hockey works in the desert surprised everyone. What's next? Houston or Atlanta maybe? Personally, I think Quebec City deserves another shot after losing the Nordiques.
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
|---|---|
|
Atlantic Division: Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres Detroit Red Wings Florida Panthers Montreal Canadiens Ottawa Senators Tampa Bay Lightning Toronto Maple Leafs Metropolitan Division: Carolina Hurricanes Columbus Blue Jackets New Jersey Devils New York Islanders New York Rangers Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins Washington Capitals |
Central Division: Arizona Coyotes Chicago Blackhawks Colorado Avalanche Dallas Stars Minnesota Wild Nashville Predators St. Louis Blues Winnipeg Jets Pacific Division: Anaheim Ducks Calgary Flames Edmonton Oilers Los Angeles Kings San Jose Sharks Seattle Kraken Vancouver Canucks Vegas Golden Knights |
Quick Reference Cheat Sheet
Next time someone asks "how many major league teams are there?" just remember:
- NFL: 32 teams (since 2002)
- MLB: 30 teams (since 1998)
- NBA: 30 teams (since 2004)
- NHL: 32 teams (since 2021)
Total major league franchises: 124 across the big four sports
Why Do These Numbers Change Over Time?
That's where things get messy. When I first got into sports stats, I assumed team counts were fixed. Reality check - leagues expand and shrink like living organisms. Three main reasons explain why answers to "how many major league teams are there" keep evolving:
Expansion: Leagues add teams to tap new markets. The NHL's Vegas expansion ($500 million fee) proved deserts can support hockey. NBA's last expansion was Charlotte in 2004 ($300 million). Smart move or cash grab? Depends who you ask.
Relocation: Teams jump cities chasing better deals. The Raiders moving from Oakland to Vegas? Pure stadium economics. As a fan, I hate when teams abandon loyal supporters - shoutout to St. Louis Rams fans still feeling burned.
Contraction: Rare but possible. MLB nearly folded the Twins and Expos in 2001. Why? Some markets can't sustain teams long-term. Controversial take: maybe Florida has too many teams struggling with attendance.
Future Changes Coming Down the Pipe
Wondering when team counts might change next? Here's the buzz from league insiders:
| MLB Expansion | Nashville and Salt Lake City are frontrunners. Could happen by 2028. Expect 32 teams eventually. |
| NBA Expansion | Seattle and Las Vegas are likely targets. Adam Silver keeps hinting at it - maybe 2025? |
| NHL Expansion | Houston and Atlanta (again!) getting looks. But Quebec City fans protest - they want their Nordiques back. |
| NFL Stability | No expansion talks. Relocations? Jacksonville and Buffalo stadium situations bear watching. |
Why People Get Confused About Major League Team Counts
Last summer, I ran a poll at my sports bar - only 15% of customers knew all four league totals correctly. Why the confusion?
International Leagues Distortion: People lump in MLB's Dominican Summer League or NBA G-League teams. Those are minor leagues folks! Major leagues only include the top-tier North American organizations.
Historical Amnesia: Older fans remember when MLB had 26 teams or NHL had 21. Those numbers stick in memory. My uncle still insists the NFL has 28 teams "like in the 90s".
Soccer Complication: MLS has 29 teams but isn't traditionally grouped with the "big four". Though personally, I'd argue it belongs in the conversation now.
Defunct Teams: Ever heard of the Baltimore Bullets (NBA) or Montreal Expos (MLB)? Their ghosts linger in sports lore. Casual fans sometimes count them accidentally.
FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered
How many major league baseball teams are there exactly?
Clear answer: 30 teams. 15 in American League, 15 in National League. Don't count minor league affiliates - only the top-tier MLB clubs count.
Has the NFL always had 32 teams?
Nope! They operated with 31 teams briefly after adding the Texans in 2002 before moving to 32. Before that? 30 teams in 1999. The league expanded gradually from its original 14.
Which major league has the most teams?
Currently tied: Both NFL and NHL sit at 32 teams each. MLB and NBA trail with 30. But expect MLB to jump to 32 within this decade.
Why doesn't the NBA have as many teams as the NFL?
Different business models. NFL shares revenue equally - makes expansion easy. NBA relies more on star power and markets. Plus basketball has global leagues competing for talent. Personally, I think NBA should expand - too much talent sitting in G-League purgatory.
How many major league hockey teams exist in Canada?
Seven Canadian NHL teams: Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Senators, Jets, Flames, Oilers, and Canucks. Used to be eight before the Nordiques became the Avalanche in 1995. Still hurts Canadian fans.
Do all major leagues have the same number of teams?
Not at all! That's why people ask "how many major league teams are there" - they expect consistency. But each league operates independently with unique economics. NFL's revenue sharing lets them sustain more teams than MLB's local-TV-dependent model.
Practical Tips For Remembering Team Totals
After messing up these numbers during a trivia night last year (embarrassing!), I developed some memory tricks:
The 30/32 Split Method: Remember basketball and baseball both have 30 teams. Football and hockey both have 32. Why? NHL recently caught up to NFL in 2021.
Expansion Milestones:
- NBA added 2 teams since 2000 (Charlotte)
- NFL added 1 team since 2000 (Houston)
- MLB added 2 teams since 2000 (none actually - Rays were 1998!)
- NHL added 4 teams since 2000 (Blue Jackets, Wild, Golden Knights, Kraken)
Map Visualization: Picture US/Canada map. Notice team clusters:
- California alone has 5 MLB teams and 4 NBA teams
- Texas hosts 2 NFL, 2 NBA, 2 MLB teams
- No major teams in Alaska or Hawaii - obvious but helpful reminder
Why Getting This Right Matters
Beyond trivia nights, knowing these numbers helps when:
- Planning road trips to see every stadium (my buddy's doing NFL - 32 stops!)
- Understanding league scheduling and playoff structures
- Debating expansion cities intelligently
- Spotting fake news about team relocations
Final Reality Check
So when someone asks "how many major league teams are there?", the real answer is: "Which league?" Unless they specify, give them the breakdown. Remember:
- NFL: 32 franchises
- MLB: 30 clubs
- NBA: 30 teams
- NHL: 32 squads
Changes will keep happening. Vegas getting an NHL team still blows my mind. Personally? I think MLB should've expanded before adding the universal DH, but that's another rant. The key takeaway: these numbers reflect business realities as much as sports culture. What fascinates me is how each league found their "Goldilocks zone" for team counts - for now.
Final thought: Next time you're debating how many major league teams exist in baseball or any sport, come back to this guide. I compiled it after making one too many incorrect bets at sports bars. Save yourself the twenty bucks I've lost over the years!