New York, NY –  Major League Soccer released its 2012 schedule on Thursday, with the season slated to start March 10 and conclude Dec. 1 with the MLS Cup final.

MLS will again feature a 34-match schedule, but the length of the season will be the longest in the league's 17-year history. MLS will include 19 teams this season as the Montreal Impact join as an expansion club.

Each of the league's clubs will play 17 games at home and 17 away. Within each conference, each club will play the same number of in-conference and out-of- conference games, following the competition format announced in November.

For the first time, MLS did not schedule any games on FIFA international dates - although postponed matches could be moved to those dates. Overall, more than 83 percent of matches will be played on weekends or holidays.

The regular season kicks off with five matches March 10, and ends Oct. 28 with three games.