The 2022 MLS season operated under a comprehensive set of roster rules and salary budget regulations designed to maintain competitive balance. The salary budget (also known as the salary cap) was set at $4,900,000 per team, with additional mechanisms like General Allocation Money (GAM) and Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) providing flexibility for roster construction.
Each MLS team was allowed to roster 28 players on their senior roster, with 18-20 players eligible for each match day squad. Teams could sign up to three Designated Players whose salaries above $612,500 (the maximum budget charge) did not count against the salary budget. Additionally, teams received GAM and TAM allocations to help sign and retain key players while staying within budget constraints.
The roster rules also included provisions for Homegrown Players, international roster spots (8 per team), and various player acquisition methods including the MLS SuperDraft, trades, and free agency. These regulations worked together to create a framework that balanced fiscal responsibility with competitive roster building across all MLS clubs.