Montreal Impact favoured to be 19th MLS franchise

Montreal Impact remain favourites to be granted the 19th MLS licence.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber has reiterated that the Impact have the best chance of entering the competition in 2012 after Philadelphia Union join next season to be followed by Vancouver and Portland.

Although some things need to be sorted, including a stadium, Montreal remain as the frontrunner to become team 19 in MLS.

"The ownership group is here [in Seattle for talks]. We are making progress,” said Garber.

“We hope to have a 19th team in the league by 2012 and Montreal is still the leading candidate. But we have got some work to do, most importantly, that stadium needs to be renovated and expanded. It's probably not suitable for an MLS team today.

“We are going to work with the Saputo family and the provincial government and try to make some progress in funding a renovation."