Major League Soccer and the MLS Players Union have agreed upon a new collective bargaining agreement that will prevent a work stoppage.

Pending formal ratification by the members of the MLSPU, the deal allows the 2015 regular season to begin on time.

The new CBA concludes a difficult negotiating period that began in earnest last December, and ended just two days before the start of the regular season.

The deal is believed to contain the first provision for limited free agency in the league's history.