Tampa and St. Petersburg missed the cut for the next round of Major League Soccer expansion.

• Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville and Sacramento will vie for 2 spots
• Tampa/St. Petersburg will be considered for future expansion
• Tampa Bay Mutiny played in MLS from 1996-2001
  

But MLS said the market remains in the running for a team at a later date.

MLS said Wednesday that four cities will compete next year for two MLS expansion slots.

Leaders and officials from Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville and Sacramento will make presentations to the league's expansion committee.

The league made it clear that while only those four cities are being considered for the next two expansion teams, all remaining markets are under consideration for the following two expansion clubs that will be announced at a later date.

Those include Tampa/St. Petersburg, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Phoenix, Raleigh/Durham, St. Louis, San Antonio and San Diego.

The Tampa Bay Mutiny played in MLS from 1996 to 2001. The team was folded in 2002.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies currently play in the United Soccer League and play their home games at Al Lang Stadium.

"While the Rowdies were not one of the four, MLS made it clear that we remain in consideration for the expansion spots to be announced at a later date," said Rowdies Chairman and CEO Bill Edwards.

"On behalf of the Rowdies organization, I am very proud of what we have accomplished on and off the pitch.  We set modern day records in 19 categories this past season."

He added: "I firmly believe that this MLS expansion will come to pass."