Major League Soccer, founded in 1993, is the highest level of professional football in the United States.
Unlike most European leagues, the MLS operates in a league format before switching to a play-off and cup final format in the latter stages, with the eventual champion awarded the MLS Cup.
The competition has expanded significantly since its inception, with the numbers of competing clubs tripling from an initial 10 in 1993 to 30 by 2025.
Previous Winners
Season | MLS Cup winner | Supporters' Shield Winner |
1996 | D.C. United | Tampa Bay Mutiny |
1997 | D.C. United | D.C. United |
1998 | Chicago Fire | LA Galaxy |
1999 | D.C. United | D.C. United |
2000 | Kansas City Wizards | Kansas City Wizards |
2001 | San Jose Earthquakes | Miami Fusion |
2002 | LA Galaxy | LA Galaxy |
2003 | San Jose Earthquakes | Chicago Fire |
2004 | D.C. United | Columbus Crew |
2005 | LA Galaxy | San Jose Earthquakes |
2006 | Houston Dynamo | D.C. United |
2007 | Houston Dynamo | D.C. United |
2008 | Columbus Crew | Columbus Crew |
2009 | Real Salt Lake | Columbus Crew |
2010 | Colorado Rapids | LA Galaxy |
2011 | LA Galaxy | LA Galaxy |
2012 | LA Galaxy | San Jose Earthquakes |
2013 | Sporting Kansas City | New York Red Bulls |
2014 | LA Galaxy | Seattle Sounders FC |
2015 | Portland Timbers | New York Red Bulls |
2016 | Seattle Sounders FC | FC Dallas |
2017 | Toronto FC | Toronto FC |
2018 | Atlanta United FC | New York Red Bulls |
2019 | Seattle Sounders FC | Los Angeles FC |
2020 | Columbus Crew SC | Philadelphia Union |
2021 | New York City FC | New England Revolution |
2022 | Los Angeles FC | Los Angeles FC |
2023 | Columbus Crew | FC Cincinnati |
2024 | New York Red Bulls | Inter Miami CF |
2025 | Inter Miami CF | Philadelphia Union |
As of 2026, 16 clubs have lifted the MLS Cup, with David Beckham's Inter Miami, led by the legendary Lionel Messi, the reigning champions after their triumph in 2025.
The success in the MLS has been considerably well spread between the competing franchises over the years, with 21 of the 32 teams that have played in the league appearing at an MLS Cup final,
Discover more about the MLS Transfer Rules, including roster limit, discovery process and more
