Milestones
Formed:
Status: Active
First Game: April 6, 1996
Seasons: 28 & counting (as of 4/1/2023)
States & Provinces:
Leadership
Commissioner:
- November 1995 – August 1999: Doug Logan
- August 1999 – Present: Don Garber
Trophy Case
Background
Major League Soccer debuted in 1996 as the United States’ first proper 1st Division outdoor league since the demise of the North American Soccer League in 1984. The league endured massive financial losses in its early years and the contraction of two clubs – the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny – in January 2002.
Since then, the league has rebounded strongly to a peak of 29 franchises entering the 2023 season. MLS as a whole now boasts the third highest annual attendance among American sports leagues, trailing only the NFL and Major League Baseball. In 2013 the owners of New York City FC paid a $100 million expansion fee, up from $5 million in the league’s first round of expansion in 1997.
In fairness, MLS probably doesn’t even belong on Fun While It Lasted, as the league is remarkably stable and many would argue (including me) that it has firmly cemented its Major League status in North America now. Nevertheless, we have so many soccer leagues on this site which had similar ambitions (and less success), that it felt necessary to include MLS just to complete the picture of North American soccer.
Major League Soccer Franchise List
| Franchise | Years Active | MLS Cup Champions |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta United FC | 2017-Present | None |
| Austin FC | 2021-Present | None |
| C.D. Chivas USA | 2005-2014 | None |
| CF Montreal | 2021-Present | None |
| Charlotte FC | 2022-Present | None |
| Chicago Fire | 1998-Present | 1998 |
| Colorado Rapids | 1996-Present | 2010 |
| Columbus Crew | 1996-Present | 2008-2020-2023 |
| D.C. United | 1996-Present | 1996-1997-1999-2004 |
| Dallas Burn | 1996-2004 | None |
| FC Cincinnati | 2019-Present | None |
| F.C. Dallas | 2005-Present | None |
| Houston Dynamo | 2006-Present | 2006-2007 |
| Inter Miami CF | 2020-Present | None |
| Kansas City Wiz | 1996 | 2000 (as Kansas City Wizards) |
| Kansas City Wizards | 1997-2010 | 2000 |
| Los Angeles FC | 2018-Present | 2022 |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 1996-Present | 2002-2005-2011-2012-2014 |
| MetroStars | 1998-2005 | None |
| Miami Fusion | 1998-2001 | None |
| Minnesota United FC | 2017-Present | None |
| Montreal Impact | 2012-2020 | None |
| Nashville SC | 2020-Present | None |
| New England Revolution | 1996-Present | None |
| New York City FC | 2015-Present | 2021 |
| New York/New Jersey MetroStars | 1996-1997 | None |
| New York Red Bulls | 2006-Present | None |
| Orlando City SC | 2015-Present | None |
| Philadelphia Union | 2010-Present | None |
| Portland Timbers | 2011-Present | 2015 |
| Real Salt Lake | 2005-Present | 2009 |
| St. Louis SC | 2023-Present | None |
| San Jose Clash | 1996-1999 | None |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2000-2005 | 2001-2003 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2008-Present | None |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2009-Present | 2016-2019 |
| Sporting Kansas City | 2011-Present | 2013 |
| Tampa Bay Mutiny | 1996-2001 | None |
| Toronto FC | 2007-Present | 2017 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2011-Present | None |
Major League Soccer Shop
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2 Responses
In 2002 I thought MLS was going to bite the dust, because they got rid of the Tampa and Miami teams. I live in Florida near Tampa and I thought the league was done.
Now in 2014 it has a bright future.
I’ve been supporting DC United since 1998 and next year I’ll be adding the Orlando team to another team I support. In fact Orlando will replace DC United as my favorite team because Orlando is only 3 hours away from me while DC is much farther.
I like walter zenga and i met in the caffe dello sport. He worked very hard as goalkeeper/player or manager of the New England Revolution.