Major League Soccer (1996-Today)

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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Comments

2 Responses

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

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