History of MLS championship dynasties since league's inception Jim Reineking, USA TODAYOctober 25, 2025 at 4:08 AM 0 During its first 30 years of existence, Major League Soccer has featured a number of successful teams.
- - History of MLS championship dynasties since league's inception
Jim Reineking, USA TODAYOctober 25, 2025 at 4:08 AM
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During its first 30 years of existence, Major League Soccer has featured a number of successful teams.
Some have been excellent for much of those three decades (Los Angeles Galaxy, six MLS Cup wins in 10 appearances). Some have experienced brief moments of brilliance (Atlanta United, three trophies in two years). Some are still writing their stories (Columbus Crew and Los Angeles FC). And, maybe someday, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will join the following list.
Here is a look at the clubs that have enjoyed high levels of success in MLS, breaking down the teams that have defined the league's first 30 seasons:
D.C. United (1996-99)
Trophies: 1996 MLS Cup, 1996 U.S. Open Cup, 1997 Supporters' Shield, 1997 MLS Cup, 1998 Concacaf Champions Cup, 1998 Copa Interamericana, 1999 MLS Cup
It's been a long time since D.C. United was a relevant club in MLS, but during the league's infancy there was no finer team. Powered by two of the league's biggest international stars, Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno, as well as U.S. national team players such as Jeff Agoos, John Harkes and Eddie Pope, D.C. United was a powerhouse in the league's first decade (the team also won MLS Cup in 2004). Leading the team through its first three seasons was Bruce Arena, who parlayed D.C. United's success into the USMNT gig (it went well at the 2002 World Cup). Thomas Rongen was coach when D.C. won the 1999 MLS Cup.
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Los Angeles Galaxy (1996-2005)
Trophies: 1998 Supporters' Shield, 2000 Concacaf Champions Cup, 2001 U.S. Open Cup, 2002 Supporters' Shield, 2002 MLS Cup, 2005 U.S. Open Cup, 2005 MLS Cup
Between Major League Soccer's inaugural season of 1996 and its 10th, the Galaxy appeared in five of its league championship games. After three MLS Cup defeats (1996, 1999, 2001), the fourth time was finally the charm for L.A. as it prevailed over the New England Revolution on Carlos Ruiz's "golden goal" in 2002. In 2005, the Galaxy added the second of what is now a league-high six MLS Cup trophies. The Galaxy established itself as an MLS blue blood in the league's first decade, featuring USMNT legend Cobi Jones during that entire timeframe, but also notables such as Paul Caligiuri and Alexi Lalas (USMNT legends in their own right), midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos and Mexican goalkeeping icon Jorge Campos.
San Jose Earthquakes (2001-03)
Trophies: 2001 MLS Cup, 2003 MLS Cup
Up-and-coming USMNT star Landon Donovan came of age with the early 21st century Earthquakes, who rose from league also-ran to surprise titlists with a thrilling MLS Cup win over the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2001. The Earthquakes followed up the 2001 title with another MLS Cup win in 2003, getting there after a dramatic playoff win over the rival Galaxy. Donovan had help, of course. Dwayne De Rosario was one of the league's top players, earning six MLS Best XI nods from 2005-2011. USMNT veteran Jeff Agoos anchored the defense, while Ronnie Ecklund was one of the top midfielders in MLS.
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Houston Dynamo (2006-07)
Trophies: 2006 MLS Cup, 2007 MLS Cup
Following the relocation/hiatus of the Earthquakes, Dwayne De Rosario followed the franchise to Houston and led the Dynamo to back-to-back league championships. The Dynamo also featured midfielders Ricardo Clark and Stuart Holden, who also were key contributors for the USMNT. The Dynamo won both of their titles at the expense of the New England Revolution, who cemented their status as "the Buffalo Bills of MLS" with four MLS Cup losses over a six-season span. The Dynamo's run as one of the league's top teams ended after back-to-back MLS Cup defeats against the Galaxy in 2011-12.
Los Angeles Galaxy (2010-14)
Trophies: 2010 Supporters' Shield, 2011 Supporters' Shield, 2011 MLS Cup, 2012 MLS Cup, 2014 MLS Cup
The ballyhooed arrival of David Beckham started to pay on-field dividends in 2009, when the Galaxy advanced to MLS Cup, but were defeated by Real Salt Lake in a game that went to a penalty shootout. The next season, the Galaxy won the Supporters' and then in 2011 started a run of winning three MLS Cups in a four-year span. Beckham was there for two of those titles (2011 and 2012). Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane formed a power trio with Beckham, but the Galaxy featured a long list of notables at various points during this timeframe, including but not exclusive to: Gregg Berhalter, Edson Buddle, A.J. DeLaGarza, Omar Gonzalez, Frankie Hejduk, Mike Magee, Robbie Rogers and Gyasi Zardes. After his USMNT tenure, Bruce Arena was back coaching in MLS, and his guidance helped right the ship in Los Angeles.
Seattle Sounders (2014-19)
Trophies: 2014 U.S. Open Cup, 2014 Supporters' Shield, 2016 MLS Cup, 2019 MLS Cup
When the Sounders entered the league in 2009, they were a revelation, drawing previously unheard of crowds to games. The Sounders rewarded that early success at the box office with playoff appearances, but it wasn't until Clint Dempsey arrived in 2014 that the team reached another stratosphere. After winning the U.S. Open Cup three straight years from 2009-2011, the Sounders vaulted to the top of MLS with another Open Cup win and Supporters' Shield in 2014.
Two years later, the Sounders finally collected their first MLS Cup. By then, midfield maestro Nicolás Lodeiro was added to a squad that included the feisty Ozzie Alonso, three-time MLS Defender of the Year Chad Marshall and goalkeeper Stefan Frei. The Sounders returned to MLS Cup in 2017, but were defeated by Toronto FC in a championship rematch. The Sounders again met Toronto FC in MLS Cup 2019, winning 3-1. Seattle's attempt to win a third league championship over a five-year span was thwarted in the 2020 MLS Cup by the Columbus Crew.
Toronto FC (2016-18)
Trophies: 2016 Canadian Championship, 2017 Canadian Championship, 2017 Supporters' Shield, 2017 MLS Cup, 2018 Canadian Championship
After losing the 2016 MLS Cup in a heartbreaker at home to the Seattle Sounders, Toronto FC went to have one of the best seasons in MLS history in 2017. With a 2-0 win over the Seattle Sounders in MLS Cup 2017, Toronto FC became the first MLS team to complete a domestic treble. TFC's dominant season — it won the Supporters' Shield by 12 points over the next-nearest competitor — was fueled by 2015 MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco and USMNT stalwarts Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley. Toronto FC fell fast from its peak, after advancing to MLS Cup 2019 the team has just one playoff appearance since then (in 2020).
Atlanta United (2018-19)
Trophies: 2018 MLS Cup, 2019 Campeones Cup, 2019 U.S. Open Cup
For a brief period of time, it appeared as if Atlanta United would be THE dominant team in MLS for years to come. It took the league by storm as an expansion club in 2017 under former Argentina and FC Barcelona coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino. Striker Josef Martinez set a single-season goal-scoring record in 2018 (31 goals, broken a year later by Carlos Vela), with dynamic winger Miguel Almirón and midfielder Darlington Nagbe helping make Atlanta a thrill to watch. USMNT goalkeeper Brad Guzan provided veteran stability in defense, rounding out one of the league's best-ever squads.
Martino left Atlanta followed the 2018 MLS Cup win, and Almirón transferred to the Premier League. A once-promising tour de force experienced a severe decline. Atlanta made the Eastern Conference final in 2019, but missed the playoffs in 2020 and haven't made it past the quarterfinals since.
Los Angeles FC (2019-24)
Trophies: 2019 Supporters' Shield, 2022 Supporters' Shield, 2022 MLS Cup, 2024 U.S. Open Cup
Aside from dismal 2021 season in which LAFC failed to qualify for the playoffs, the club has been among the league's finest since entering as an expansion side in 2018. While it has collected an impressive haul of trophies in its short history, LAFC also has come tantalizingly close to additional hardware, coming up short twice in the Concacaf Champions Cup final (2020 and 2023) and losing to the Columbus Crew in the 2023 MLS Cup and 2024 Leagues Cup final. The defining victory, of course, was LAFC's epic triumph over the Philadelphia Union in the 2022 MLS Cup, which provided more twists and turns than any other MLS Cup prior. Helping LAFC make an immediate impact in MLS were three different Golden Boot winners: Carlos Vela (who had a record-setting 2019), Diego Rossi (2020) and Denis Bouanga (2023).
Columbus Crew (2020-24)
Trophies: 2020 MLS Cup, 2021 Campeones Cup, 2023 MLS Cup, 2024 Leagues Cup
Columbus rose from near-relocation (remember "Save the Crew"?) to become one of the league's dominant teams. The team won MLS Cup in 2020 under coach Caleb Porter at Historic Crew Stadium, moved into Lower.com Field in 2021 and collected three more trophies in their new home. Wilfried Nancy joined the team in 2023 and the move paid immediate dividends as the Crew won its third MLS Cup. Porter and Nancy had the luxury of coaching some great players, including Darlington Nagbe, Lucas Zelarayán, Cucho Hernández and Diego Rossi. The Crew also advanced to the Concacaf Champions Cup final in 2024, but was defeated by Pachuca in Mexico.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLS dynasties: From DC United and Galaxy to LAFC and Columbus Crew
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