The 2024 season of MLS is in full swing with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami leading the league. As Miami look to win the MLS Cup for the first time, let us take a look at the most successful teams in the MLS Cup.
Chicago Fire, Portland Timbers, Toronto FC, Real Salt Lake, Colorado Rapids, Los Angeles FC, Atlanta United, and New York City FC have each won the MLS Cup once in their history.
San Jose Earthquakes (2)
San Jose Earthquakes have won the MLS Cups twice in their history. Their first title came in 2001 when they defeated LA Galaxy 2-1 in the final.
Their second title came in 2003 when they defeated the Chicago Fire by 4-2 in the final.
Sporting Kansas City (2)
Sporting Kansas City have also lifted the MLS Cup two times in their history. They lifted their maiden cup in 2000 when they were known by the name Kansas City Wizards.
They defeated Chicago Fire in the final. In 2013 they won their second MLS title defeating Real Salt Lake on penalties. In 2004 they were within touching distance to win the cup but were defeated by D.C. United in the final.
Seattle Sounders (2)
In 2016, Seattle Sounders won their first-ever MLS Cup defeating Torotno FC in the final. Just 3 years later they won their second cup defeating Toronto FC again.
Having won two MLS cups, the Sounders have also ended up on the wrong side of the scoreline in the final losing to Toronto FC in 2017 and Columbus Crew SC in 2020.
Houston Dynamo (2)
Houston Dynamo are the fourth team to win two MLS Cups in their history. They did so in consecutive seasons beating the New England Revolution in the finals of 2006 and 2007.
The two title-winning seasons were also their first two seasons in the MLS. They have been MLS Cup runners-up twice, in 2011 and 2012 losing to LA Galaxy on both occasions.
Columbus Crew (3)
Columbus Crew are the current defending champions of the MLS Cup. They have lifted the MLS Cup 3 times doing so in 2008, 2020, and 2023. They defeated the New York Bulls in 2008, the Seattle Sounders in 2020, and LAFC last season.
They lost the MLS Cup final in 2015 in Portland Timbers.
DC United (4)
DC United has four MLS Cups in total winning the first two MLS Cups in 1996 and 1997. They beat Los Angeles Galaxy in 1996 and Colorado Rapids in 1997.
They again won the cup in 1999 beating LA Galaxy in the final. In 2004, D.C. United defeated the Kansas City Wizards in the final to lift their fourth cup.
In the 1999 MLS Cup final they lost to Chicago Fire.
LA Galaxy (5)
Galaxy won three titles in four years (2011, 2012, 2014) thanks to players like David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Omar Gonzalez, and Robbie Keane.
Their first cup came in 2002 when they defeated the New England Revolution in the final. They defeated the same opponents in the 2005 final. In the 2011 and 2012 finals, they beat the Houston Dynamo and beat the New England Revolution again in 2014.
Read More: Top 10 Highest Goal Scorers Of MLS
Which teams have never won an MLS Cup?
A total of 14 teams have not won the MLS Cup yet. FC Dallas, New England Revolution, and New York Red Bulls have the longest MLS Cup drought, having entered the league in 1996.
- Austin FC
- Charlotte FC
- CF Montréal
- FC Cincinnati
- FC Dallas
- Inter Miami CF
- Minnesota United FC
- Nashville SC
- New England Revolution
- New York Red Bulls
- Orlando City SC
- Philadelphia Union
- St. Louis City SC
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.