- This article is about the championship. For details on the tournament, see MLS Cup Playoffs.
MLS Cup | ||
![]() | ||
Founded | 1996 | |
Region | Major League Soccer (CONCACAF) | |
Tournament information | ||
Current champions | Los Angeles FC (1st title) | |
Most successful team(s) | Los Angeles Galaxy (5 titles) | |
![]() | ||
Website | Official website |
Major League Soccer is the top tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. The MLS Cup is the trophy awarded at the conclusion of the championship match, which is the final match of the post-season MLS Cup playoffs. The winner is crowned season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues. The MLS Cup winner is awarded a berth in the following year's CONCACAF Champions' League.
On October 20, 1996, the league hosted its inaugural championship, MLS Cup '96. Today the MLS Cup is typically held in early December featuring the winners of the Eastern Conference Championship and Western Conference Championship. During its history, the MLS Cup has been represented by three different trophies: the Alan I. Rothenberg Trophy from 1996 through 1998, a redesigned Alan I. Rothenberg Trophy from 1999 through 2007, and the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy since 2008.
Champions[]
- Main article:List of MLS Cup finals
The winner of Major League Soccer's MLS Cup, the final match of the MLS Cup Playoffs, determines that season's league champion. The playoff tournament is organized by the league at the conclusion of the regular season in a format similar to other North American professional sports leagues. The tournament is open to the top six clubs of the Eastern and Western Conference.
The first MLS Cup final was played on October 20, 1996. As of 2014, the record for the most championships is held by the Los Angeles Galaxy with five cup titles. The championship has been won by the same team in two or more consecutive years on three occasions. The cup is held by the Los Angeles Galaxy who defeated the New England Revolution in the 2014 final.
Results[]
Season | Date | Winner | Score | Runners–up | Venue | Attendance | US television |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1996 | October 20 | D.C. United | 3–2 * | Los Angeles Galaxy | Foxboro Stadium | 34,643 | ABC |
1997 | October 26 | D.C. United | 2–1 | Colorado Rapids | RFK Memorial Stadium | 57,431 | ABC |
1998 | October 25 | Chicago Fire | 2–0 | D.C. United | Rose Bowl | 51,350 | ABC |
1999 | November 21 | D.C. United | 2–0 | Los Angeles Galaxy | Foxboro Stadium | 44,910 | ABC |
2000 | October 15 | Kansas City Wizards | 1–0 | Chicago Fire | RFK Memorial Stadium | 39,159 | ABC |
2001 | October 21 | San Jose Earthquakes | 2–1 * | Los Angeles Galaxy | Crew Stadium | 21,626 | ABC |
2002 | October 20 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 1–0 * | New England Revolution | Gillette Stadium | 61,316 | ABC |
2003 | November 23 | San Jose Earthquakes | 4–2 | Chicago Fire | The Home Depot Center | 27,000 | ABC |
2004 | November 14 | D.C. United | 3–2 | Kansas City Wizards | The Home Depot Center | 25,797 | ABC |
2005 | November 13 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 1–0 * | New England Revolution | Pizza Hut Park | 21,193 | ABC |
2006 | November 12 | Houston Dynamo | 1–1 † | New England Revolution | Pizza Hut Park | 22,427 | ABC |
2007 | November 18 | Houston Dynamo | 2–1 | New England Revolution | RFK Memorial Stadium | 39,859 | ABC |
2008 | November 23 | Columbus Crew | 3–1 | New York Red Bulls | The Home Depot Center | 27,000 | ABC |
2009 | November 22 | Real Salt Lake | 1–1 † | Los Angeles Galaxy | Qwest Field | 46,011 | ESPN |
2010 | November 21 | Colorado Rapids | 2–1 * | FC Dallas | BMO Field | 21,700 | ESPN |
2011 | November 20 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 1–0 | Houston Dynamo | The Home Depot Center | 30,281 | ESPN |
2012 | December 1 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 3–1 | Houston Dynamo | The Home Depot Center | 30,510 | ESPN |
2013 | December 7 | Sporting Kansas City | 1–1 † | Real Salt Lake | Sporting Park | 21,650 | ESPN |
2014 | December 7 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 2–1 * | New England Revolution | StubHub Center | 27,000 | ESPN |
Key
* | Match went to extra time |
† | Match decided by a penalty shootout after extra time |
Bold | Team won the MLS Supporters' Shield |
Italics | Team won the U.S. Open Cup |
Stadiums[]
Name | Location | Hosted | Years hosted |
---|---|---|---|
StubHub Center | Carson, California | 6 | 2003, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014 |
RFK Stadium | Washington, D.C. | 3 | 1997, 2000, 2007 |
Foxboro Stadium | Foxborough, Massachusetts | 2 | 1996, 1999 |
Pizza Hut Park | Frisco, Texas | 2 | 2005, 2006 |
Rose Bowl | Pasadena, California | 1 | 1998 |
Columbus Crew Stadium | Columbus, Ohio | 1 | 2001 |
Gillette Stadium | Foxborough, Massachusetts | 1 | 2002 |
Qwest Field | Seattle, Washington | 1 | 2009 |
BMO Field | Toronto, Ontario | 1 | 2010 |
Sporting Park | Kansas City, Kansas | 1 | 2013 |
Italics indicate a stadium that is now inactive.
MLS Cup |
Finals |
1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · |
Playoffs |
1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · |
Major League Soccer seasons |
2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · |
![]() |
Football in the United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|