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This article is about the championship. For details on the tournament, see MLS Cup Playoffs.
MLS Cup
MLS Cup trophy
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)
Football current event Current
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 2024
Eastern Conference

Atlanta United · Charlotte · Chicago Fire · Cincinnati · Columbus Crew · D.C. United · Inter Miami · Montréal · Nashville · New England Revolution · New York City · New York Red Bulls · Orlando City · Philadelphia Union · Toronto

Western Conference

Austin · Colorado Rapids · FC Dallas · Houston Dynamo · Sporting Kansas City · LA Galaxy · Los Angeles · Minnesota United · Portland Timbers · Real Salt Lake · San Jose Earthquakes · Seattle Sounders · St. Louis City · Vancouver Whitecaps

Future teams
San Diego (2025)
Major League Soccer seasons

2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 ·

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Football in the United States
League competitions The USSF Cup competitions
Major League Soccer United States Open Cup
North American Soccer League (U-23) (U-20) (U-17) MLS Cup
United Soccer League List of clubs Southwest Cup
List of stadiums George F. Donnelly Cup
List of leagues
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