MLS Cup All Time Winners List (Since 1996)
The MLS Cup is the deciding game of the Major League Soccer winner for the season. The champions of Eastern & Western Conferences take on each other in this fixture. It’s the ultimate game of the MLS campaign. Who won the most MLS cups? Who won MLS last year? We answer all your questionnaires and present the MLS Cup winners list for every year since 1996.
MLS Cup Winner History
D.C. United won the first-ever season of MLS, beating Galaxy in the 1996 final by 3-2 thanks to an extra-time Golden Goal. The Washington-based club 3 out of the first 4 titles. So far, 19 different clubs have made it to the MLS Cup finals and 15 of them eventually managed to win the title. So there are 19 different Conference Leagues winners and 15 MLS Cup champions. Columbus Crew won the Cup last year.
MLS Cup Winners List By Year
| Year | Champions | Runners-Up | Result | Venue |
| 2023 | Columbus Crew | Los Angeles FC | 2-1 | Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio |
| 2022 | Los Angeles FC | Philadelphia Union | 3-3 (a.e.t) (3-0 p) | Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, California |
| 2021 | New York City FC | Portland Timbers | 1-1 (a.e.t) (4-2 p) | Providence Park, Portland, Oregon |
| 2020 | Columbus Crew SC | Seattle Sounders FC | 3-0 | Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, Ohio |
| 2019 | Seattle Sounders FC | Toronto FC | 3-1 | CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington |
| 2018 | Atlanta United FC | Portland Timbers | 2-0 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia |
| 2017 | Toronto FC | Seattle Sounders FC | 2-0 | BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario |
| 2016 | Seattle Sounders FC | Toronto FC | 0-0 (a.e.t) (5-4 p) | BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario |
| 2015 | Portland Timbers | Columbus Crew | 2-1 | Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, Ohio |
| 2014 | LA Galaxy | New England Revolution | 2-1 (a.e.t) | StubHub Center, Carson, California |
| 2013 | Sporting Kansas City | Real Salt Lake | 1-1 (a.e.t) (7-6 p) | Sporting Park, Kansas City, Kansas |
| 2012 | LA Galaxy | Houston Dynamo | 3-1 | Home Depot Center, Carson, California |
| 2011 | LA Galaxy | Houston Dynamo | 1-0 | Home Depot Center, Carson, California |
| 2010 | Colorado Rapids | FC Dallas | 2-1 (a.e.t) | BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario |
| 2009 | Real Salt Lake | LA Galaxy | 1-1 (a.e.t) (5-4 p) | CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington |
| 2008 | Columbus Crew | New York Red Bulls | 3-1 | Home Depot Center, Carson, California |
| 2007 | Houston Dynamo | New England Revolution | 2-1 | RFK Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C. |
| 2006 | Houston Dynamo | New England Revolution | 1-1 (a.e.t) (4-3 p) | Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas |
| 2005 | LA Galaxy | New England Revolution | 1-0 (a.e.t) | Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas |
| 2004 | D.C United | Kansas City Wizards | 3-2 | Home Depot Center, Carson, California |
| 2003 | San Jose Earthquakes | Chicago Fire | 4-2 | Home Depot Center, Carson, California |
| 2002 | LA Galaxy | New England Revolution | 1-0 (G.G) | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts |
| 2001 | San Jose Earthquakes | LA Galaxy | 2-1 (G.G) | Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio |
| 2000 | Kansas City Wizards | Chicago Fire | 1-0 | RFK Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C. |
| 1999 | D.C United | LA Galaxy | 2-0 | Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts |
| 1998 | Chicago Fire | D.C United | 2-0 | Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California |
| 1997 | D.C United | Colorado Rapids | 2-1 | RFK Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C. |
| 1996 | D.C United | LA Galaxy | 3-2 (G.G) | Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts |
A total of 12 finals went on to the extra time. 3 of the finals were decided by Golden Goal. Meanwhile, Tie-breaker decided 6 finals so far. StubHub Center (formerly Home Depot Center) in Carson, California has hosted the most number of finals (6). RFK Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C; BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario; as well as Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, Ohio; each had the privilege to host 3 finals. Each of Foxboro Stadium, Pizza Hut Park, and CenturyLink Field hosted twice.
Who is the Most Successful Team in MLS History?
| Club | No. Of Titles | No. Of Runners-Up | Total MLS Cup Appearance | Winning Year(s) |
| LA Galaxy | 5 | 4 | 9 | 2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014 |
| D.C. United | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004 |
| Columbus Crew | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2008, 2020, 2023 |
| Houston Dynamo FC | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2006, 2007 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2016, 2019 |
| Sporting Kansas City | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2000, 2013 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2001, 2003 |
| Chicago Fire FC | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1998 |
| Portland Timbers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2015 |
| Toronto FC | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2017 |
| Real Salt Lake | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2009 |
| Colorado Rapids | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2010 |
| Los Angeles FC | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2022 |
| Atlanta United FC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2018 |
| New York City FC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2021 |
| New England Revolution | 0 | 5 | 5 | N/A |
| New York Red Bulls | 0 | 1 | 1 | N/A |
| FC Dallas | 0 | 1 | 1 | N/A |
| Philadelphia Union | 0 | 1 | 1 | N/A |
Out of the 15 winners, 7 clubs have had the privilege to win the Major League Soccer Cup more than once. 4 sides have lifted the trophy twice. Defending champions Columbus Crew have grabbed the biggest prize thrice. D.C. United is the 2nd most successful in the list with as many as 4 titles. However, they haven’t won the title in the last 20 years since their latest glory in 2004. Who won the MLS most? Los Angeles Galaxy has won the most number of MLS Cups. But you will definitely wonder knowing that the 5 times winners also haven’t won the league in the last 10 years. Their latest title victory came in 2014.
Which Teams Have Never Won the MLS?
Surprisingly, a total of 14 clubs haven’t had the privilege to lift the MLS trophy yet. That’s almost 50% of the total number of participating clubs. The clubs that have never won the MLS Cup are 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, as well as Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Meanwhile, FC Dallas, NY Red Bulls, and NE Revolution have the longest title drought! 4 teams have appeared in the final but never won the title. New England Revolution is the most unlucky side playing in 5 Cup finals but never managing to win a single final. Has Inter Miami ever won MLS? No! Let’s see if the legendary Leo Messi can gift them their first-ever MLS or not.
