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MLS Cup Champions: Complete list of winners by year

Here is the list of all Major League Soccer champions – i.e. all previous MLS Cup winners from 1996 to 2025:

YearClubManager
2025Inter MiamiJavier Mascherano
2024Los Angeles GalaxyGreg Vanney
2023Columbus CrewWilfried Nancy
2022Los Angeles FCSteven Cherundolo
2021New York City FCRonny Deila
2020Columbus CrewCaleb Porter
2019Seattle Sounders FCBrian Schmetzer
2018Atlanta United FCGerardo Martino
2017Toronto FCGreg Vanney
2016Seattle Sounders FCBrian Schmetzer
2015Portland TimbersCaleb Porter
2014Los Angeles GalaxyBruce Arena
2013Sporting Kansas CityPeter Vermes
2012Los Angeles GalaxyBruce Arena
2011Los Angeles GalaxyBruce Arena
2010Colorado RapidsGary Smith
2009Real Salt Lake CityJason Kreis
2008Columbus CrewSigi Schmid
2007Houston DynamoDominic Kinnear
2006Houston DynamoDominic Kinnear
2005Los Angeles GalaxySteve Sampson
2004DC UnitedPiotr Nowak
2003San Jose EarthquakesFrank Yallop
2002Los Angeles GalaxySigi Schmid
2001San Jose EarthquakesFrank Yallop
2000Kansas City WizardsBob Gansler
1999DC UnitedThomas Rongen
1998Chicago FireBob Bradley
1997DC UnitedBruce Arena
1996DC UnitedBruce Arena

Just three teams have retained the MLS Cup – DC United (1996 & 1997), Houston Dynamo (2006 & 2007) and Los Angeles Galaxy (2011 & 2012).

Most MLS Cup Finals

ClubFinalsWinsMost Recent WinRunners-upMost Recent Loss
LA Galaxy106202442009
DC United54200411998
New England Revolution50—52014
Columbus Crew43202312015
Houston Dynamo42200722012
Seattle Sounders42201922020
Sporting Kansas City32201312004
Chicago Fire31199822003
Portland Timbers31201522021
Toronto FC31201722019
San Jose Earthquakes2220030—
Real Salt Lake21200912013
Colorado Rapids21201011997
Los Angeles FC21202212023
New York Red Bulls20—22024
Atlanta United1120180—
New York City FC1120210—
Inter Miami1120250—
FC Dallas10—12010
Philadelphia Union10—12022
Vancouver Whitecaps10—12025

Aside from the three teams who retained the MLS Cup, only three others reached the final the year after they claimed the title – DC United (1998), Seattle Sounders (2020) and LAFC (2023).

This suggests that the MLS remains extremely competitive, with retaining the Cup or even reaching the final after claiming the title – is extremely difficult.