MLS in Data: MLS Records You Need to Know for the 2026 MLS Season
By: AT
Image Credit: Obum Dukor
The 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) season — the 31st in league history — kicked off on February 21, 2026. The year also marks the 30-year anniversary of MLS’s inaugural season, which ended with the United States’ capital club, D.C. United, winning the first MLS Cup.
This year also marks a revamped approach to our MLS coverage. Starting this season, we are shifting away from qualitative match analysis to quantitative, data-driven insights on various themes. Our scope will center on statistical themes — whether within a single season or across multiples seasons. This article, our first under this mandate, merely scratches the surface of what “MLS in Data” can reveal.
In 1996, MLS began with only 10 clubs; today, the league boasts 30 clubs, with San Diego FC being the most recent addition ahead of the 2025 season. While all 10 founding MLS clubs were based in the United States, the league expanded into Canada with Toronto FC in 2007, Vancouver Whitecaps in 2011 and Montréal Impact in 2012. The latter rebranded as CF Montréal ahead of the 2021 season — a decision that catalyzed considerable debate around the club management and identity.
With a new season underway, we compile key MLS records and rankings across the four following these:
highest number of points recorded in one season (top 10 instances); and
lowest number of points recorded in one season (top 10 instances).
Regarding titles, MLS clubs win the MLS Supporters’ Shield by accumulating the highest number of points during an MLS regular season campaign; clubs win the MLS Cup by winning the MLS Cup Final, the highest stage of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
In 2026, the top nine clubs from each conference (Eastern and Western) qualify for the playoffs. The top seven from each conference advance directly to the conference quarterfinals (round of 16 overall). The eighth- and ninth-place clubs from these conferences compete in a one-match preliminary round, with the match-winners from each conference advancing to face the highest-ranked club in their respective conferences.
Most MLS Cup Titles and MLS Cup Final Appearances
Since D.C. won the inaugural MLS Cup, 14 other clubs have won the elusive piece of silverware. After 1996, D.C. added three more titles (1997, 1999 and 2004). However, LA Galaxy (LAG) — another founding club — now hold the record for most MLS Cup titles (2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2024).
Other notable MLS Cup achievements include:
Houston Dynamo, the only other club to have won back-to-back MLS Cup titles, in 2006 and 2007;
Toronto FC, the first — and still only — Canadian club to win the MLS Cup, in 2017; and
Atlanta United, which hoisted the MLS Cup in 2018, the club’s second season in MLS.
Moreover, MLS supporters have enjoyed their fair share of iconic MLS Cup Finals. For example, there have been two six-goal matches at this stage: a 4-2 San Jose Earthquakes victory against Chicago Fire in 2001 and a Los Angeles FC (LAFC) victory on penalties after drawing Philadelphia Union 3-3 after extra-time. That latter match marked the final club appearance of then-LAFC forward Gareth Bale, who retired after representing Wales at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Another iconic story includes the inter-conference rivalry between Toronto and Seattle Sounders, which duelled in three MLS Cup Finals in only four years: 2016, 2017 and 2019. While Toronto memorably won the 2017 edition (2-0 at home), Seattle hoisted the cup in 2016 and 2019. The 2016 edition ended on penalties after a scoreless contest after extra-time, while the 2019 edition ended in a dominant 3-1 home victory for Seattle. Notably, Seattl’es 2016 triumph was the first and only time that a club won the MLS Cup Final without recording a single shot on goal.
Inter Miami enter 2026 as the defending MLS Cup champions, having won the 2025 MLS Cup after defeating Vancouver 2-1 at home. Both clubs made their MLS Cup Final debuts.
Figure 1 shows the number of MLS Cup titles and MLS Cup Final appearances by club.
Source: National Broadcasting Company
Notes: San Jose Earthquakes's two MLS Cup titles occurred during their first stint as an MLS club, before they were sold and relocated to Houston. However, San Jose, which returned to Major League Soccer as a new club in 2008, had retained their identity rights, including their two MLS Cup titles.
Sporting KC's titles include those won when the club was named Kansas City Wizards. The Wizards rebranded to Sporting KC in November 2010.
Most MLS Supporters’ Shield Titles
Although often overshadowed by the prestige of the MLS Cup, the Supporters’ Shield is a significant title because it measures dominance across 34 regular season matches, rather than five to seven playoff matches.
Congruent to the MLS Cup, D.C. and LAG have earned the highest number of Supporters’ Shield titles, winning four apiece. D.C. won the title in 1997, 1999, 2006 and 2007; LAG won the title in 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2011. Other than D.C. and LAG, Columbus Crew are the only other club to have won the MLS Supporters’ Shield in consecutive seasons; that club won three such titles: in 2004, 2008 and 2009.
Among the 17 MLS clubs that have won the Supporters’ Shield, only six have hoisted both the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup in the same season:
D.C. (1997 and 1999);
LAG achieved (2002 and 2011);
Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting KC) (2000);
Columbus (2008);
Toronto FC (2017); and
LAFC (2022).
Figure 2 presents the number of MLS Supporters’ Shield titles by club.
Source: National Broadcasting Company
Notes: Note: Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny both dissolved in January 2002. Miami competed in four Major League Soccer (MLS) seasons (1998–2001), while Tampa Bay competed in six MLS seasons (1996–2002).
San Jose Earthquakes's first or two MLS SUpporters’ Shield titles occurred during their first stint as an MLS club, before they were sold and relocated to Houston. However, San Jose, which returned to Major League Soccer as a new club in 2008, had retained their identity rights, including their two MLS Cup titles. They won their second Supporters’ Shield in 2012.
Highest Number of Points Recorded in One Season
The record for the highest number of points recorded in a single season was broken five times in the past nine years. Miami currently hold the record with 74 points in 2024, surpassing New England Revolution’s 73-point total in 2021. Before that, LAFC established a new benchmark in 2019, recording 72 points. Toronto began this record-breaking trend in 2017 with 68 points, eclipsing LAG’s 67-point season in 1998. (Miami, New England, LAFC and Toronto achieved these tallies in 34 regular season matches, while LAG achieved their 67-point tally in 32 matches.)
As noted in the Supporters’ Shield section, having a dominant regular season and winning the Supporters’ Shield does not guarantee MLS Cup glory. For example, among the top 10 performers by this metric, only LAG (2011), Toronto FC (2017) and LAFC (2022) eventually hoisted the MLS Cup at the twilight of their Supporters’ Shield-winning seasons.
Interestingly, despite being among the top 10 performers in 2018, Atlanta did not win that year’s Supporters’ Shield, missing out on the title by one point after finishing behind New York Red Bulls. Atlanta nevertheless hoisted the MLS Cup weeks later.
Figure 3 shows the top 10 instances in which MLS clubs — active and inactive — have recorded the highest number of points in one season.
Source: Transfermarkt
Lowest Number of Points Recorded in One Season
Unlike the other sections of our article, this is one list no club wants to top.
The lowest single-season points total belongs to the Tampa Bay Mutiny, which garnered only 14 points in 27 regular season matches throughout the 2001 season.
Never heard of the Mutiny? They folded weeks after the end of the 2001 season. However, as indicated in the Supporters’ Shield titles figure, they nevertheless won a Supporters’ Shield title — the inaugural edition in 1996 — during their short six-season existence. The now-dissolved Chivas USA also appear among the top 10 worst single-season performers, garnering only 18 points in 32 regular season matches in 2005; the club dissolved after the 2014 season.
Among the rebranded clubs, MetroStars hold the second-worst single-season points total, mustering only 15 points in 32 regular season matches in 1999. That club rebranded to New York Red Bulls in 2006 after a certain Austrian energy-drink company purchased the club. Ironically, the Red Bulls also appear among the 10 worst performers after earning 21 points from 30 matches in 2009 — one year after reaching their first MLS Cup Final.
Among active MLS clubs, D.C. shockingly appear three times among the 10 worst performers. Their most recent fiasco occurred in 2022, accumulating, 21 points in 34 matches. That tally constituted one point less than the figure garnered throughout their 2010 campaign. However, D.C.’s 16-point season in 2013 — including only three victories in 34 matches — remains the worst campaign among active clubs that have not rebranded. However, despite that awful season, the club nevertheless managed to hoist that year’s U.S. Open Cup, qualifying for the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League.
Accounting for points per match, the worst performer goes to FC Cincinnati — twice. In their inaugural 2019 season, that club collected merely 24 points. Although it is the highest tally among the top 10 worst performers, Cincinnati generated an MLS all-time worst 1.42 points per match. The club repeated this abysmal performance in 2021.
However, to end this article with positive news, Cincinnati rebounded expeditiously, securing their first Supporters’ Shield title just two years later.
Figure 4 presents the top 10 instances in which MLS clubs — active and inactive — have recorded the lowest number of points in one season.
Source: Transfermarkt
Notes: In the COVID-19–ridden 2020 Major League Soccer (MLS) season, the 26 active clubs recorded between 16 and 47 points; FC Cincinnati recorded the minimum number of points. All 26 MLS clubs at the time were limited to a maximum of 23 regular season matches.
The Kansas City Wizards rebranded to Sporting KC in November 2010.
