MLS in Data: Most Successful Californian Major League Soccer Club
By: AT
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
In the third piece of our MLS in Data collection, we evaluate the four Californian Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs and determine which of the four is the most successful based on various data points. Such data include number of trophies, as well as the number of victories and win percentage since each club’s entry into MLS.
LA Galaxy (LAG) and San Jose Earthquakes are among the 10 clubs that played in the inaugural MLS season in 1996. However, in 2006, San Jose relocated to Houston, becoming the Houston Dynamo. Two years later, San Jose regained a club, inheriting the rights to the Earthquakes, including the trophies won during the Earthquakes 1.0 era. Los Angeles FC (LAFC) entered MLS in 2018, while San Diego FC became the latest MLS expansion club in 2025.
In 2026, LAG are competing in their 31st MLS season in MLS. San Jose — combining the 1.0 and 2.0 versions of the club — are competing in their 29th season. LAFC and San Diego are competing in their ninth and second seasons, respectively.
Number of Trophies and Finals
As noted in our first MLS in Data article, LAG have won the most MLS Cup titles, with six. Their most recent triumph occurred in 2024 after defeating New York Red Bulls in the MLS Cup final by a 2-1 score. They have also won four MLS Supporters’ Shield titles, a joint-league record.
San Jose and LAFC have also won some silverware, despite the latter’s relatively short history in MLS. San Diego, which are competing in their second season, have yet to win a title. However, that club finished first in the Western Conference in the 2025 regular season and reached the Western Conference final.
The four Californian clubs’ trophy cabinets — excluding San Diego — consist of the following:
LAFC: MLS Cup, X1; MLS Supporters’ Shield, X2; U.S. Open Cup, X1
LAG: MLS Cup, X6; MLS Supporters’ Shield, X4; U.S. Open Cup, X2; CONCACAF Champions League/Cup, X1*
San Jose Earthquakes: MLS Cup, X2; MLS Supporters’ Shield, X2
Until 2025, on a per-season basis, LAG have won a trophy every 2.3 seasons. LAFC have earned a trophy every two second seasons, while San Jose have hoisted one every seven seasons.
In addition to their six MLS Cup titles, LAG have also lost four MLS Cup Final matches, bringing their total number of MLS Cup Final appearances to 10. The three clubs have also finished as competition finalists a number of times, including the following:
LAFC: CONCACAF Champions League/Cup, X2
LAG: MLS Cup, X4; U.S. Open Cup, X2; CONCACAF Champions Cup, X1
In 2023, LAFC became the first MLS club to lose two CONCACAF Champions League/Cup finals. That year, LAFC lost 3-1 on aggregate against Liga MX’s Club León; in 2020, LAFC lost 2-1 in a one-match final against Liga MX club Tigres UANL.
Number of Victories and Win Percentage
In absolute numbers, LAG have the highest number of MLS victories among the four Californian clubs, with 464. However, they boast the third-best win percentage among the four clubs, at 44.3%. San Jose have accumulated 335 victories, but hold the lowest win percentage among the four clubs, at 35.9%. Having completed only one season, San Diego FC boast the lowest number of victories among Californian MLS clubs (25), but have won 51.0% of their matches.
The figure below shows the total number of MLS victories and win percentages of the four Californian MLS clubs.
Note: The figure was last updated on May 3, 2026.
Source: Transfermarkt
*In 2000, LA Galaxy became the second MLS club to win the CONCACAF Champions Cup, which served as the North American continental club competition from 1962 to 2008; D.C. United were the first MLS club to win this title in 1998. The Champions Cup was reconfigured into the CONCACAF Champions League in 2008 and re-branded as the Champions Cup in 2024.
