MLS in Data: Most Successful “Deep South” & Floridian Major League Soccer Club
By: AT
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
In this seventh piece of our MLS in Data collection, we evaluate the two Floridian (MLS) clubs, Inter Miami and Orlando City SC, and the one “Deep South” club, Atlanta United, and determine which of these are the most successful based on various data points. Such data include the number of trophies and finals played, as well as the number of victories and win percentage since each club’s entry into MLS.
MLS arrived in Florida ahead of the league’s inaugural season in 1996 with the creation of Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny. However, amid financial struggles, both Miami and Tampa folded after the 2001 season. As a result, no city in Florida — nor any in the “deep south” states — boasted an MLS club.
That changed in 2015, when the league welcomed Orlando City SC and New York City FC as the 19th and 20th clubs among today’s cohort. Atlanta United, along with Minnesota United, then joined MLS as the 21st and 22nd clubs in 2017. Inter Miami entered MLS in 2020 with Nashville SC, becoming the 25th and 26th clubs to join the league. Those clubs played their first matches mere weeks before MLS — and other leagues across the world — went on months-long hiatuses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2026, Orlando are competing in their 12th MLS season, while Atlanta and Miami are appearing in their 10th and seventh seasons, respectively.
Number of Trophies and Finals
As noted in our first MLS in Data article, despite being relatively young MLS clubs, Atlanta and Miami have each won an MLS Cup. Atlanta came storming out of the gates, becoming a title-contender in their inaugural season and winning the title the following season.
Although Miami were somewhat of a basket-case in their first years in MLS, the arrival of Lionel Messi in summer 2023, and the subsequent arrivals of Messi’s former FC Barcelona teammates — namely defender Jordi Alba, midfielder Sergio Busquets and forward Luis Suárez — and Argentina teammate and midfielder Rodrigo De Paul converted Miami into an instant title-contender for every competition. In 2025, despite losing the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals to league rivals Vancouver Whitecaps, Miami obtained their revenge in that year’s MLS Cup Final, defeating that club by a 2-1 score. As reigning champions, many experts fancy Miami repeating as MLS Cup winners.
Orlando are the sole club of the three that have yet to win an MLS Cup or compete in an MLS Cup Final.
The three clubs’ trophy cabinets consist of the following:
Atlanta: MLS Cup, X1; U.S. Open Cup, X1; Campeones Cup (MLS—Liga MX super cup), X1
Miami: MLS Cup, X1; MLS Supporters’ Shield, X1; Leagues Cup, X1; Campeones Cup, X1
Orlando: U.S. Open Cup, X1
Until 2025, Atlanta have won a trophy approximately every three seasons, while Miami have earned a trophy about every 1.5 seasons. With only one title from 11 seasons, the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, Orlando’s title-rate per season speaks for itself.
Although Atlanta and Miami have both won their sole MLS Cup Final appearances, both clubs have come short of winning other titles. Atlanta have finished runners-up for the MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2018 and 2019. Although they won the MLS Cup in 2018, Atlanta also came close to competing in the 2019 MLS Cup Final, losing the MLS Eastern Conference final against Toronto FC.
Inter Miami’s sole final loss was in the 2025 Leagues Cup, dropping 3-0 to Seattle Sounders. That match was marred by an ugly brawl that resulted in suspensions for Busquets and Suárez.
Meanwhile, Orlando finished as runners-up for the 2023 MLS Supporters’ Shield, finishing six points behind first-time Shield winners FC Cincinnati. They lost the MLS is Back Tournament final in 2020. The competition featured group-stage matches that counted towards the regular season standings, with the tournament winner qualifying for the then-named CONCACAF Champions League.
Number of Victories and Win Percentage
As of October 25, in absolute numbers, Orlando have the highest number of MLS victories among the three southeastern U.S. clubs, with 153; however, they possess the lowest win percentage among the three clubs, at 37.2%. Atlanta have accumulated 129 victories and possess the second-best win percentage, at 37.5%. Despite playing in the least number of seasons and having the lowest number of victories the lowest number of victories among the three clubs (104), they boast the strongest win percentage, at 44.3%.
The figure below shows the total number of MLS victories and win percentages of the three southeastern U.S. MLS clubs.
Total Number of MLS Victories and All-Time MLS Win Percentage, Southeastern MLS Clubs
Hover or tab to a club for details. Use the legend to show or hide a series.
Figure last updated on October 25, 2026.
Source: Transfermarkt
| Club | Victories | Win percentage | Matches played |
|---|
Victories use the left axis. Win percentage uses the right axis, which starts at 30%.
