Major League Soccer, or MLS, is a recent addition to the world of international football. Founded in 1996, less than 30 years ago, it has journeyed from a destined-to-fail enterprise plagued by financial troubles to a strong and dedicated franchise. MLS teams attract world-class level stars both as players and as investors, have built an entire collection of football-exclusive arenas across the United States, made a breakthrough on an international level, and brought “soccer” to third place among the most popular sports in the United States, behind only American football and baseball. MLS made association football a legitimate attraction, drawing tens of thousands of fans to each game in the arenas, with millions more joining in at home (and increasing each year), and it became a staple in the sports betting scene.
The tournament’s teams best represent that success. What once was a league with only ten squads competing with each other for the trophy has become one of the most impressive (size-wise) leagues in the world, with 30 teams spread across two conferences. Some of them are still finding their stride, while others have become household names, known to every soccer fan in the US, and some even make a name on an international stage and become known around the world.
MLS’s Most Decorated Teams
In contrast to football’s decorum worldwide, MLS’s trophies are earned in a more American fashion. The elimination tournament, which runs in parallel with the league, is known as the U.S. Open Cup and is far less prestigious than its counterparts on other continents. The usual “League championship,” known here as a Supporters' Shield, earned by accumulating the most points throughout the season, is considered an important but still secondary trophy. The ultimate reward of each football season is the MLS Cup, which is earned in a typical American sports fashion – by starting a playoff tournament in the postseason among the top nine teams from each conference, which concludes in a final game. Additionally, MLS teams participate in the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup, an international tournament held among teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Now, with the explanation out of the way, here are five of the most decorated teams in MLS’s history – with a sixth team as a bonus!
LA Galaxy
One of the league's inaugural teams, the LA Galaxy, has since the league’s inception cemented itself as the most successful team in MLS history. They’ve won six MLS Cups, more than any other club in the league, hold four Supporters’ Shields (on par with D.C. United), and have managed to win a CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2000, which is usually dominated by Mexican clubs, much more immersed in a global football culture. Curiously, they’ve also won the league’s least desirable trophy, a Wooden Spoon, which is awarded to a team with the fewest points, back in 2016. Since then, they’ve reorganized and found their stride – as evidenced by the fact that they are also the most recent champions, having won the MLS Cup after finishing second in their respective conference, but dominating the playoffs and finals. Galaxy is also a favorite among bettors – their odds are usually lower compared to other clubs in the league. Still, their ability to focus in the playoffs makes them a sure-fire bet on the MelBet online betting service.
D.C. United
A usual runner-up to LA Galaxy’s top team, D.C. United is the second-most decorated team in MLS’s history, with four MLS Cups, four Supporters’ Shields, and a win in a CONCACAF Champions Cup competition in 1998. Despite their previous successes, the club has been plagued by various managerial issues in recent years and has not won a major trophy for quite some time.
Columbus Crew
One of the most successful teams in the MLS’s Eastern Conference, the Columbus Crew has won three MLS Cups and two Supporters’ Shields. Their most recent success is reaching the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, where they’ve lost to the Mexican club Pachuca.
Seattle Sounders
Sounders hold one of the most impressive records in the MLS’s history: they’ve shown immense consistency and qualified for the league’s playoffs for 7 years in a row, from 1995 to 2002! Besides that. They’ve also won a single Supporters’ Shield by getting the most points in 2014, and have won the MLS Cup two times. They’ve also been the only team from the United States to win the most recent format of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, having reached the finals in 2022 and defeated UNAM.
Bonus: Inter Miami
Founded only seven years ago, Inter Miami is one of the most recent additions to the MLS. Co-owned by one of the biggest football stars of all time, David Beckham, who himself played a significant number of games in MLS, the club made headlines by signing an unprecedented number of high-profile players from around the world. The most notable, of course, is the best football player of the last two decades and the most recent FIFA World Champion, Lionel Messi in 2023! Since then, Inter has attracted the most attention from MLS’s fans and eyes from around the world, won its first Supporters’ Shield, and hosted the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025 (passing the group stage and losing to eventual runner-ups PSG at the start of the knockout stage).