List of MLS club post-season droughts
From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
These are lists of active and all-time Major League Soccer (MLS) club post-season series win, MLS Cup Playoffs and MLS Cup droughts up to and including the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs. Those teams which have never made it in club history are listed by the season that they entered the league.
Among the current 19 MLS teams, 10 have never won the MLS Cup. Additionally, of the current MLS teams, 13 have never won the MLS Supporters' Shield. Today, the longest MLS Cup title drought is that of the Chicago Fire, who have not won the post-season honor in 16 years, winning the 1998 MLS Cup. The longest Supporters' Shield drought is Sporting Kansas City, who last won the season-title 13 years back, in 2000.
The only teams that have never qualified for the post-season tournament are Orlando City SC and New York City FC, who debuted in 2015.
Contents
Longest active droughts
MLS Cup Playoffs
| Club | Last appearance in post-season |
Post-season drought |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Union | 2011 | 4 seasons |
| Chicago Fire | 2012 | 3 seasons |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2012 | 3 seasons |
| Colorado Rapids | 2013 | 2 seasons |
| Houston Dynamo | 2013 | 2 seasons |
| Montreal Impact | 2013 | 2 seasons |
| Real Salt Lake | 2014 | 1 season |
| Orlando City SC | Never | 1 season |
| New York City FC | Never | 1 season |
MLS Cup Final
| Club | Last appearance in MLS Cup final |
MLS Cup Final drought |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | 2003 | 12 seasons |
| D.C. United | 2004 | 11 seasons |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2003 | 10 seasons* |
| Toronto FC | never (club entered MLS in 2007) | 9 seasons |
| New York Red Bulls | 2008 | 7 seasons |
| Seattle Sounders FC | never (club entered MLS in 2009) | 7 seasons |
| Philadelphia Union | never (club entered MLS in 2010) | 6 seasons |
| Colorado Rapids | 2010 | 5 seasons |
| FC Dallas | 2010 | 5 seasons |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | never (club entered MLS in 2011) | 5 seasons |
| Montreal Impact | never (club entered MLS in 2012) | 4 seasons |
| Houston Dynamo | 2012 | 3 seasons |
| Real Salt Lake | 2013 | 2 seasons |
| Sporting Kansas City | 2013 | 2 seasons |
| New York City FC | never | 1 season |
| Orlando City SC | never | 1 season |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 2014 | 1 season |
| New England Revolution | 2014 | 1 season |
- Does not count the two years the Earthquakes were on hiatus.
MLS Cup droughts
Updated through 2015 Major League Soccer season
| Club | Last MLS Cup | Subsequent MLS Cup Final losses |
MLS Cup drought |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Red Bulls | never (club entered MLS in 1996) | 1 : 2008 | 19 seasons |
| FC Dallas | never (club entered MLS in 1996) | 1 : 2010 | 19 seasons |
| New England Revolution | never (club entered MLS in 1996) | 5 : 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014 | 19 seasons |
| Chicago Fire | 1998 | 2 : 2000, 2003 | 17 seasons |
| D.C. United | 2004 | 11 seasons | |
| San Jose Earthquakes1 | 2003 | 10 seasons | |
| Toronto FC | never (club entered MLS in 2007) | 9 seasons | |
| Houston Dynamo | 2007 | 2: 2011, 2012 | 8 seasons |
| Columbus Crew | 2008 | 1: 2015 | 7 seasons |
| Seattle Sounders FC | never (club entered MLS in 2009) | 7 seasons | |
| Real Salt Lake | 2009 | 1: 2013 | 6 seasons |
| Philadelphia Union | never (club entered MLS in 2010) | 6 seasons | |
| Colorado Rapids | 2010 | 6 seasons | |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | never (club entered MLS in 2011) | 5 seasons | |
| Montreal Impact | never (club entered MLS in 2012) | 4 seasons | |
| Sporting Kansas City | 2013 | 2 season | |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 2014 | 1 season | |
| Orlando City SC | never (club entered MLS in 2015) | 1 season | |
| New York City FC | never (club entered MLS in 2015) | 1 season | |
| Portland Timbers | 2015 | - |
- 1 Does not include the two seasons San Jose was dormant
MLS Supporters' Shield
| Club | Last Supporters' Shield won | MLS Supporters' Shield drought |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Rapids | never (club entered MLS in 1996) | 19 seasons |
| New England Revolution | never (club entered MLS in 1996, runners-up in 2005) |
19 seasons |
| FC Dallas | never (club entered MLS in 1996, runners-up in 2006) |
19 seasons |
| Sporting Kansas City | 2000 | 14 seasons |
| Chicago Fire | 2003 | 13 seasons |
| Real Salt Lake | never (club entered MLS in 2005, runners-up in 2010) |
11 seasons |
| Houston Dynamo | never (club entered MLS in 2006, runners-up in 2008) |
10 seasons |
| Toronto FC | never (club entered MLS in 2007) | 10 seasons |
| D.C. United | 2007 | 9 seasons |
| Columbus Crew | 2009 | 7 seasons |
| Philadelphia Union | never (club entered MLS in 2010) | 6 seasons |
| Portland Timbers | never (club entered MLS in 2011) | 5 seasons |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | never (club entered MLS in 2011) | 5 seasons |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 2011 | 4 seasons |
| Montreal Impact | never (club entered MLS in 2012) | 4 seasons |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2012 | 3 seasons |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2014 | 1 season |
| New York Red Bulls | 2015 | - |
CONCACAF Champions League
| Club | Last CONCACAF Champions League Qualification | CONCACAF Champions League drought |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | 2004 | 10 seasons |
| New England Revolution | 2009 | 5 seasons |
| Philadelphia Union | never (club entered MLS in 2010) | 5 seasons |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | never (club entered MLS in 2011) | 4 seasons |
| Colorado Rapids | 2011 | 3 seasons |
| Columbus Crew | 2011 | 3 seasons |
| FC Dallas | 2011 | 3 seasons |
| Real Salt Lake | 2012 | 2 seasons |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2012 | 2 seasons |
| Toronto FC | 2012 | 2 seasons |
| Houston Dynamo | 2013 | 1 season |
| LA Galaxy | 2013 | 1 season |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2013 | 1 season |
Longest all-time droughts
Post-season appearance droughts
The list only includes MLS clubs that failed to make the playoffs for two or more consecutive seasons.
Active club streak is highlighted
| Club | Previous post-season appearance | Next post-season appearance | Post-season drought |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto FC | never (club entered MLS in 2007) | 2015 | 8 seasons |
| Chivas USA | 2009 | never (final season 2014) | 5 seasons |
| San Jose Clash/Earthquakes | 1996 | 2001 | 4 seasons |
| D.C. United | 2007 | 2012 | 4 seasons |
| D.C. United | 1999 | 2003 | 3 seasons |
| Real Salt Lake | never (club entered MLS in 2005) | 2008 | 3 seasons |
| Columbus Crew | 2004 | 2008 | 3 seasons |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 2005 | 2009 | 3 seasons |
| Colorado Rapids | 2006 | 2010 | 3 seasons |
| New England Revolution | 2009 | 2013 | 3 seasons |
| Philadelphia Union | 2011 | 3 seasons | |
| New England Revolution | 1997 | 2000 | 2 seasons |
| Kansas City Wizards | 1997 | 2000 | 2 seasons |
| Dallas Burn/FC Dallas | 2002 | 2005 | 2 seasons |
| Kansas City Wizards | 2004 | 2007 | 2 seasons |
| FC Dallas | 2007 | 2010 | 2 seasons |
| Kansas City Wizards/Sporting Kansas City | 2008 | 2011 | 2 seasons |
| Chicago Fire | 2009 | 2012 | 2 seasons |
| Portland Timbers | never (club entered MLS in 2011) | 2013 | 2 seasons |
| Columbus Crew | 2011 | 2014 | 2 seasons |
| Chicago Fire | 2012 | 2 seasons |
MLS Cup final
Only lists teams with droughts lasting at least 4 seasons
Active club streak is highlighted
| Club | Previous MLS Cup appearance | Next MLS Cup appearance | MLS Cup final drought |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Burn/FC Dallas | 1996* | 2010 | 14 seasons |
| Columbus Crew | 1996* | 2008 | 12 seasons |
| New York/New Jersey Metrostars/New York Red Bulls | 1996* | 2008 | 12 seasons |
| Colorado Rapids | 1997 | 2010 | 12 seasons |
| Chicago Fire | 2003 | 11 seasons | |
| D.C. United | 2004 | 10 seasons | |
| C.D. Chivas USA | 2005* | 2014*** | 10 seasons |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2003 | 9 seasons | |
| Kansas City Wizards/Sporting Kansas City | 2004 | 2013 | 8 seasons |
| Toronto FC | 2007* | 8 seasons | |
| New England Revolution | 1996* | 2002 | 6 seasons |
| Tampa Bay Mutiny | 1996* | 2001** | 6 seasons |
| New England Revolution | 2007 | 2014 | 6 seasons |
| Columbus Crew | 2008 | 6 seasons | |
| New York Red Bulls | 2008 | 6 seasons | |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2009* | 6 seasons | |
| San Jose Clash/Earthquakes 1 | 1996* | 2001 | 5 seasons |
| Philadelphia Union | 2010* | 5 seasons | |
| D.C. United | 1999 | 2004 | 4 seasons |
| Kansas City Wizards | 1996* | 2000 | 4 seasons |
| Miami Fusion | 1998* | 2001** | 4 seasons |
| Real Salt Lake | 2005* | 2009 | 4 seasons |
| FC Dallas | 2010 | 4 seasons | |
| Colorado Rapids | 2010 | 4 seasons | |
| Portland Timbers | 2011* | 4 seasons | |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2011* | 4 seasons |
* Indicates team's first year of existence
** Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny folded after 2001 season (they did not reach the MLS Cup final)
*** Chivas folded after 2014 season (they did not reach the MLS Cup final)
- 1 Does not include the two seasons San Jose was dormant
MLS clubs with the longest all-time MLS Cup championship drought
Only lists teams with droughts lasting at least 4 seasons
Active club streak is highlighted
| Club | Last championship | Next championship | Championship drought |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Burn/FC Dallas | 1996* | none | 19 seasons |
| MetroStars/New York Red Bulls | 1996* | none | 19 seasons |
| New England Revolution | 1996* | none | 19 seasons |
| Chicago Fire | 1998 | none | 16 seasons |
| Colorado Rapids | 1996* | 2010 | 14 seasons |
| Columbus Crew | 1996* | 2008 | 12 seasons |
| Kansas City Wizards/Sporting Kansas City | 2000 | 2013 | 12 seasons |
| D.C. United | 2004 | none | 10 seasons |
| Chivas USA | 2005* | none*** | 10 seasons |
| San Jose Earthquakes 1 | 2003 | none | 9 seasons |
| Toronto FC | 2007* | none | 8 seasons |
| Houston Dynamo | 2007 | none | 7 seasons |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 1996* | 2002 | 6 seasons |
| Tampa Bay Mutiny | 1996* | none** | 6 seasons |
| Columbus Crew | 2008 | none | 6 seasons |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2009* | none | 6 seasons |
| San Jose Clash/Earthquakes | 1996* | 2001 | 5 seasons |
| Philadelphia Union | 2010* | none | 5 seasons |
| Real Salt Lake | 2009 | none | 5 seasons |
| D.C. United | 1999 | 2004 | 4 seasons |
| Kansas City Wizards | 1996* | 2000 | 4 seasons |
| Miami Fusion | 1998* | none** | 4 seasons |
| Real Salt Lake | 2005* | 2009 | 4 seasons |
| Colorado Rapids | 2010 | none | 4 seasons |
| Portland Timbers | 2011* | none | 4 seasons |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2011* | none | 4 seasons |
* Indicates team's first year of existence
** Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny folded after 2001 season (they did not achieve a championship)
** Chivas folded after 2014 season (no championship ever won).
1 Excludes the two seasons that San Jose was on hiatus.
Cities/regions awaiting first MLS Cup
This list only includes cities that have a club playing in MLS.
| City | Seasons waited | MLS Cup Final appearances |
Current MLS team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 20 | 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014 | New England Revolution |
| Dallas | 20 | 2010 | FC Dallas |
| New York | 20 | 2008 | New York Red Bulls, New York City FC |
| Toronto | 9 | never | Toronto FC |
| Seattle | 7 | never | Seattle Sounders FC |
| Philadelphia | 6 | never | Philadelphia Union |
| Vancouver | 5 | never | Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
| Montreal | 4 | never | Montreal Impact |
| Orlando | 1 | never | Orlando City SC |
See also
- Major League Soccer
- List of Major League Baseball franchise post-season droughts
- List of National Basketball Association franchise post-season droughts
- List of National Football League franchise post-season droughts
- List of National Hockey League franchise post-season droughts
| Eastern Conference | |
|---|---|
| Western Conference | |
| Former teams |
|
| Personnel | |
| Competition | |
| Associated competitions | |
| Other | |
