The 2024 MLS season is nearly in the books, with Supporters Shield winners Inter Miami exiting the MLS Cup Playoffs early despite the best efforts of Lionel Messi.
Instead its the team led by one-time “next Messi” Riqui Puig that is favored to win the MLS Cup on Saturday, although Puig’s torn ACL in the Western Conference Final has further leveled the playing field for Eastern Conference champions New York Red Bulls.
[ MORE: MLS Cup 2024 preview, how to watch, prediction ]
The Red Bulls got to the final despite finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference table, strengthening the case for anyone who wishes to support the status of the Supporters’ Shield winner as the best team in a given season.
The shield is awarded to the team with the best regular season record, while the MLS Cup is the winner of the postseason tournament. Both trophies have terrific histories, and this post deals with both of them.
All-time MLS Cup Finals, winners
1996: DC United defeat LA Galaxy 3-2 aet
1997: DC United defeat Colorado Rapids 2-1
1998: Chicago Fire defeat DC United 2-0
1999: DC United defeat LA Galaxy 2-0
2000: Kansas City Wizards defeat Chicago Fire 1-0
2001: San Jose Earthquakes defeat LA Galaxy 2-1 aet
2002: LA Galaxy defeat New England Revolution 1-0 aet
2003: San Jose Earthquakes defeat Chicago Fire 4-2
2004: DC United defeat Kansas City Wizards 3-2
2005: LA Galaxy defeat New England Revolution 1-0 aet
2006: Houston Dynamo defeat New England Revolution 1-1 (4-3 pens)
2007: Houston Dynamo defeat New England Revolution 2-1
2008: Columbus Crew defeat New York Red Bulls 3-1
2009: Real Salt Lake defeat LA Galaxy 1-1 (5-4 pens)
2010: Colorado Rapids defeat FC Dallas 2-1 aet
2011: LA Galaxy defeat Houston Dynamo 1-0
2012: LA Galaxy defeat Houston Dynamo 3-1
2013: Sporting KC defeat Real Salt Lake 1-1 (7-6 pens)
2014: LA Galaxy defeat New England Revolution 2-1 aet
2015: Portland Timbers defeat Columbus Crew 2-1
2016: Seattle Sounders defeat Toronto FC 0-0 (5-4 pens)
2017: Toronto FC defeat Seattle Sounders 2-0
2018: Atlanta United defeat Portland Timbers 2-0
2019: Seattle Sounders defeat Toronto FC 3-1
2020: Columbus Crew defeat Seattle Sounders 3-0
2021: New York City FC defeat Portland Timbers 1-1 (4-2 pens)
2022: LAFC defeat Philadelphia Union 3-3 (3-0 pens)
2023: Columbus Crew defeat LAFC 2-1
2024: LA Galaxy vs New York Red Bulls — 4pm ET Saturday, Dec. 7
Who have won the most MLS Cups?
LA Galaxy have five MLS Cup wins and have appeared in a Major League Soccer-best nine finals, with 10th coming…