Worst MLS Teams To Win The MLS Cup

Who is the worst team to win the MLS Cup?

Based on regular season winning percentage, the 2009 Real Salt Lake were the worst team to win the MLS Cup. They finished the regular season with only a 11-12-7 record, but they not only made the MLS Cup, but they beat the LA Galaxy to win the championship.

Has a team with a losing record ever won the MLS Cup?

Yes, this has happened a single time in MLS history. The 2009 Real Salt Lake won the MLS Cup with a losing regular season record of 11-12-7.

Has a team with a losing record ever won the MLS Cup the next season?

Yes, this has happened 6 times in history. The 1999 Kansas City Wizards (8-24), 2000 San Jose Earthquakes (7-17-8), 2019 Columbus Crew (10-16-8), 2007 Columbus Crew (9-11-10), 2003 DC United (10-11-9) and 2021 Los Angeles FC (12-13-9) all won the MLS Cup the next season after having a losing record.

Worst MLS Regular Season Records To Win MLS Cup

By Win % By Worst Winning Percentage
By Most Losses

	Team	Year	Regular Season Record	Result
1	Real Salt Lake	2009	11-12-7	Won MLS Cup
2	DC United	1996	16-16	Won MLS Cup
3	Seattle Sounders FC	2016	14-14-6	Won MLS Cup
4	LA Galaxy	2005	13-13-6	Won MLS Cup
5	DC United	2004	11-10-9	Won MLS Cup
6	New York City FC	2021	14-11-9	Won MLS Cup
7	Houston Dynamo	2006	11-8-13	Won MLS Cup
8	LA Galaxy	2012	16-12-6	Won MLS Cup
9	Portland Timbers	2015	15-11-8	Won MLS Cup
10	Colorado Rapids	2010	12-8-10	Won MLS Cup
11	Seattle Sounders FC	2019	16-10-8	Won MLS Cup
12	Sporting KC	2013	17-10-7	Won MLS Cup
13	San Jose Earthquakes	2001	13-7-6	Won MLS Cup
14	Houston Dynamo	2007	15-8-7	Won MLS Cup
15	San Jose Earthquakes	2003	14-7-9	Won MLS Cup
16	Chicago Fire	1998	20-12	Won MLS Cup
17	LA Galaxy	2002	16-9-3	Won MLS Cup
18	Columbus Crew	2020	12-6-5	Won MLS Cup
19	Columbus Crew	2023	16-9	Won MLS Cup
20	Kansas City Wizards	2000	16-7-9	Won MLS Cup
21	LA Galaxy	2014	17-7-10	Won MLS Cup
22	DC United	1997	21-11	Won MLS Cup
23	Columbus Crew	2008	17-7-6	Won MLS Cup
24	Los Angeles FC	2022	21-9	Won MLS Cup
25	Atlanta United	2018	21-7-6	Won MLS Cup
26	LA Galaxy	2011	19-5-10	Won MLS Cup
27	DC United	1999	23-9	Won MLS Cup
28	Toronto FC	2017	20-5-9	Won MLS Cup

	Team	Year	Regular Season Record	Result
1	DC United	1996	16-16	Won MLS Cup
2	Seattle Sounders FC	2016	14-14-6	Won MLS Cup
3	LA Galaxy	2005	13-13-6	Won MLS Cup
4	Real Salt Lake	2009	11-12-7	Won MLS Cup
5	LA Galaxy	2012	16-12-6	Won MLS Cup
6	Chicago Fire	1998	20-12	Won MLS Cup
7	New York City FC	2021	14-11-9	Won MLS Cup
8	Portland Timbers	2015	15-11-8	Won MLS Cup
9	DC United	1997	21-11	Won MLS Cup
10	DC United	2004	11-10-9	Won MLS Cup
11	Seattle Sounders FC	2019	16-10-8	Won MLS Cup
12	Sporting KC	2013	17-10-7	Won MLS Cup
13	LA Galaxy	2002	16-9-3	Won MLS Cup
14	Columbus Crew	2023	16-9	Won MLS Cup
15	Los Angeles FC	2022	21-9	Won MLS Cup
16	DC United	1999	23-9	Won MLS Cup
17	Houston Dynamo	2006	11-8-13	Won MLS Cup
18	Colorado Rapids	2010	12-8-10	Won MLS Cup
19	Houston Dynamo	2007	15-8-7	Won MLS Cup
20	San Jose Earthquakes	2001	13-7-6	Won MLS Cup
21	San Jose Earthquakes	2003	14-7-9	Won MLS Cup
22	Kansas City Wizards	2000	16-7-9	Won MLS Cup
23	LA Galaxy	2014	17-7-10	Won MLS Cup
24	Columbus Crew	2008	17-7-6	Won MLS Cup
25	Atlanta United	2018	21-7-6	Won MLS Cup
26	Columbus Crew	2020	12-6-5	Won MLS Cup
27	LA Galaxy	2011	19-5-10	Won MLS Cup
28	Toronto FC	2017	20-5-9	Won MLS Cup

All Longest Streaks and Droughts »

Worst Soccer Teams To Win MLS Cup

Who is the worst team to win the MLS Cup?

Has a team with a losing record ever won the MLS Cup?

Has a team with a losing record ever won the MLS Cup the next season?

Worst MLS Regular Season Records To Win MLS Cup

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