List of MLS club post-season droughts


These are lists of active and all-time Major League Soccer club post-season series win, MLS Cup Playoffs and MLS Cup droughts. Those teams which have never made it in club history are listed by the season that they entered the league.
Among the current 24 MLS teams, 11 have never won the MLS Cup and 13 have never won the Supporters' Shield. Among those clubs which have won the MLS Cup, the longest MLS Cup title drought is that of the Chicago Fire, who have not won the post-season honor since winning the 1998 MLS Cup. The longest Supporters' Shield drought is Sporting Kansas City, who last won the title in the 2000.
The only teams that have never qualified for the post-season tournament are Orlando City SC, who debuted in 2015 and FC Cincinnati, who debuted in 2019.

List of active droughts

MLS Cup Playoffs appearance

Updated through 2019 Major League Soccer season. Does not include clubs that made the post-season as of that year.
ClubLast appearance
in post-season		Length of drought
Orlando City SCnever 5 seasons
Colorado Rapids20163 seasons
Montreal Impact20163 seasons
Chicago Fire20172 seasons
Houston Dynamo20172 seasons
San Jose Earthquakes20172 seasons
Vancouver Whitecaps FC20172 seasons
Columbus Crew SC20181 season
FC Cincinnatinever 1 season
Sporting Kansas City20181 season

MLS Cup Conference Semifinals appearance

Updated through 2019 Major League Soccer season. Does not include clubs that reached the Conference Semifinals that year.
ClubLast appearance in
MLS Cup Conference Semifinals		Length of drought
Chicago Fire200910 seasons
San Jose Earthquakes20127 seasons
New England Revolution20145 seasons
Orlando City SCnever 5 seasons
D.C. United20154 seasons
Colorado Rapids20163 seasons
FC Dallas20163 seasons
Minnesota United FCnever 3 seasons
Montreal Impact20163 seasons
Houston Dynamo20172 seasons
Vancouver Whitecaps FC20172 seasons
Columbus Crew SC20181 season
FC Cincinnatinever 1 season
New York Red Bulls20181 season
Portland Timbers20181 season
Sporting Kansas City20181 season

MLS Cup Conference Finals appearance

Updated through 2019 Major League Soccer season. Does not include clubs that reached the Conference Finals that year.
ClubLast appearance in
MLS Cup Conference Final		Length of drought
Chicago Fire200910 seasons
Philadelphia Unionnever 10 seasons
San Jose Earthquakes20109 seasons
Vancouver Whitecaps FCnever 9 seasons
D.C. United20127 seasons
Real Salt Lake20136 seasons
LA Galaxy20145 seasons
New England Revolution20145 seasons
New York City FCnever 5 seasons
Orlando City SCnever 5 seasons
FC Dallas20154 seasons
Colorado Rapids20163 seasons
Minnesota United FCnever 3 seasons
Montreal Impact20163 seasons
Columbus Crew SC20172 seasons
Houston Dynamo20172 seasons
FC Cincinnatinever 1 season
New York Red Bulls20181 season
Portland Timbers20181 season
Sporting Kansas City20181 season

MLS Cup Final appearance

Updated through 2019 Major League Soccer season. Does not include clubs that appeared in the 2019 MLS Cup.
ClubLast appearance
in MLS Cup final		Length of drought
Chicago Fire200316 seasons
D.C. United200415 seasons
San Jose Earthquakes200314 seasons1
New York Red Bulls200811 seasons
Philadelphia Unionnever 10 seasons
Colorado Rapids20109 seasons
FC Dallas20109 seasons
Vancouver Whitecaps FCnever 9 seasons
Montreal Impactnever 8 seasons
Houston Dynamo20127 seasons
Real Salt Lake20136 seasons
Sporting Kansas City20136 seasons
LA Galaxy20145 seasons
New England Revolution20145 seasons
New York City FCnever 5 seasons
Orlando City SCnever 5 seasons
Columbus Crew SC20154 seasons
Minnesota United FCnever 3 seasons
Los Angeles FCnever 2 seasons
Atlanta United FC20181 season
FC Cincinnatinever 1 season
Portland Timbers20181 season

MLS Cup championship

Updated through 2019 Major League Soccer season. Does not include the winner of the 2019 MLS Cup.
ClubLast MLS CupSubsequent final lossesLength of drought
FC Dallasnever 201024 seasons
New England Revolutionnever 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 201424 seasons
New York Red Bullsnever 200824 seasons
Chicago Fire19982000, 200321 seasons
D.C. United200415 seasons
San Jose Earthquakes200314 seasons1
Houston Dynamo20072011, 201212 seasons
Columbus Crew SC2008201511 seasons
Real Salt Lake2009201310 seasons
Philadelphia Unionnever 10 seasons
Colorado Rapids20109 seasons
Vancouver Whitecaps FCnever 9 seasons
Montreal Impactnever 8 seasons
Sporting Kansas City20136 seasons
Los Angeles Galaxy20145 seasons
New York City FCnever 5 seasons
Orlando City SCnever 5 seasons
Portland Timbers201520184 seasons
Minnesota United FCnever 3 seasons
Los Angeles FCnever 2 seasons
Toronto FC201720192 seasons
Atlanta United FC20181 season
FC Cincinnatinever 1 season

MLS Supporters' Shield win

Updated through 2019 Major League Soccer season. Does not include the 2019 winner of the Supporters' Shield.
ClubLast Supporters' Shield wonLength of drought
Colorado Rapidsnever 24 seasons
New England Revolutionnever 24 seasons
Sporting Kansas City200019 seasons
Chicago Fire200316 seasons
Real Salt Lakenever 15 seasons
Houston Dynamonever 14 seasons
D.C. United200712 seasons
Columbus Crew SC200910 seasons
Philadelphia Unionnever 10 seasons
Portland Timbersnever 9 seasons
Vancouver Whitecaps FCnever 9 seasons
Los Angeles Galaxy20118 seasons
Montreal Impactnever 8 seasons
San Jose Earthquakes20127 seasons
Seattle Sounders FC20145 seasons
New York City FCnever 5 seasons
Orlando City SCnever 5 seasons
FC Dallas20163 seasons
Atlanta United FCnever 3 seasons
Minnesota United FCnever 3 seasons
Toronto FC20172 seasons
FC Cincinnatinever 1 season
New York Red Bulls20181 season

CONCACAF Champions League appearance

Updated through 2020 CONCACAF Champions League.
ClubLast Champions
League Qualification		Method of QualificationLength of drought
Chicago Fire200412003 Supporters' Shield16 seasons
New England Revolution2008–092007 US Open Cup and 2007 MLS Cup runners-up11 seasons
Columbus Crew2010–112009 Supporters' Shield9 seasons
Philadelphia Unionnever 9 seasons
San Jose Earthquakes2013–142012 Supporters' Shield6 seasons
D.C. United2015–162014 Eastern Conference regular season4 seasons
LA Galaxy2015–162014 MLS Cup4 seasons
Orlando City SCnever 4 seasons2
Real Salt Lake2015–162014 Supporters' Shield fourth place4 seasons
Portland Timbers2016–172015 MLS Cup3 seasons
Vancouver Whitecaps FC2016–172015 Canadian Championship3 seasons
Colorado Rapids20182016 Supporters' Shield runners-up2 seasons
FC Dallas20182016 Supporters' Shield and 2016 U.S. Open Cup2 seasons
Minnesota United FCnever 2 seasons2
FC Cincinnatinever 1 season2
Houston Dynamo20192018 U.S. Open Cup1 season
New York Red Bulls2019aggregate record in 2017 and 2018 runners-up1 season
Sporting Kansas City20192017 U.S. Open Cup1 season
Toronto FC20192018 Canadian Championship1 season
Atlanta United FC20202019 U.S. Open Cup0 seasons
Inter Miami CFnever 0 seasons
Los Angeles FC20202019 Supporters' Shield0 seasons
Montreal Impact20202019 Canadian Championship0 seasons
Nashville SCnever 0 seasons2
New York City FC20202019 Eastern Conference regular season0 seasons
Seattle Sounders FC20202019 MLS Cup0 seasons

Domestic cup championship

Updated through 2019 U.S. Open Cup and 2019 Canadian Championship.
ClubLast domestic cup wonSubsequent final lossesLength of drought
Colorado Rapidsnever 199924 seasons
New York Red Bullsnever 2003, 201724 seasons
San Jose Earthquakesnever 22 seasons1
Columbus Crew SC2002 U.S. Open Cup201017 seasons
Real Salt Lakenever 201315 seasons
Los Angeles Galaxy2005 U.S. Open Cup200614 seasons
Chicago Fire2006 U.S. Open Cup201113 seasons
New England Revolution2007 U.S. Open Cup201612 seasons
Philadelphia Unionnever 2014, 2015, 201810 seasons
Portland Timbersnever 9 seasons2
D.C. United2013 U.S. Open Cup6 seasons
New York City FCnever 5 seasons
Orlando City SCnever 5 seasons2
Seattle Sounders FC2014 U.S. Open Cup5 seasons
Vancouver Whitecaps FC2015 Canadian Championship2016, 20184 seasons
FC Dallas2016 U.S. Open Cup3 seasons
Minnesota United FCnever 20193 seasons2
Los Angeles FCnever 2 seasons
Sporting Kansas City2017 U.S. Open Cup2 seasons
FC Cincinnatinever 1 season2
Houston Dynamo2018 U.S. Open Cup1 season
Toronto FC2018 Canadian Championship20191 season
Atlanta United FC2019 U.S. Open Cup0 seasons
Inter Miami CFnever 0 seasons
Montreal Impact2019 Canadian Championship0 seasons
Nashville SCnever 0 seasons2

Leagues Cup appearance

Updated through 2020 Leagues Cup.
ClubLast Leagues Cup qualificationSubsequent disqualifying
Champions League qualifications1		Length of drought
Atlanta United FCnever 20202 seasons
Colorado Rapidsnever 2 seasons
Columbus Crew SCnever 2 seasons
FC Cincinnatinever 22 seasons
FC Dallasnever 2 seasons
Los Angeles FCnever 20202 seasons
Montreal Impactnever 2 seasons
New England Revolutionnever 2 seasons
New York City FCnever 20202 seasons
Orlando City SCnever 2 seasons
San Jose Earthquakesnever 2 seasons
Seattle Sounders FCnever 20202 seasons
Sporting Kansas Citynever 2 seasons
Vancouver Whitecaps FCnever 2 seasons
Chicago Fire201931 season
Houston Dynamo201931 season

Longest all-time droughts

Post-season appearances

The list only includes MLS clubs that failed to make the playoffs for three or more consecutive seasons. Updated through 2019 Major League Soccer season.
ClubPrevious post-season
appearance		Next post-season
appearance		Post-season
drought
Toronto FCnever 20158 seasons
Chivas USA2009never 5 seasons
Orlando City SCnever 5 seasons
San Jose Clash/Earthquakes199620014 seasons
D.C. United200720124 seasons
Philadelphia Union201120164 seasons
Chicago Fire201220174 seasons
San Jose Earthquakes201220174 seasons
D.C. United199920033 seasons
Columbus Crew SC200420083 seasons
Real Salt Lakenever 20083 seasons
Los Angeles Galaxy200520093 seasons
Colorado Rapids200620103 seasons
New England Revolution200920133 seasons
Houston Dynamo201320173 seasons
New England Revolution201520193 seasons
Colorado Rapids20163 seasons
Montreal Impact20163 seasons

MLS Cup Final

This table lists teams with droughts lasting at least ten seasons. Updated through 2019 Major League Soccer season.
ClubPrevious MLS Cup
appearance		Next MLS Cup
appearance		MLS Cup final
drought
Chicago Fire200316 seasons
D.C. United200415 seasons
Dallas Burn/FC Dallasnever 201014 seasons
San Jose Earthquakes200314 seasons1
Columbus Crew SCnever 200812 seasons
MetroStars/New York Red Bullsnever 200812 seasons
Colorado Rapids1997201012 seasons
New York Red Bulls200811 seasons
Chivas USAnever never 10 seasons
Philadelphia Unionnever 10 seasons

MLS Cup championships

Only lists teams with droughts lasting at least 12 seasons. Updated through 2019 Major League Soccer season.
ClubLast championshipNext championshipChampionship drought
Dallas Burn/FC Dallasnever 24 seasons
MetroStars/New York Red Bullsnever 24 seasons
New England Revolutionnever 24 seasons
Chicago Fire199821 seasons
D.C. United200415 seasons
Colorado Rapidsnever 201014 seasons
San Jose Earthquakes200314 seasons1
Columbus Crew SCnever 200812 seasons
Kansas City Wizards/Sporting Kansas City2000201312 seasons
Houston Dynamo200712 seasons

Cities/regions awaiting first MLS Cup

This list only includes cities that have a club playing in MLS.
CitySeasons
waited		MLS Cup
Final appearances		MLS team
Boston242002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014New England Revolution
Dallas242010FC Dallas
New York242008New York Red Bulls, New York City FC
Philadelphia10neverPhiladelphia Union
Vancouver9neverVancouver Whitecaps FC
Montreal8neverMontreal Impact
Orlando5neverOrlando City SC
Miami4neverMiami Fusion, Inter Miami CF
Minneapolis3neverMinnesota United FC
Cincinnati1neverFC Cincinnati