List of MLS club post-season droughts
These are lists of active and all-time Major League Soccer (MLS) 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 26 MLS teams to have completed at least one season, thirteen have never won the MLS Cup and fourteen have never won the Supporters' Shield. Among those clubs which have won the MLS Cup, the longest MLS Cup title drought is that of Chicago Fire, who have not won the post-season honor since winning MLS Cup 1998. The longest Supporters' Shield drought is that of Sporting Kansas City, who last won the title in 2000.
The only team that has never qualified for the post-season tournament is FC Cincinnati, who debuted in 2019.
Longest active droughts
MLS Cup Playoffs appearance
Updated through 2020 Major League Soccer season. Does not include clubs that made the post-season as of that year.
| Club | Last appearance in post-season |
Length of drought |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | 2017 | 3 seasons |
| Houston Dynamo FC | 2017 | 3 seasons |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2017 | 3 seasons |
| FC Cincinnati | never (club entered MLS in 2019) | 2 seasons |
| Atlanta United FC | 2019 | 1 season |
| D.C. United | 2019 | 1 season |
| LA Galaxy | 2019 | 1 season |
| Real Salt Lake | 2019 | 1 season |
MLS Cup Conference Semifinals appearance
Updated through 2020 Major League Soccer season. Does not include clubs that reached the Conference Semifinals that year.
| Club | Last appearance in MLS Cup Conference Semifinals |
Length of drought |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | 2009 | 11 seasons |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2012 | 8 seasons |
| D.C. United | 2015 | 5 seasons |
| Colorado Rapids | 2016 | 4 seasons |
| CF Montréal | 2016 | 4 seasons |
| Houston Dynamo FC | 2017 | 3 seasons |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2017 | 3 seasons |
| FC Cincinnati | never (club entered MLS in 2019) | 2 seasons |
| New York Red Bulls | 2018 | 2 seasons |
| Portland Timbers | 2018 | 2 seasons |
| Atlanta United FC | 2019 | 1 season |
| Inter Miami CF | never (club entered MLS in 2020) | 1 season |
| LA Galaxy | 2019 | 1 season |
| Los Angeles FC | 2019 | 1 season |
| New York City FC | 2019 | 1 season |
| Philadelphia Union | 2019 | 1 season |
| Real Salt Lake | 2019 | 1 season |
| Toronto FC | 2019 | 1 season |
MLS Cup Conference Finals appearance
Updated through 2020 Major League Soccer season. Does not include clubs that reached the Conference Finals that year.
| Club | Last appearance in MLS Cup Conference Final |
Length of drought |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | 2009 | 11 seasons |
| Philadelphia Union | never (club entered MLS in 2010) | 11 seasons |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2010 | 10 seasons |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | never (club entered MLS in 2011) | 10 seasons |
| D.C. United | 2012 | 8 seasons |
| Real Salt Lake | 2013 | 7 seasons |
| LA Galaxy | 2014 | 6 seasons |
| New York City FC | never (club entered MLS in 2015) | 6 seasons |
| Orlando City SC | never (club entered MLS in 2015) | 6 seasons |
| FC Dallas | 2015 | 5 seasons |
| Colorado Rapids | 2016 | 4 seasons |
| CF Montréal | 2016 | 4 seasons |
| Houston Dynamo FC | 2017 | 3 seasons |
| FC Cincinnati | never (club entered MLS in 2019) | 2 seasons |
| New York Red Bulls | 2018 | 2 seasons |
| Portland Timbers | 2018 | 2 seasons |
| Sporting Kansas City | 2018 | 2 seasons |
| Atlanta United FC | 2019 | 1 season |
| Inter Miami CF | never (club entered MLS in 2020) | 1 season |
| Los Angeles FC | 2019 | 1 season |
| Nashville SC | never (club entered MLS in 2020) | 1 season |
| Toronto FC | 2019 | 1 season |
MLS Cup Final appearance
Updated through 2020 Major League Soccer season. Does not include clubs that appeared in the 2020 MLS Cup.
| Club | Last appearance in MLS Cup final |
Length of drought |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | 2003 | 17 seasons |
| D.C. United | 2004 | 16 seasons |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2003 | 15 seasons1 |
| New York Red Bulls | 2008 | 12 seasons |
| Philadelphia Union | never (club entered MLS in 2010) | 11 seasons |
| Colorado Rapids | 2010 | 10 seasons |
| FC Dallas | 2010 | 10 seasons |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | never (club entered MLS in 2011) | 10 seasons |
| CF Montréal | never (club entered MLS in 2012) | 9 seasons |
| Houston Dynamo FC | 2012 | 8 seasons |
| Real Salt Lake | 2013 | 7 seasons |
| Sporting Kansas City | 2013 | 7 seasons |
| LA Galaxy | 2014 | 6 seasons |
| New England Revolution | 2014 | 6 seasons |
| New York City FC | never (club entered MLS in 2015) | 6 seasons |
| Orlando City SC | never (club entered MLS in 2015) | 6 seasons |
| Minnesota United FC | never (club entered MLS in 2017) | 4 seasons |
| Los Angeles FC | never (club entered MLS in 2018) | 3 seasons |
| Atlanta United FC | 2018 | 2 seasons |
| FC Cincinnati | never (club entered MLS in 2019) | 2 seasons |
| Portland Timbers | 2018 | 2 seasons |
| Inter Miami CF | never (club entered MLS in 2020) | 1 season |
| Nashville SC | never (club entered MLS in 2020) | 1 season |
| Toronto FC | 2019 | 1 season |
- 1 Does not include 2006–2007 when San Jose was dormant.
MLS Cup championship
Updated through 2020 Major League Soccer season. Does not include the winner of MLS Cup 2020 (Columbus Crew SC).
| Club | Last MLS Cup | Subsequent final losses | Length of drought |
|---|---|---|---|
| FC Dallas | never (club entered MLS in 1996) | 2010 | 25 seasons |
| New England Revolution | never (club entered MLS in 1996) | 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014 | 25 seasons |
| New York Red Bulls | never (club entered MLS in 1996) | 2008 | 25 seasons |
| Chicago Fire | 1998 | 2000, 2003 | 22 seasons |
| D.C. United | 2004 | 16 seasons | |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2003 | 15 seasons1 | |
| Houston Dynamo FC | 2007 | 2011, 2012 | 13 seasons |
| Real Salt Lake | 2009 | 2013 | 11 seasons |
| Philadelphia Union | never (club entered MLS in 2010) | 11 seasons | |
| Colorado Rapids | 2010 | 10 seasons | |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | never (club entered MLS in 2011) | 10 seasons | |
| CF Montréal | never (club entered MLS in 2012) | 9 seasons | |
| Sporting Kansas City | 2013 | 7 seasons | |
| LA Galaxy | 2014 | 6 seasons | |
| New York City FC | never (club entered MLS in 2015) | 6 seasons | |
| Orlando City SC | never (club entered MLS in 2015) | 6 seasons | |
| Portland Timbers | 2015 | 2018 | 5 seasons |
| Minnesota United FC | never (club entered MLS in 2017) | 4 seasons | |
| Los Angeles FC | never (club entered MLS in 2018) | 3 seasons | |
| Toronto FC | 2017 | 2019 | 3 seasons |
| Atlanta United FC | 2018 | 2 seasons | |
| FC Cincinnati | never (club entered MLS in 2019) | 2 seasons | |
| Inter Miami CF | never (club entered MLS in 2020) | 1 season | |
| Nashville SC | never (club entered MLS in 2020) | 1 season | |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2019 | 2020 | 1 season |
- 1 Does not include 2006–2007 when San Jose was dormant.
Supporters' Shield win
Updated through 2020 Major League Soccer season. This list does not include the current holder of the Supporters' Shield (Philadelphia Union).
| Club | Last Supporters' Shield won | Length of drought |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Rapids | never (club entered MLS in 1996) | 25 seasons |
| New England Revolution | never (club entered MLS in 1996) | 25 seasons |
| Sporting Kansas City | 2000 | 20 seasons |
| Chicago Fire | 2003 | 17 seasons |
| Real Salt Lake | never (club entered MLS in 2005) | 16 seasons |
| Houston Dynamo FC | never (club entered MLS in 2006) | 15 seasons |
| D.C. United | 2007 | 13 seasons |
| Columbus Crew SC | 2009 | 11 seasons |
| Portland Timbers | never (club entered MLS in 2011) | 10 seasons |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | never (club entered MLS in 2011) | 10 seasons |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 2011 | 9 seasons |
| CF Montréal | never (club entered MLS in 2012) | 9 seasons |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2012 | 8 seasons |
| New York City FC | never (club entered MLS in 2015) | 6 seasons |
| Orlando City SC | never (club entered MLS in 2015) | 6 seasons |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2014 | 6 seasons |
| Atlanta United FC | never (club entered MLS in 2017) | 4 seasons |
| FC Dallas | 2016 | 4 seasons |
| Minnesota United FC | never (club entered MLS in 2017) | 4 seasons |
| Toronto FC | 2017 | 3 seasons |
| FC Cincinnati | never (club entered MLS in 2019) | 2 seasons |
| New York Red Bulls | 2018 | 2 seasons |
| Inter Miami CF | never (club entered MLS in 2020) | 1 season |
| Los Angeles FC | 2019 | 1 season |
| Nashville SC | never (club entered MLS in 2020) | 1 season |
CONCACAF Champions League appearance
Updated through 2020 CONCACAF Champions League.
- 1 The first CONCACAF Champions League was in 2008–09. Dates before this reference qualification for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.
- 2 FC Cincinnati, Minnesota United FC, Nashville SC, and Orlando City SC played in other leagues before joining MLS and could have qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League by winning the U.S. Open Cup. This table only counts their droughts from when they joined MLS.
Domestic cup championship
Updated through 2019 U.S. Open Cup and 2019 Canadian Championship.
- 1 Does not include 2006–2007 when San Jose was dormant.
- 2 FC Cincinnati, Minnesota United FC, Nashville SC, Orlando City SC, and Portland Timbers played in other leagues before joining MLS and competed in the U.S. Open Cup during those years. This table only counts their droughts from when they joined MLS.
Leagues Cup appearance
Updated through 2020 Leagues Cup.
| Club | Last Leagues Cup qualification | Subsequent disqualifying Champions League qualifications1 |
Length of drought |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta United FC | never (Leagues Cup began in 2019) | 2020 | 2 seasons |
| Colorado Rapids | never (Leagues Cup began in 2019) | 2 seasons | |
| Columbus Crew SC | never (Leagues Cup began in 2019) | 2 seasons | |
| FC Cincinnati | never (Leagues Cup began in 2019)2 | 2 seasons | |
| FC Dallas | never (Leagues Cup began in 2019) | 2 seasons | |
| Los Angeles FC | never (Leagues Cup began in 2019) | 2020 | 2 seasons |
| CF Montréal | never (Leagues Cup began in 2019) | 2 seasons | |
| New England Revolution | never (Leagues Cup began in 2019) | 2 seasons | |
| New York City FC | never (Leagues Cup began in 2019) | 2020 | 2 seasons |
| Orlando City SC | never (Leagues Cup began in 2019) | 2 seasons | |
| San Jose Earthquakes | never (Leagues Cup began in 2019) | 2 seasons | |
| Seattle Sounders FC | never (Leagues Cup began in 2019) | 2020 | 2 seasons |
| Sporting Kansas City | never (Leagues Cup began in 2019) | 2 seasons | |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | never (Leagues Cup began in 2019) | 2 seasons | |
| Chicago Fire | 20193 | 1 season | |
| Houston Dynamo FC | 20193 | 1 season |
- 1 Clubs who qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League are ineligible for the Leagues Cup. This column lists years when clubs would have qualified for the Leagues Cup had they not qualified for the Champions League.
- 2 FC Cincinnati only joined MLS in 2019, but they had already begun play by the time the participants in the 2019 Leagues Cup were announced.
- 3 Qualification for the 2019 Leagues Cup was by invitation and not based on sporting merit.
Longest all-time droughts
MLS Cup Playoffs appearance
The list only includes MLS clubs that failed to make the playoffs for three or more consecutive seasons. Updated through 2020 Major League Soccer season.
Active club streak is highlighted
| Club | Previous post-season appearance |
Next post-season appearance |
Length of drought |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto FC | never (club entered MLS in 2007) | 2015 | 8 seasons |
| Chivas USA | 2009 | never (club folded after 2014) | 5 seasons |
| Orlando City SC | never (club entered MLS in 2015) | 2020 | 5 seasons |
| San Jose Clash/Earthquakes | 1996 | 2001 | 4 seasons |
| D.C. United | 2007 | 2012 | 4 seasons |
| Philadelphia Union | 2011 | 2016 | 4 seasons |
| Chicago Fire | 2012 | 2017 | 4 seasons |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2012 | 2017 | 4 seasons |
| D.C. United | 1999 | 2003 | 3 seasons |
| Columbus Crew SC | 2004 | 2008 | 3 seasons |
| Real Salt Lake | never (club entered MLS in 2005) | 2008 | 3 seasons |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 2005 | 2009 | 3 seasons |
| Colorado Rapids | 2006 | 2010 | 3 seasons |
| New England Revolution | 2009 | 2013 | 3 seasons |
| Houston Dynamo | 2013 | 2017 | 3 seasons |
| New England Revolution | 2015 | 2019 | 3 seasons |
| Colorado Rapids | 2016 | 2020 | 3 seasons |
| CF Montréal | 2016 | 2020 | 3 seasons |
| Chicago Fire | 2017 | 3 seasons | |
| Houston Dynamo FC | 2017 | 3 seasons | |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2017 | 3 seasons |
MLS Cup Conference Semifinals appearance
The list only includes clubs that failed to make the conference semifinals for four or more consecutive seasons. Updated through 2020 Major League Soccer season.
Active club streak is highlighted
| Club | Previous appearance in MLS Cup Conference Semifinal |
Next appearance in MLS Cup Conference Semifinal |
Length of drought |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | 2009 | 11 seasons | |
| Toronto FC | never (club entered MLS in 2007) | 2016 | 9 seasons |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2012 | 8 seasons | |
| Philadelphia Union | 2011 | 2019 | 7 seasons |
| Chivas USA | 2009 | never (club folded after 2014) | 5 seasons |
| New England Revolution | 2014 | 2020 | 5 seasons |
| Orlando City SC | never (club entered MLS in 2015) | 2020 | 5 seasons |
| D.C. United | 2015 | 5 seasons | |
| San Jose Clash/Earthquakes | never (club entered MLS in 1996) | 2001 | 4 seasons |
| D.C. United | 2007 | 2012 | 4 seasons |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | never (club entered MLS in 2011) | 2015 | 4 seasons |
| Colorado Rapids | 2011 | 2016 | 4 seasons |
| Sporting Kansas City | 2013 | 2018 | 4 seasons |
| Colorado Rapids | 2016 | 4 seasons | |
| CF Montréal | 2016 | 4 seasons |
MLS Cup Conference Finals appearance
The list only includes clubs that failed to make the conference finals for seven or more consecutive seasons. Updated through 2020 Major League Soccer season.
Active club streak is highlighted
| Club | Previous appearance in MLS Cup Conference Final |
Next appearance in MLS Cup Conference Final |
Length of drought |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | 2009 | 11 seasons | |
| Philadelphia Union | never (club entered MLS in 2010) | 11 seasons | |
| Dallas Burn/FC Dallas | 1999 | 2010 | 10 seasons |
| Chivas USA | never (club entered MLS in 2005) | never (club folded after 2014) | 10 seasons |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2010 | 10 seasons | |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | never (club entered MLS in 2011) | 10 seasons | |
| Toronto FC | never (club entered MLS in 2007) | 2016 | 9 seasons |
| D.C. United | 2012 | 8 seasons | |
| MetroStars/New York Red Bulls | 2000 | 2008 | 7 seasons |
| Real Salt Lake | 2013 | 7 seasons |
MLS Cup Final appearance
The list only includes clubs that failed to make the MLS Cup final for ten or more consecutive seasons. Updated through 2020 Major League Soccer season.
Active club streak is highlighted
| Club | Previous appearance in MLS Cup Final |
Next appearance in MLS Cup Final |
Length of drought |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | 2003 | 17 seasons | |
| D.C. United | 2004 | 16 seasons | |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2003 | 15 seasons1 | |
| Dallas Burn/FC Dallas | never (club entered MLS in 1996) | 2010 | 14 seasons |
| Columbus Crew SC | never (club entered MLS in 1996) | 2008 | 12 seasons |
| MetroStars/New York Red Bulls | never (club entered MLS in 1996) | 2008 | 12 seasons |
| Colorado Rapids | 1997 | 2010 | 12 seasons |
| New York Red Bulls | 2008 | 12 seasons | |
| Philadelphia Union | never (club entered MLS in 2010) | 11 seasons | |
| Chivas USA | never (club entered MLS in 2005) | never (club folded after 2014) | 10 seasons |
| Colorado Rapids | 2010 | 10 seasons | |
| FC Dallas | 2010 | 10 seasons | |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | never (club entered MLS in 2011) | 10 seasons |
- 1 Does not include 2006–2007 when San Jose was dormant.
MLS Cup championship
The list only includes clubs that failed to win an MLS Cup championship for 12 or more consecutive seasons. Updated through 2020 Major League Soccer season.
Active club streak is highlighted
| Club | Last championship | Next championship | Length of drought |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Burn/FC Dallas | never (club entered MLS in 1996) | 25 seasons | |
| MetroStars/New York Red Bulls | never (club entered MLS in 1996) | 25 seasons | |
| New England Revolution | never (club entered MLS in 1996) | 25 seasons | |
| Chicago Fire | 1998 | 22 seasons | |
| D.C. United | 2004 | 16 seasons | |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2003 | 15 seasons1 | |
| Colorado Rapids | never (club entered MLS in 1996) | 2010 | 14 seasons |
| Houston Dynamo | 2007 | 13 seasons | |
| Columbus Crew SC | never (club entered MLS in 1996) | 2008 | 12 seasons |
| Kansas City Wizards/Sporting Kansas City | 2000 | 2013 | 12 seasons |
- 1 Does not include 2006–2007 when San Jose was dormant.
Metro areas awaiting first MLS Cup
This list includes only metropolitan areas that have a club playing in MLS. Updated through 2020 Major League Soccer season.
| Metro area | Seasons waited |
MLS Cup Final appearances |
MLS team(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 25 | 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014 | New England Revolution |
| Dallas | 25 | 2010 | FC Dallas |
| New York | 25 | 2008 | New York Red Bulls, New York City FC |
| Philadelphia | 11 | never | Philadelphia Union |
| Vancouver | 10 | never | Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
| Montreal | 9 | never | CF Montréal |
| Orlando | 6 | never | Orlando City SC |
| Miami | 5 | never | Miami Fusion, Inter Miami CF |
| Minneapolis | 4 | never | Minnesota United FC |
| Cincinnati | 2 | never | FC Cincinnati |
| Nashville | 1 | never | Nashville SC |
See also
- Major League Soccer
- List of Major League Baseball franchise postseason 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
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