The Supporters’ Shield goes to the team with the best record from both conferences across the regular season. In effect, it’s awarded to the regular season winner, and is arguably a harder trophy to win than the MLS Cup.
To win it, a team needs more points than any other team from either conference at the end of the regular season. If two teams are tied, the winner is decided by goal difference, then goals scored, and on to other criteria. Often, the winner of the Supporters’ Shield does not go on to win the MLS Cup, but when that does happen, it’s considered an incredible achievement, since that team has truly dominated the league that season.
Interestingly, the trophy only exists because a few fans had the idea and created it. Not until 2006 was it fully accepted as a meaningful trophy, but it certainly is now.
In the table below, you will notice there are no ties between 1996 and 1999. This was the shootout era, when games that were tied after 90 minutes were decided by a penalty shootout, so there was always a winner. This was a unique feature of Major League Soccer, but it didn’t last long.
Here is an up to date list of every Supporters’ Shield winner since MLS began:
| Season | Teams | Winner | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | Points (PPG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 10 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 32 | 20 | 12 | — | 58 (1.81) |
| 1997 | 10 | D.C. United | 32 | 21 | 11 | — | 55 (1.72) |
| 1998 | 12 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 32 | 24 | 8 | — | 68 (2.12) |
| 1999 | 12 | D.C. United | 32 | 23 | 9 | — | 57 (1.78) |
| 2000 | 12 | Kansas City Wizards | 32 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 57 (1.78) |
| 2001 | 12 | Miami Fusion | 26 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 53 (2.04) |
| 2002 | 10 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 28 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 51 (1.82) |
| 2003 | 10 | Chicago Fire | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 53 (1.77) |
| 2004 | 10 | Columbus Crew | 30 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 49 (1.63) |
| 2005 | 12 | San Jose Earthquakes | 32 | 18 | 4 | 10 | 64 (2.00) |
| 2006 | 12 | D.C. United | 32 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 55 (1.72) |
| 2007 | 13 | D.C. United | 30 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 55 (1.83) |
| 2008 | 14 | Columbus Crew | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 57 (1.90) |
| 2009 | 15 | Columbus Crew | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 49 (1.63) |
| 2010 | 16 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 30 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 59 (1.97) |
| 2011 | 18 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 34 | 19 | 5 | 10 | 67 (1.97) |
| 2012 | 19 | San Jose Earthquakes | 34 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 66 (1.94) |
| 2013 | 19 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 59 (1.74) |
| 2014 | 19 | Seattle Sounders FC | 34 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 64 (1.88) |
| 2015 | 20 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 18 | 10 | 6 | 60 (1.76) |
| 2016 | 20 | FC Dallas | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 60 (1.76) |
| 2017 | 22 | Toronto FC | 34 | 20 | 5 | 9 | 69 (2.02) |
| 2018 | 23 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 22 | 7 | 5 | 71 (2.09) |
| 2019 | 24 | Los Angeles FC | 34 | 21 | 4 | 9 | 72 (2.12) |
| 2020 | 26 | Philadelphia Union | 23 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 47 (2.04) |
| 2021 | 27 | New England Revolution | 34 | 22 | 5 | 7 | 73 (2.15) |
| 2022 | 28 | Los Angeles FC | 34 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 67 (1.97) |
| 2023 | 29 | FC Cincinnati | 34 | 20 | 5 | 9 | 69 (2.03) |
| 2024 | 29 | Inter Miami CF | 34 | 22 | 4 | 8 | 74 (2.18) |
| 2025 | 30 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 66 (1.94) |