Frank Christian
Major League Soccer (MLS) aims to establish itself as a prominent soccer league globally, not just in North America. Progress has been made in recent years with an increasing talent pool comprising not only seasoned superstars seeking lucrative contracts but also a focus on developing young talent and improving transfer strategies.
However, MLS retains unique characteristics as it integrates traditional global soccer practices with American sports culture. One such element is its playoff system to determine the league champion, which can overshadow the importance of the regular season.
Although MLS is not the only league worldwide to feature playoffs, it stands out for employing a true knockout format. Consequently, the team that claims the regular season title is often overlooked unless they achieve a rare double, a feat that is not commonly seen in this league.
This article from The Sporting News clarifies the distinction between the Supporters’ Shield and the MLS Cup and highlights the historical winners of the Shield.
What is the Supporters’ Shield in MLS?
The Supporters’ Shield is given to the team that accumulates the most points during the regular season of MLS. While champions are recognized in both the Eastern and Western conferences, the overall league title is awarded to the club with the highest point total across the league.
Tiebreakers for the Supporters’ Shield follow the standard league regulations, with the foremost tiebreaker being the number of wins, followed by goal differential and goals scored.
What distinguishes the Supporters’ Shield from the MLS Cup?
The Supporters’ Shield honors the regular-season champions, while the MLS Cup is awarded to the playoff victors. The MLS Cup is widely regarded as the definitive championship of the season, with a reputation that significantly eclipses that of the Shield.
In terms of competitive structure, the MLS Cup resembles Australia’s A-League Men, where regular season dominance earns a Premier’s Plate, but the championship trophy is decided in the Grand Final.
Some supporters argue that the Supporters’ Shield more accurately reflects the best team because it takes into account consistent performance across a longer season compared to the shorter playoff format.
This structure might seem unusual to global soccer fans, yet it is common in American sports, where playoff champions are usually viewed as the true champions of their leagues.
How often do Supporters’ Shield winners also capture MLS Cup?
Interestingly, it is uncommon for a team to win both the Supporters’ Shield and the MLS Cup in the same season. While one would expect the top regular season team to frequently achieve playoff success, the unpredictable nature of playoff soccer often defies expectations.
Only eight teams have secured both titles out of 28 years of MLS history, representing roughly 28.5% of the time. The LA Galaxy is the only club to have accomplished this more than once, winning both in 2002 and 2011.
In the past decade, achieving the double has become even more challenging, with the Supporters’ Shield champion only winning the MLS Cup twice since the Galaxy’s second double.
Historical winners of the Supporters’ Shield
| Year | Club | Points | Margin | Won MLS Cup? |
| 2023 | FC Cincinnati | 69 | No | |
| 2022 | LAFC (2) | 67 | Yes | |
| 2021 | New England Revolution | 73 | No | |
| 2020* | Philadelphia Union | 47 | No | |
| 2019 | LAFC | 72 | No | |
| 2018 | New York Red Bulls (3) | 71 | No | |
| 2017 | Toronto FC | 69 | Yes | |
| 2016 | FC Dallas | 60 | No | |
| 2015 | New York Red Bulls (2) | 60 | No | |
| 2014 | Seattle Sounders | 64 | No | |
| 2013 | New York Red Bulls | 59 | No | |
| 2012 | San Jose Earthquakes (2) | 66 | No | |
| 2011 | LA Galaxy (4) | 67 | Yes | |
| 2010 | LA Galaxy (3) | 59 | No | |
| 2009 | Columbus Crew (3) | 49 | No | |
| 2008 | Columbus Crew (2) | 57 | Yes | |
| 2007 | D.C. United (4) | 55 | No | |
| 2006 | D.C. United (3) | 55 | No | |
| 2005 | San Jose Earthquakes | 64 | No | |
| 2004 | Columbus Crew | 49 | No | |
| 2003 | Chicago Fire | 53 | No (Lost final) | |
| 2002 | LA Galaxy (2) | 51 | Yes | |
| 2001 | Miami Fusion | 53 | No | |
| 2000 | Kansas City Wizards | 53 | Yes | |
| 1999 | D.C. United (2) | 57 | Yes | |
| 1998 | LA Galaxy | 68 | No | |
| 1997 | D.C. United | 55 | Yes | |
| 1996 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 58 | No |
* The 2020 season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
