The 5 Most Recent MLS Cup Winners

The MLS Cup is the epitome of the American Soccer trophies, as exactly 30 teams (as of 2025) battle it out to reach the playoffs with the hopes of securing this trophy. It’s slightly different from other leagues, such as the UEFA Champions League, as teams must qualify for the playoffs in their division by reaching a certain number of points during the season. Top top-placing teams are then pitted in a bracket to work towards the finals, where they can achieve the status of best club team in the United States.

In this article, we’ll discuss the last five MLS Cup winners, including which teams won it and when, how the final match concluded, and any notable players on the team, as well as which team is likely to win it this year!

2019-2020 – Columbus Crew SC

In 2020, the Columbus Crew added to their second of three MLS Cup trophies, with their last one coming back from 2008. This year, the Crew finished 3rd in the MLS Eastern Conference, yet would work their way to the MLS Finals to face off against the reigning champs, Seattle Sounders. They came out victorious 3-0 with 2 goals from Lucas Zelarayan in the 25’ and 82’ and another from Derrick Etienne in the 31’.

2020-21 – New York City FC

Against all odds this year, the 4th place Eastern Conference MLS team NYCFC pulled off an incredible feat by defeating the Portland Timbers in the Cup Finals. It wasn’t easy, though, as while they led the entire game 1-0 from a 41’ goal from Valentin Castellanos, the Portland Timbers equalized in the 90+4’ of added time to send the game to OT. After a scoreless two 15-minute halves in overtime, New York City FC sealed their fate with a 4-2 win on penalty kicks, marking their first MLS Cup trophy in history.

2021-22 – Los Angeles FC

LAFC would have an incredible 2022 season, finishing 1st in the MLS Western Conference to be a top seed in the playoffs. While their LA Galaxy counterparts were no stranger to the MLS Cup trophy, LAFC would net their very first MLS Cup while facing off against MLS Eastern Conference 1st place Philadelphia Union. However, the scoring in the Finals was back-and-forth, starting with a 27’ goal from Kellyn Acosta, before the Union’s Daniel Gazdag equalized in the 59’. Jesus Murillo would promptly pull LA ahead in the 83’, only for Jack Elliott to net the equalizer in the 85’. The game went to overtime, with Jack Elliot putting Philadelphia ahead on the scoreline with a 120+4” goal, right before LA legend Gareth Bale equalized in the 120+8” to send the game to PKs. In the end, LA snatched the win 3-0 in penalties to earn their first ever MLS Cup trophy in history.

2022-23 – Columbus Crew SC

The Columbus Crew would once again find themselves in a championship-winning scenario, but only against the defending champs of LAFC. Both teams were 3rd in the Eastern and Western Conferences by the end of the regular season, but managed to work their way to the MLS Finals. In the final, the Crew would hold onto a 2-1 lead from a 33’ penalty from Cucho Hernadez and a 37’ goal from Yaw Yeboah, only for LA’s Denis Bouanga to pull one back in the 74’. From here, the Columbus Crew won their 3rd ever MLS Cup trophy in history.

2023-24 – LA Galaxy

It took 10 years for the LA Galaxy to win their sixth MLS Cup trophy. By the end of the regular season, the Galaxy trailed their LA FC rivals in 2nd place, although that hardly mattered as they entered the MLS Cup finals against the New York Red Bulls. LA’s victory was relatively straightforward, as Joseph Painstil put the team ahead 1-0 in the 9’ only for Dejan Joveljic to add to the tally four minutes later. Red Bull’s Seam Nealis pulled one back in the 28’, although it was hardly enough to send the game to overtime, allowing LA Galaxy to collect their 6th MLS Cup title, the most out of any club in MLS history.

2024-25 Prediction – FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati showed extreme promise in the 2023 season, finishing 1st place in the Eastern Conference only to be outed in the playoffs by the champions that year of the Columbus Crew. They’d only finish 3rd in the 2024 season, slipping to NYCFC in the 1st round of the playoffs, but they are coming to the end of the 2025 season sitting at 1st place in the East once again. Considering they have yet to win the MLS Cup but have gotten a taste of what victory is like in the MLS, we think they can pull it off this season with their returning personnel.