Supporters' Shield

{{Short description|Trophy for the MLS team with the best regular season record}} {{Use American English|date=July 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{infobox sports award | name = Supporters' Shield | image = Supporters' Shield trophy.jpeg | imagesize = 250px | description = [[Major League Soccer]] team with the best record in the regular season | presenter = The Supporters' Shield Foundation | year = 1999, 1996 (retroactively) | holder = [[Philadelphia Union]] (2nd shield) | most_awards = [[D.C. United]] [[LA Galaxy]] (4 shields each) }}

The '''Supporters' Shield''' is an annual award given to the [[Major League Soccer]] team with the best [[regular season]] record, as determined by the MLS points system. The Supporters' Shield has been annually awarded at the MLS Supporters' Summit since 1999 (with the winners between 1996 and 1998 awarded retroactively), and has been recognized as a major trophy by the league. It echoes the practice of the top European leagues in which the team with the best record is the champion. Since 2006, the Supporters' Shield winner has earned a berth in the [[CONCACAF Champions Cup]].{{efn-ua|Canadian MLS teams could not earn a berth through the Supporters' Shield until 2023.}}

[[D.C. United]] and [[LA Galaxy]], with four Supporters' Shields each, have won the most shields of any MLS team. [[Philadelphia Union]] are the 2025 holders of the Supporters' Shield, clinching their second shield in the penultimate regular season match. Inter Miami CF currently holds the record for the most points in a regular season, with 74 in the [[2024 Major League Soccer season|2024 campaign]].<ref>{{cite news |date=October 20, 2024 |title=Inter Miami Sets MLS Single-Season Points Record As Lionel Messi Bags Hat Trick |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/inter-miami-makes-mls-history-with-win-over-revs-lionel-messi-bags-hat-trick |access-date=November 10, 2024 |website=SI}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Conception and fundraising ===

When Major League Soccer had its inaugural season in [[1996 Major League Soccer season|1996]], the league resembled its contemporary North American leagues. After the regular season, the campaign culminated with the [[MLS Cup Playoffs]], en route to the postseason championship match, the [[MLS Cup]]. The club with the best regular season record received nothing more than the top seed in the playoffs.

In 1997, soccer fan Nick Lawrus on a [[listserv]] proposed the notion of a "Supporters' [[Scudetto]]", as a result of the Tampa Bay Mutiny earning the best regular season record but failing to win the [[MLS Cup 1996|1996 MLS Cup Final]]. A committee composed of members of all MLS teams' supporters changed the name to "Supporters' Shield" but, due to disagreements between members of the committee, the proposal failed to come to fruition.<ref name=mls101>{{cite news |url=http://www.nycfc.com/post/2013/10/29/mls-101-supporters-shield |title=MLS 101: Supporters' Shield |work=NYCFC.com | access-date=July 14, 2015 | archive-date=June 10, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610182520/https://www.newyorkcityfc.com/news/mls-101-supporters-shield | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 15, 2008 |title=Shield bearers |url=https://www.columbusalive.com/article/20081015/NEWS/310159228 |work=[[Columbus Alive]] |access-date=May 4, 2020 |archive-date=June 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610182629/https://www.columbusmonthly.com/story/mariner/2008/10/15/women-s-club-to-host/38917738007/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The following year, another group led by soccer enthusiast Sam Pierron tried to revive the idea by giving an award to the regular season champions.<ref name=mls101 /> Since MLS refused to fund the idea, Pierron began fundraising to purchase a trophy with the help of supporters from various MLS clubs. Fundraising was boosted with donations from [[ESPN]] commentator Phil Schoen and MLS commissioner [[Doug Logan]]. In the end, nearly $3,000 was donated to commission the trophy, which was a [[Chevron (insignia)|chevron]] made by [[University of Missouri-Kansas City]] art student Paula Richardson out of sterling silver sheet metal, for $2,200.<ref name=history>{{cite web |last=Gates |first=Ryan |title=A History of the Supporter's Shield |url=http://www.stumptownfooty.com/2011/2/15/1995978/a-history-of-the-supporters-shield |publisher=Stumptown Footy|access-date=October 8, 2011 |date=February 15, 2011|archive-date=October 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001165850/https://www.stumptownfooty.com/2011/2/15/1995978/a-history-of-the-supporters-shield|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Start>{{cite news |last=Crandall |first=October 11, 2016 |title=From internet message board to valued prize: How the Supporters' Shield got its start |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/10/11/internet-message-board-valued-prize-how-supporters-shield-got-its-start |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=May 4, 2020 |archive-date=May 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504134248/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/10/11/internet-message-board-valued-prize-how-supporters-shield-got-its-start |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Palmer |first=Tod |date=July 28, 2013 |title=Two KU students designed the original MLS Supporters' Shield |page=B1 |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/soccer/sporting-kc/article324024.html |work=[[The Kansas City Star]] |url-access=limited |accessdate=November 21, 2024}}</ref>

The process to create and purchase the Supporters' Shield was not completed until the last weeks of the 1999 season. Although D.C. United were the first MLS club to win the award, the first-place finishes between 1996 and 1998 have all been awarded the honor retroactively, with their names included on the shield at the time of its creation.<ref>{{cite book |last=West |first=Phil |year=2016 |title=The United States of Soccer |page=47 |publisher=[[The Overlook Press]] |isbn=978-1-4683-1241-6}}</ref>

Throughout the early to mid-2000s, the Shield received little praise or recognition from MLS or the general public,<ref name=mlsfootball>{{cite web |last=Gareth |title=MLS Supporters' Shield Explained – Is It a Major Trophy? |url=https://www.mlsfootball.com/fundamentals/mls-supporters-shield-explained-is-it-a-major-trophy/ |website=MLSFootball |publisher=MLSFootball |date=October 10, 2025 |access-date=October 10, 2025 |quote=In its early years (1999–2005), the unofficial nature of the Supporters’ Shield meant that it was seldom mentioned in league marketing materials and rarely appeared in mainstream MLS press coverage.}}</ref> as the league awarded the MLS Cup winner and runner-up with spots in continental tournaments.

=== First Shield incentives arrive ===

In February 2006, USSF decided that the Supporters' Shield winner and the MLS Cup winner would represent the United States in the [[CONCACAF Champions Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Meagher |first=Tom |title=Jeepers, Some Wishes Really Do Come True! |url=http://www.wecallitsoccer.com/archives/001032.html |publisher=We Call it Soccer |access-date=September 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061230084442/http://www.wecallitsoccer.com/archives/001032.html |archive-date=December 30, 2006 |date=February 23, 2006 |url-status=unfit}}</ref> If the Supporters Shield winner also wins the MLS Cup, the U.S. Open Cup, or if either spot is won by a Canadian team, the U.S.-based team with the second-highest regular season point total qualifies as well.<ref>[https://archive.today/20110811032832/http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20060214&content_id=52200&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp MLS announces competition changes for 2006]</ref> When the Champions Cup became the CONCACAF Champions League, the United States Soccer Federation gave both the Supporters' Shield winner and the MLS Cup winner direct Group stage spots.

On eight occasions (1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2011, 2017, and 2022) the winner of the Supporters' Shield also won the MLS Cup that same year, becoming the overall champion of the MLS season. In 2011, the league announced that the Shield winner's opponent in the MLS Cup quarterfinals would be the lowest-seeded team remaining.

=== Redesign ===

As the Shield began to become more prized and grow in significance along with "supporter culture" growing throughout the league, the idea of creating a new Supporters' Shield began at the MLS Supporters Summit during the [[2010 MLS Cup]] in Toronto. The idea continued to gain traction at the then recently formed Independent Supporters Council (ISC) the following two years in [[Los Angeles]] and [[Portland, Oregon]]. The Supporter's Shield Foundation was created out of the ISC meeting in Portland in 2012 with a mission to fund the creation of a new shield and to promote and manage the trophy going forward. The cost of the new Shield was quoted at $18,000 with a majority of the funds raised through the "I Support the Shield" [[scarf]] drive that culminated in the sale of 2000 supporter scarves.

With the fundraising complete, in early 2013 the new Supporter's Shield was created. The new shield weighs {{convert|35|lb|kg}} and is made of sterling silver and stainless steel. The outside of the shield contains a [[Adidas Telstar|Telstar]] [[Ball (association football)|football]] design while the middle of the shield pays homage to the chevron design of the original trophy. The middle of the trophy was designed to be expandable as its winners' names are added to it annually around the chevron. The newly designed shield was first awarded to the [[New York Red Bulls]] on the final day of the [[2013 Major League Soccer season|2013 MLS season]].<ref name=Start />

=== 2020 cancellation and reinstatement ===

On October 17, 2020, Major League Soccer announced that, following a decision made by the ISC, the Supporters' Shield would not be awarded at the end of the [[2020 Major League Soccer season|2020 regular season]], largely in part due to the effects that the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]] had on the league. In an official announcement, the Supporters' Shield Foundation stated, "After much consideration and discussion, the Supporters' Shield Foundation has decided to forego awarding the Supporters' Shield for the 2020 season. This is not an easy decision to make. With the inability for supporters to be in attendance and fill their stadiums with passion, however, we feel as though the current climate goes against the spirit of the Shield."<ref>{{cite news |title=Supporters' Shield will not be awarded in 2020 following decision by ISC |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/10/17/supporters-shield-will-not-be-awarded-2020-following-decision-isc |work=MLSsoccer.com |date=October 17, 2020 |access-date=October 18, 2020 |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020150049/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/10/17/supporters-shield-will-not-be-awarded-2020-following-decision-isc |url-status=live}}</ref>

This decision caused a great amount of backlash from the MLS community, and was criticized by several members of MLS clubs, including [[Toronto FC]] head coach [[Greg Vanney]] (whose team was top of the Supporters' Shield standings at the time of the decision).<ref>{{cite news |title=Vanney rips Supporters' Shield decision |url=https://www.tsn.ca/toronto-fc-s-greg-vanney-rips-supporters-shield-decision-1.1540467%3ftsn-amp |publisher=TSN.ca |date=October 18, 2020 |access-date=October 23, 2020 |archive-date=June 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610182625/https://www.tsn.ca/toronto-fc-s-greg-vanney-rips-supporters-shield-decision-1.1540467%3Ftsn-amp |url-status=live}}</ref> Following these negative responses, on October 23 the Supporters' Shield Foundation announced they had reversed their original decision, and the Shield was reinstated for the 2020 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Supporters' Shield to be awarded in 2020 following reversal of decision |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/10/23/supporters-shield-be-awarded-2020-following-reversal-decision |work=MLSsoccer.com |date=October 23, 2020 |access-date=October 23, 2020 |archive-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026225426/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/10/23/supporters-shield-be-awarded-2020-following-reversal-decision |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Philadelphia Union]] won the Supporters' Shield, but were unable to use the actual shield due to a delay in shipping from Los Angeles. A temporary replacement was fashioned from a repurposed [[Captain America's shield|Captain America shield]] with a vinyl cover by the Union's fabricator shop and lifted by the players.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mashall |first=Tom |date=November 11, 2020 |title=Captain America to the rescue! Philadelphia Union celebrate with fake Supporters' Shield |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog-the-toe-poke/story/4231854/captain-america-to-the-rescue!-philadelphia-union-celebrate-with-fake-supporters-shield |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=November 3, 2022 |archive-date=June 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610182621/https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37608627/captain-america-rescue-philadelphia-union-celebrate-fake-supporters-shield |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Winners == [[File:CINvNY 2023-10-04 - Supporters Shield group celebration.jpg|thumb|right|FC Cincinnati players celebrate after clinching the Supporters' Shield in 2023]] ;Keys {{legend|#CFECEC| Team also won the [[MLS Cup]].|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#ADFF2F| Team also won the [[U.S. Open Cup]] / [[Canadian Championship]].|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#ECCFEC| Team also won the [[MLS Cup]] and [[U.S. Open Cup]] / [[Canadian Championship]].|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}} Sixteen different teams have won at least one Supporters' Shield, with the [[LA Galaxy]] and [[D.C. United]] level with the most wins at four each. Seven teams have gone on to win the [[MLS Cup]] after winning the Supporters' Shield, with both the Galaxy and D.C. achieving this double twice. While three teams have secured a Supporters' Shield and [[U.S. Open Cup]] double, no American team has won all three major domestic trophies (the Supporters' Shield, MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup). However, in the 2017 season, [[Toronto FC]] managed the Canadian version of this achievement, lifting the Supporters' Shield, MLS Cup and [[Canadian Championship]].

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2" |{{abbr|Ed.|Edition number}} ! rowspan="2" |Season ! rowspan="2" |Teams ! rowspan="2" |Winner ! colspan="4" |Record ! rowspan="2" |{{nowrap|Points{{efn-ua|From 1996 to 1999, 3 points were awarded for a win in 90 minutes, 1 point for a shootout win, and 0 points for a loss in 90 minutes or shootout. Since the 2000 season, 3 points are awarded for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss.}} ({{abbr|PPG|Points per game}})}} ! rowspan="2" |Playoffs result ! rowspan="2" |Coach |- !Games !width=40|Won !width=40|Lost !Tied{{efn-ua|From 1996 until 1999, tied games were decided by a [[golden goal]], culminating with a [[Penalty shootout (association football)|shootout]].}} |- | 1 | [[1996 Major League Soccer season|1996]] | 10 | [[Tampa Bay Mutiny]] | 32 || 20 || 12 || — | 58 (1.81) | Lost {{abbr|Conf|Conference}} Finals ([[D.C. United|DC]]) | [[Thomas Rongen]] |- | 2 | [[1997 Major League Soccer season|1997]] | 10 | bgcolor=#CFECEC| [[D.C. United]] | 32 || 21 || 11 || — | 55 (1.72) | '''Won MLS Cup''' | [[Bruce Arena]] |- | 3 | [[1998 Major League Soccer season|1998]] | 12 | [[LA Galaxy|Los Angeles Galaxy]] | 32 || 24 || 8 || — | 68 (2.12) | Lost {{abbr|Conf|Conference}} Finals ([[Chicago Fire FC|CHI]]) | [[Octavio Zambrano]] |- | 4 | [[1999 Major League Soccer season|1999]] | 12 | bgcolor=#CFECEC| [[D.C. United]] (2) | 32 || 23 || 9 || — | 57 (1.78) | '''Won MLS Cup''' | [[Thomas Rongen]] |- | 5 | [[2000 Major League Soccer season|2000]] | 12 | bgcolor=#CFECEC| [[Kansas City Wizards]] | 32 || 16 || 7 || 9 | 57 (1.78) | '''Won MLS Cup''' | [[Bob Gansler]] |- | 6 | [[2001 Major League Soccer season|2001]] | 12 | [[Miami Fusion F.C.|Miami Fusion]] | 26 || 16 || 5 || 5 | 53 (2.04) | Lost Semifinals ([[San Jose Earthquakes|SJO]]) | [[Ray Hudson]] |- | 7 | [[2002 Major League Soccer season|2002]] | 10 | bgcolor=#CFECEC| [[LA Galaxy|Los Angeles Galaxy]] (2) | 28 || 16 || 9 || 3 | 51 (1.82) | '''Won MLS Cup''' | [[Sigi Schmid]] |- | 8 | [[2003 Major League Soccer season|2003]] | 10 | bgcolor=#ADFF2F| [[Chicago Fire Soccer Club|Chicago Fire]] | 30 || 15 || 7 || 8 | 53 (1.77) | Lost MLS Cup ([[San Jose Earthquakes|SJO]]) | [[Dave Sarachan]] |- | 9 | [[2004 Major League Soccer season|2004]] | 10 | [[Columbus Crew]] | 30 || 12 || 5 || 13 | 49 (1.63) | Lost {{abbr|Conf|Conference}} Semifinals ([[New England Revolution|NE]]) | [[Greg Andrulis]] |- | 10 | [[2005 Major League Soccer season|2005]] | 12 | [[San Jose Earthquakes]] | 32 || 18 || 4 || 10 | 64 (2.00) | Lost {{abbr|Conf|Conference}} Semifinals ([[LA Galaxy|LA]]) | [[Dominic Kinnear]] |- | 11 | [[2006 Major League Soccer season|2006]] | 12 | [[D.C. United]] (3) | 32 || 15 || 7 || 10 | 55 (1.72) | Lost {{abbr|Conf|Conference}} Finals ([[New England Revolution|NE]]) | [[Piotr Nowak]] |- | 12 | [[2007 Major League Soccer season|2007]] | 13 | [[D.C. United]] (4) | 30 || 16 || 7 || 7 | 55 (1.83) | Lost {{abbr|Conf|Conference}} Semifinals ([[Chicago Fire FC|CHI]]) | [[Tom Soehn]] |- | 13 | [[2008 Major League Soccer season|2008]] | 14 | bgcolor=#CFECEC| [[Columbus Crew]] (2) | 30 || 17 || 7 || 6 | 57 (1.90) | '''Won MLS Cup''' | [[Sigi Schmid]] |- | 14 | [[2009 Major League Soccer season|2009]] | 15 | [[Columbus Crew]] (3) | 30 || 13 || 7 || 10 | 49 (1.63) | Lost {{abbr|Conf|Conference}} Semifinals ([[Real Salt Lake|RSL]]) | [[Robert Warzycha]] |- | 15 | [[2010 Major League Soccer season|2010]] | 16 | [[LA Galaxy|Los Angeles Galaxy]] (3) | 30 || 18 || 7 || 5 | 59 (1.97) | Lost {{abbr|Conf|Conference}} Finals ([[FC Dallas|DAL]]) | [[Bruce Arena]] |- | 16 | [[2011 Major League Soccer season|2011]] | 18 | bgcolor=#CFECEC| [[LA Galaxy|Los Angeles Galaxy]] (4) | 34 || 19 || 5 || 10 | 67 (1.97) | '''Won MLS Cup''' | [[Bruce Arena]] |- | 17 | [[2012 Major League Soccer season|2012]] | 19 | [[San Jose Earthquakes]] (2) | 34 || 19 || 6 || 9 | 66 (1.94) | Lost {{abbr|Conf|Conference}} Semifinals ([[LA Galaxy|LA]]) | [[Frank Yallop]] |- | 18 | [[2013 Major League Soccer season|2013]] | 19 | [[New York Red Bulls]] | 34 || 17 || 9 || 8 | 59 (1.74) | Lost {{abbr|Conf|Conference}} Semifinals ([[Houston Dynamo|HOU]]) | [[Mike Petke]] |- | 19 | [[2014 Major League Soccer season|2014]] | 19 | bgcolor=#ADFF2F| [[Seattle Sounders FC]] | 34 || 20 || 10 || 4 | 64 (1.88) | Lost {{abbr|Conf|Conference}} Finals ([[LA Galaxy|LA]]) | [[Sigi Schmid]] |- | 20 | [[2015 Major League Soccer season|2015]] | 20 | [[New York Red Bulls]] (2) | 34 || 18 || 10 || 6 | 60 (1.76) | Lost {{abbr|Conf|Conference}} Finals ([[Columbus Crew|CLB]]) | [[Jesse Marsch]] |- | 21 | [[2016 Major League Soccer season|2016]] | 20 | bgcolor=#ADFF2F| [[FC Dallas]] | 34 || 17 || 8 || 9 | 60 (1.76) | Lost {{abbr|Conf|Conference}} Semifinals ([[Seattle Sounders FC|SEA]]) | [[Óscar Pareja]] |- | 22 | [[2017 Major League Soccer season|2017]] | 22 | bgcolor=#ECCFEC| [[Toronto FC]] | 34 || 20 || 5 || 9 || 69 (2.02) | '''Won MLS Cup''' | [[Greg Vanney]] |- | 23 | [[2018 Major League Soccer season|2018]] | 23 | [[New York Red Bulls]] (3) | 34 || 22 || 7 || 5 | 71 (2.09) | Lost {{abbr|Conf|Conference}} Finals ([[Atlanta United FC|ATL]]) | [[Chris Armas]] |- | 24 | [[2019 Major League Soccer season|2019]] | 24 | [[Los Angeles FC]] | 34 || 21 || 4 || 9 | 72 (2.12) | Lost {{abbr|Conf|Conference}} Finals ([[Seattle Sounders FC|SEA]]) | [[Bob Bradley]] |- | 25 | [[2020 Major League Soccer season|2020]] | 26 | [[Philadelphia Union]] | 23 || 14 || 4 || 5 | 47 (2.04) | Lost first round ([[New England Revolution|NE]]) | [[Jim Curtin]] |- | 26 | [[2021 Major League Soccer season|2021]] | 27 | [[New England Revolution]] | 34 || 22 || 5 || 7 | 73 (2.15) | Lost {{abbr|Conf|Conference}} Semifinals ([[New York City FC|NYC]]) | [[Bruce Arena]] |- | 27 | [[2022 Major League Soccer season|2022]] | 28 | bgcolor=#CFECEC| [[Los Angeles FC]] (2) | 34 || 21 || 9 || 4 | 67 (1.97) | '''Won MLS Cup''' | [[Steve Cherundolo]] |- | 28 | [[2023 Major League Soccer season|2023]] | 29 | [[FC Cincinnati]] | 34 || 20 || 5 || 9 | 69 (2.03) | Lost {{abbr|Conf|Conference}} Finals ([[Columbus Crew|CLB]]) | [[Pat Noonan]] |- | 29 | [[2024 Major League Soccer season|2024]] | 29 | [[Inter Miami CF]] | 34 || 22 || 4 || 8 | 74 (2.18) | Lost first round ([[Atlanta United FC|ATL]]) | [[Gerardo Martino]] |- | 30 | [[2025 Major League Soccer season|2025]] | 30 | [[Philadelphia Union]] (2) | 34 || 20 || 8 || 6 | 66 (1.94) | Lost {{abbr|Conf|Conference}} Semifinals ([[New York City FC|NYC]]) | [[Bradley Carnell]] |}

== Records ==

=== Shield winners === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Team ! Winners ! Runners-up ! Year(s) won ! Year(s) runners-up |- | [[LA Galaxy]] | align=center | 4 | align=center | 4 | [[1998 Major League Soccer season|1998]], [[2002 Major League Soccer season|2002]], [[2010 Major League Soccer season|2010]], [[2011 Major League Soccer season|2011]] | [[1996 Major League Soccer season|1996]], [[1999 Major League Soccer season|1999]], [[2009 Major League Soccer season|2009]], [[2014 Major League Soccer season|2014]] |- | [[D.C. United]] | align=center | 4 | align=center | 1 | [[1997 Major League Soccer season|1997]], [[1999 Major League Soccer season|1999]], [[2006 Major League Soccer season|2006]], [[2007 Major League Soccer season|2007]] | [[1998 Major League Soccer season|1998]] |- | [[Columbus Crew]] | align=center | 3 | align=center | 1 | [[2004 Major League Soccer season|2004]], [[2008 Major League Soccer season|2008]], [[2009 Major League Soccer season|2009]] | [[2024 Major League Soccer season|2024]] |- | [[New York Red Bulls]] | align=center | 3 | align=center | 0 | [[2013 Major League Soccer season|2013]], [[2015 Major League Soccer season|2015]], [[2018 Major League Soccer season|2018]] | |- | [[San Jose Earthquakes]] | align=center | 2 | align=center | 2 | [[2005 Major League Soccer season|2005]], [[2012 Major League Soccer season|2012]] | [[2002 Major League Soccer season|2002]], [[2003 Major League Soccer season|2003]] |- | [[Philadelphia Union]] | align=center | 2 | align=center | 1 | [[2020 Major League Soccer season|2020]], [[2025 Major League Soccer season|2025]] | [[2022 Major League Soccer season|2022]] |- | [[Los Angeles FC]] | align=center | 2 | align=center | 0 | [[2019 Major League Soccer season|2019]], [[2022 Major League Soccer season|2022]] | |- | [[Sporting Kansas City]] | align=center | 1 | align=center | 4 | [[2000 Major League Soccer season|2000]] | [[1997 Major League Soccer season|1997]], [[2004 Major League Soccer season|2004]], [[2012 Major League Soccer season|2012]], [[2013 Major League Soccer season|2013]] |- | [[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]] | align=center | 1 | align=center | 2 | [[2003 Major League Soccer season|2003]] | [[2000 Major League Soccer season|2000]], [[2001 MLS season|2001]] |- | [[FC Dallas]] | align=center | 1 | align=center | 2 | [[2016 Major League Soccer season|2016]] | [[2006 Major League Soccer season|2006]], [[2015 Major League Soccer season|2015]] |- | [[Seattle Sounders FC]] | align=center | 1 | align=center | 1 | [[2014 Major League Soccer season|2014]] | [[2011 Major League Soccer season|2011]] |- | [[Toronto FC]] | align=center | 1 | align=center | 1 | [[2017 Major League Soccer season|2017]] | [[2020 Major League Soccer season|2020]] |- | [[New England Revolution]] | align=center | 1 | align=center | 1 | [[2021 Major League Soccer season|2021]] | [[2005 Major League Soccer season|2005]] |- | [[FC Cincinnati]] | align=center | 1 | align=center | 1 | [[2023 Major League Soccer season|2023]] | [[2025 Major League Soccer season|2025]] |- |[[Inter Miami CF]] | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 0 | [[2024 Major League Soccer season|2024]] | |- | ''[[Tampa Bay Mutiny]]'' | align=center | 1 | align=center | 0 | ''[[1996 Major League Soccer season|1996]]'' | |- | ''[[Miami Fusion F.C.|Miami Fusion]]'' | align=center | 1 | align=center | 0 | ''[[2001 Major League Soccer season|2001]]'' | |- | [[Colorado Rapids]] | align=center | 0 | align=center | 2 | | [[2016 Major League Soccer season|2016]], [[2021 MLS season|2021]] |- | [[New York City FC]] | align=center | 0 | align=center | 2 | | [[2017 Major League Soccer season|2017]], [[2019 Major League Soccer season|2019]] |- | ''[[Chivas USA]]'' | align=center | 0 | align=center | 1 | | ''[[2007 Major League Soccer season|2007]]'' |- | [[Houston Dynamo]] | align=center | 0 | align=center | 1 | | [[2008 Major League Soccer season|2008]] |- | [[Real Salt Lake]] | align=center | 0 | align=center | 1 | | [[2010 Major League Soccer season|2010]] |- | [[Atlanta United FC]] | align=center | 0 | align=center | 1 | | [[2018 Major League Soccer season|2018]] |- | [[Orlando City SC]] | align=center | 0 | align=center | 1 | | [[2023 Major League Soccer season|2023]] |}

* Defunct teams in ''italics''.

=== Performance in CONCACAF competition === {{See also|American soccer clubs in international competitions}}

Before 2006, Shield winners were not guaranteed a berth into CONCACAF competitions. Most regular season champions to earn berths into CONCACAF competitions typically earned them from earning a berth into the MLS Cup, or earning a berth due to the number of berths allocated to the United States for MLS. Most times, the United States was allocated two berths into the tournament, which went to the MLS Cup champion and runner-up.

Since 2007, the Shield winner replaced the MLS Cup runner-up as the second American representative for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. In 2008, with the arrival of the newly formatted CONCACAF Champions League, the Shield winner, along with the MLS Cup winner both earned direct byes into the group stage of the Champions League.<ref name="concacaf berths">{{cite web |title=Qualifying Format Unveiled for 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League |url=http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.aspx?id=4171 |work=[[CONCACAF]] |publisher=CONCACAF.com|archive-date=December 26, 2008|access-date=January 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226124256/http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.aspx?id=4171 |date=May 14, 2008}}</ref>

[[Toronto FC]] and [[Los Angeles FC]] are the only Shield winners to reach the final of a CONCACAF competition. However, as a Canadian team, Toronto FC qualified for the tournament by winning the [[Canadian Championship]] and not the Supporters' Shield. [[D.C. United]] and the [[New York Red Bulls]] hold the record for the earliest exit in a CONCACAF competition as the Shield winners, being eliminated from the group stage in the 2008–09 and 2014–15 editions of the Champions League, respectively.<ref name="history in concacaf">{{cite web |title=CONCACAF Champions Cup/League History |url=http://www.concacaf.com/staticFiles/f9/3a/0,,12813~146169,00.pdf |work=CONCACAF |publisher=CONCACAF.com|access-date=January 6, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916075649/http://www.concacaf.com/staticFiles/f9/3a/0%2C%2C12813~146169%2C00.pdf|archive-date=September 16, 2011}}</ref>

'''Key'''

{| class="wikitable" | bgcolor="#FFEE99"|Champions | bgcolor=DDDDDD|Runners-up | bgcolor=CFAA88|Semi-finals |}

* QR1 = Qualification first round * PR = Preliminary round * GS = Group stage * R16 = Round of 16 * QF = Quarter-finals * SF = Semi-finals or consolation match * F = Final

'''Performance table'''

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Season ! Shield winner ! Result |- | [[1997 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1997]] | align=center colspan=2 rowspan=2|''Did not qualify'' |- | [[1998 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1998]] |- | [[1999 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|1999]] | [[Los Angeles Galaxy]] | QR1 |- | [[2000 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|2000]] | [[D.C. United]] | bgcolor=CFAA88|SF |- | [[2002 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|2002]] | [[Kansas City Wizards]] | bgcolor=CFAA88|SF |- | [[2003 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|2003]] | Los Angeles Galaxy | QF |- | [[2004 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|2004]] | [[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]] | bgcolor=CFAA88|SF |- | [[2005 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|2005]] | align=center colspan=3 rowspan=2|''Did not qualify'' |- | [[2006 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|2006]] |- | [[2007 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|2007]] | D.C. United | bgcolor=CFAA88|SF |- | [[2008 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|2008]] | D.C. United | bgcolor=CFAA88|SF |- | [[2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League|2008–09]] | D.C. United | GS |- | [[2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League|2009–10]] | [[Columbus Crew]] | QF |- | [[2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League|2010–11]] | Columbus Crew | QF |- | [[2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League|2011–12]] | Los Angeles Galaxy | QF |- | [[2012–13 CONCACAF Champions League|2012–13]] | Los Angeles Galaxy | bgcolor=CFAA88|SF |- | [[2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League|2013–14]] | [[San Jose Earthquakes]] | QF |- | [[2014–15 CONCACAF Champions League|2014–15]] | [[New York Red Bulls]] | GS |- | [[2015–16 CONCACAF Champions League|2015–16]] | [[Seattle Sounders FC]] | QF |- | [[2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League|2016–17]] | [[New York Red Bulls]] | QF |- | [[2018 CONCACAF Champions League|2018]] | [[Toronto FC]]{{efn|Toronto FC participated in the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League by virtue of their [[Canadian Championship]] win, not the Supporters' Shield.}} | bgcolor="DDDDDD"|F |- | [[2019 CONCACAF Champions League|2019]] | [[New York Red Bulls]]{{efn|Due to the restructuring of the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League, the United States' berths were allocated to the 2017 and 2018 MLS Cup winners and the 2017 and 2018 [[U.S. Open Cup]] winners, and the 2017 and 2018 Supporters' Shield winners were not guaranteed a berth. As Toronto FC won MLS Cup 2017, the vacated berth was reallocated to the [[New York Red Bulls]] as the U.S.-based non-champion with the best aggregate record for the 2017 and 2018 MLS regular seasons.}} | QF |- | [[2020 CONCACAF Champions League|2020]] | [[Los Angeles FC]] | bgcolor="DDDDDD"|F |- | [[2021 CONCACAF Champions League|2021]] | [[Philadelphia Union]] | bgcolor=CFAA88|SF |- | [[2022 CONCACAF Champions League|2022]] | [[New England Revolution]] | QF |- | [[2023 CONCACAF Champions League|2023]] | [[Los Angeles FC]] | bgcolor="DDDDDD"|F |- | [[2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup|2024]] | [[FC Cincinnati]] | R16 |- | [[2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup|2025]] | [[Inter Miami CF]] | bgcolor=CFAA88|SF |- | [[2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup|2026]] | [[Philadelphia Union]] | R16 |}

; Notes {{notelist}}

== See also == {{Portal|Association football}}

* [[List of American and Canadian soccer champions]] * [[CPL Shield]], a Canadian Premier League trophy with the same function as the MLS Supporters' Shield * [[Presidents' Trophy]], an NHL trophy with the same function as the MLS Supporters' Shield * [[Maurice Podoloff Trophy]], an NBA trophy with the same function as the MLS Supporters' Shield * [[NWSL Shield]], a National Women's Soccer League trophy with the same function as the MLS Supporters' Shield * [[Minor premiership]], a similar concept in Australian sports leagues * [[Wooden spoon (award)#Major League Soccer|Major League Soccer's Wooden Spoon award]]

== Footnotes == {{notelist-ua}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == *{{official website}}

[[Category:Major League Soccer trophies and awards]] [[Category:Regular season trophies and awards]]