Forbes list of the most valuable MLS clubs

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The official stadium of Los Angeles FC, the most valuable MLS club as of the 2024 Major League Soccer season. LAFC vs Philadelphia Union (2018) by Subashwilfred.jpg
The official stadium of Los Angeles FC, the most valuable MLS club as of the 2024 Major League Soccer season.

Forbes compiles the finances of all 29 [a] MLS clubs to produce an annual ranking of the best franchises in terms of valuation. The valuations are composed of various variables in financial information and transaction data reported by several club executives. These areas are supported by applying financial metrics such as revenue and operating income to each one. [1]

Contents

The latest ranking reported that Los Angeles FC is the most valuable MLS franchise after the 2024 Major League Soccer season. The fastest growing MLS franchise is Inter Miami CF with a 17% increase in valuation since the 2023 Major League Soccer season, largely in part by the widespread popularity of Argentine superstar and 2024 MLS Most Valuable Player Lionel Messi. Los Angeles FC became the new club for highest valuation after Atlanta United FC held the position in 2019. [2]

Several media outlets have referenced in related news or conducted analytic journalism when the ranking come out, such as The Cincinnati Enquirer and American City Business Journals. [3] [4] MLS has consistently recognized the renditions of the ranking. [5] [6] The report has also applied more context to MLS trends, such as the decrease in valuation in relationship with the decrease in attendance for Chicago Fire FC. [7]

Ranking

Rankings as of June 10, 2025 (2025 Major League Soccer season)

RankSwingClubState/
province
Value [b] Change [c] Revenue [d] Operating income [e]
1Steady2.svg Los Angeles FC Flag of California.svg California $1.25 billionIncrease2.svg 4%$150 million$12 million
2Steady2.svg Inter Miami CF Flag of Florida.svg Florida $1.2 billionIncrease2.svg 17%$180 million$50 million
3Steady2.svg LA Galaxy Flag of California.svg California $1 billionIncrease2.svg 5%$102 million$2 million
4Steady2.svg Atlanta United FC Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Georgia $975 millionIncrease2.svg 8%$105 million$10 million
5Steady2.svg New York City FC Flag of New York.svg New York $875 millionIncrease2.svg 3%$78 million–$8 million
6Increase2.svg 2 Austin FC Flag of Texas.svg Texas $825 millionIncrease2.svg 10%$90 million$4 million
7Decrease2.svg 1 Seattle Sounders FC Flag of Washington.svg Washington $800 millionIncrease2.svg 2%$83 million$2 million
8Decrease2.svg 1 D.C. United Flag of Washington, D.C.svg District of Columbia $785 millionIncrease2.svg 1%$90 million$10 million
9Increase2.svg 6 Columbus Crew Flag of Ohio.svg Ohio $735 millionIncrease2.svg 15%$74 million–$10 million
10Increase2.svg 4 FC Cincinnati Flag of Ohio.svg Ohio $730 millionIncrease2.svg 12%$76 million$3 million
11Decrease2.svg 2 Toronto FC Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario $725 millionSteady2.svg 0%$70 million–$12 million
12Decrease2.svg 2 Charlotte FC Flag of North Carolina.svg North Carolina $700 millionIncrease2.svg 1%$81 million$4 million
13Decrease2.svg 1 Philadelphia Union Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Pennsylvania $690 millionIncrease2.svg 3%$72 million–$8 million
14Decrease2.svg 3 St. Louis City SC Flag of Missouri.svg Missouri $685 millionIncrease2.svg 1%$75 million–$2 million
15Decrease2.svg 2 Portland Timbers Flag of Oregon.svg Oregon $670 millionIncrease2.svg 2%$68 million$1 million
16Steady2.svg Sporting Kansas City Flag of Kansas.svg Kansas $650 millionIncrease2.svg 3%$75 million–$2 million
17Steady2.svg Minnesota United FC Flag of Minnesota.svg Minnesota $610 millionIncrease2.svg 2%$63 million–$12 million
18Increase2.svg 1 New York Red Bulls Flag of New Jersey.svg New Jersey $580 millionIncrease2.svg 4%$64 million–$5 million
19Decrease2.svg 1 Nashville SC Flag of Tennessee.svg Tennessee $570 millionSteady2.svg 0%$53 million–$8 million
20Steady2.svg Houston Dynamo FC Flag of Texas.svg Texas $550 millionIncrease2.svg 4%$58 million–$2 million
21Increase2.svg 3 FC Dallas Flag of Texas.svg Texas $545 millionIncrease2.svg 9%$54 million–$15 million
22Increase2.svg 1 San Jose Earthquakes Flag of California.svg California $540 millionIncrease2.svg 7%$59 million–$10 million
23Decrease2.svg 2 New England Revolution Flag of Massachusetts.svg Massachusetts $535 millionIncrease2.svg 3%$63 million$5 million
24Decrease2.svg 2 Chicago Fire FC Flag of Illinois.svg Illinois $530 millionIncrease2.svg 3%$51 million$2 million
25Steady2.svg Real Salt Lake Flag of Utah.svg Utah $500 millionIncrease2.svg 3%$50 million$0
26Steady2.svg Orlando City SC Flag of Florida.svg Florida $475 millionSteady2.svg 0%$50 million–$3 million
27Increase2.svg 1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Flag of British Columbia.svg British Columbia $440 millionIncrease2.svg 5%$40 million–$10 million
28Decrease2.svg 1 CF Montréal Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec $435 millionIncrease2.svg 1%$45 million–$7 million
29Steady2.svg Colorado Rapids Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado $415 millionIncrease2.svg 4%$42 million–$8 million

Historical valuations

Historical valuations (in US$ millions) by MLS club [f]
Club 2024 2018
Los Angeles FC 1,250475
Inter Miami CF 1,200New black yellow.svg
LA Galaxy 1,000480
Atlanta United FC 975500
New York City FC 875385
Austin FC 825405
Seattle Sounders FC 800330
D.C. United 785New black yellow.svg
Columbus Crew 735395
FC Cincinnati 730New black yellow.svg
Toronto FC 725New black yellow.svg
Charlotte FC 700240
Philadelphia Union 690390
St. Louis City SC 685285
Portland Timbers 670200
Sporting Kansas City 650325
Minnesota United FC 610300
New York Red Bulls 580New black yellow.svg
Nashville SC 570290
Houston Dynamo FC 550280
FC Dallas 545245
San Jose Earthquakes 540335
New England Revolution 535275
Chicago Fire FC 530220
Real Salt Lake 500235
Orlando City SC 475295
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 440210
CF Montréal 435215
Colorado Rapids 415190

See also

Notes

  1. Expansion club San Diego FC, which began play during the 2025 Major League Soccer season, was omitted from the ranking.
  2. Value of team (in USD) based on current stadium deal (unless new stadium is pending), without deduction for debt (other than stadium debt).
  3. Change of valuation from the 2023 Major League Soccer season to the 2024 Major League Soccer season.
  4. Revenue in USD.
  5. Earnings (in USD) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
  6. Financial data taken from the 2025 and 2019 Forbes valuations articles.

References

  1. Birnbaum, Justin (June 10, 2025) [February 21, 2025]. "Forbes MLS Team Valuations 2025 List — Major League Soccer Ranking". Forbes. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  2. Moore, Chris (February 2, 2023). "LAFC value hits 1 billion dollars, but who's buying?". World Soccer Talk. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  3. Brennan, Pat (February 3, 2023). "Report: FC Cincinnati's value climbed from $285M to $560M". The Cincinnati Enquirer . Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  4. Spanberg, Erik (February 6, 2023). "David Tepper MLS team Charlotte FC nearly doubles in value: Forbes". American City Business Journals . Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  5. Rosano, Nick (September 7, 2016). "Forbes releases annual MLS team valuations as Seattle and LA lead the way". Major League Soccer . Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  6. Bogert, Tom (November 28, 2019). "Atlanta United retain top spot in Forbes' annual MLS team valuations". Major League Soccer . Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  7. "All-Time Attendance". Chicago Fire FC. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.