Soccer has enjoyed longstanding popularity in Los Angeles. As of 2023, Los Angeles County has three top-level professional teams. The LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC play in Major League Soccer, and Angel City FC plays in the National Women's Soccer League. The Greater Los Angeles area is also home to one 2nd division professional team, Orange County SC, of the USL Championship, and four 3rd division professional teams, LAFC2 and LA Galaxy II, of MLS Next Pro, and Los Angeles Force and California United Strikers FC of the National Independent Soccer Association. There are also many semi-professional clubs and leagues including the United Premier Soccer League, SoCal Premier League and National Premier Soccer League, among others. In 2019, two more professional teams, Cal FC (Thousand Oaks) and California United Strikers FC (Orange County) joined a new, unsanctioned, professional league called the NPSL Founders Cup They both later left, with Cal FC joining the United Premier Soccer League.
Soccer in Los Angeles began in the 20th century when the Southern California Football League was founded in 1902. [1]
The first and only champions of the United Soccer Association (1967), predecessor to the North American Soccer League (1968–1984).
The LA Kickers were the first LA area team to win the National Challenge Cup, known today as the U.S. Open Cup.[ citation needed ]
LA Maccabi won the U.S. Open Cup, known in their time as the National Challenge Cup, a record number five times. [2]
The Orange County Soccer Club was a two-time consecutive finalist of the National Challenge Cup, in 1966 and '67. OCSC played Bayern Munich at Santa Ana Stadium in 1966. [3] [4] [5]
The LA Aztecs won the NASL National Championship in their inaugural season, 1974. [6] They played in many stadiums, including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.[ citation needed ] The Aztecs folded in 1981.[ citation needed ]
The California Sunshine, an Orange County based pro team, played in the ASL. [7]
Club Deportivo Chivas USA was a joint venture between Chivas de Guadalajara owner Jorge Vergara, partner Antonio Cué, and Major League Soccer, that operated Chivas trademarks in the United States through the Delaware entity called Chivas de Guadalajara Licensing, LLC. [8] The team folded in 2014.[ citation needed ]
Year | League | W | L | T | Pts | Reg. season | Playoffs | Avg. attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1967 | USA | 5 | 5 | 2 | 15 | 1st, Western Division | Champions | 7,777 |
1968 | NASL | 11 | 8 | 13 | 139 | 3rd, Pacific Division | did not qualify | 2,441 |
Several years after the formation of the North American Soccer League in 1968, the Los Angeles Aztecs joined NASL as an expansion team in 1974, and played from 1974 until 1981, folding after the 1981 season. The team featured international superstars such as George Best and Johan Cruyff. The team was at its most popular in 1979 and 1980, averaging over 12,000 fans both seasons.[ citation needed ]
Season | Division | Position | League Record | Playoffs | Top scorer | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P | W | L | D | F | A | Pts | Name | Goals | ||||
1974 | Western | 1st | 20 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 41 | 36 | 110 | Champions | Doug McMillan | 10 |
1975 | Western | 3rd | 20 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 40 | 41 | 36 | Conference Quarterfinals | Uri Banhoffer | 14 |
1976 | Southern | 3rd | 44 | 25 | 6 | 14 | 89 | 41 | 15 | First round | George Best | 15 |
1977 | Southern | 2nd | 26 | 14 | 12 | 0 | 37 | 44 | 37 | Conference Final | George Best | 14 |
1978 | Western | 4th | 30 | 21 | 9 | 0 | 63 | 69 | 36 | did not qualify | Jim Rolland | 17 |
1979 | Western | 2nd | 30 | 18 | 12 | 0 | 54 | 62 | 47 | Conference Semifinal | Johan Cruyff | 13 |
1980 | Western | 2nd | 32 | 20 | 12 | 0 | 60 | 61 | 52 | Conference Final | Luis Fernando | 28 |
1981 | Western | 2nd | 32 | 20 | 12 | 0 | 60 | 61 | 52 | First round | Chris Dangerfield | 35 |
Year | League | W | L | Pts | Regular season | Playoffs | Avg. Attend. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1978 | NASL | 13 | 17 | 115 | 2nd, American Conference, Western Division | Lost 1st Round (San Diego) | 11,171 |
1979 | NASL | 15 | 15 | 140 | 1st(t), American Conference, Western Division | Lost 1st Round (San Diego) | 10,330 |
1980 | NASL | 15 | 17 | 144 | 2nd, American Conference, Western Division | Lost 1st Round (Ft. Lauderdale) | 7,593 |
1981 | NASL | 11 | 21 | 117 | 3rd, Western Division | did not qualify | 8,299 |
Season | Conf | Pos | League Record | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | CONCACAF Champions League | Top scorer | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plyd | Won | Lost | Drew | F | A | Pts | Name | Goals | ||||||
2005 | West | 6th | 32 | 4 | 22 | 6 | 31 | 67 | 18 | Did not qualify | Fourth round | Did not qualify | Héctor Cuadros | 4 |
2006 | West | 3rd | 32 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 45 | 42 | 43 | Conference Semifinal | Third round | Did not qualify | Ante Razov | 14 |
2007 | West | 1st | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 46 | 28 | 53 | Conference Semifinal | Third round | Did not qualify | Maykel Galindo | 12 |
2008 | West | 2nd | 30 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 40 | 41 | 43 | Conference Semifinal | Third round | Preliminary round | Alecko Eskandarian Ante Razov Sacha Kljestan | 5 |
2009 | West | 4th | 30 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 34 | 31 | 45 | Conference Semifinal | Third round | Did not qualify | Eduardo Lillingston | 8 |
2010 | West | 8th | 30 | 8 | 18 | 4 | 31 | 45 | 28 | Did not qualify | Semifinal | Did not qualify | Justin Braun | 9 |
2011 | West | 8th | 34 | 8 | 14 | 12 | 41 | 43 | 36 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Justin Braun Nick LaBrocca | 9 |
2012 | West | 9th | 34 | 7 | 18 | 9 | 24 | 58 | 30 | Did not qualify | Semifinal | Did not qualify | Juan Pablo Ángel | 4 |
2013 | West | 9th | 34 | 6 | 20 | 8 | 30 | 67 | 26 | Did not qualify | Fourth round | Did not qualify | Erick Torres | 7 |
2014 | West | 7th | 34 | 9 | 16 | 6 | 29 | 61 | 33 | Did not qualify | Fourth round | Did not qualify | Erick Torres | 15 |
Club | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Major League Soccer (2) | ||||
LA Galaxy | Dignity Health Sports Park | 27,000 | 1994 | Los Angeles' first MLS franchise. |
Los Angeles FC | BMO Stadium | 22,000 | 2014 | |
Club | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
National Women's Soccer League (1) | ||||
Angel City FC | BMO Stadium | 22,000 | 2020 | |
Club | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
USL Championship (2) | ||||
Ventura County FC | Dignity Health Sports Park | 5,000 | 2015 | USL affiliate of LA Galaxy. |
Orange County SC | Championship Stadium | 5,000 | 2016 | Former USL affiliate of LAFC. |
Club | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
National Independent Soccer Association | ||||
California United Strikers FC | Championship Soccer Stadium | 5,000 | 2017 | |
Los Angeles Force | Rio Hondo Stadium | 1,000 | 2019 |
The launch of Major League Soccer in 1996 included the newly formed Los Angeles Galaxy as one of the founding teams. LA Soccer Partners were the original owners; Anschutz Entertainment Group is the current owner. The Galaxy won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2000. [9]
Season | Conf | Pos | League Record | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | CONCACAF Champions League | Top scorer | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plyd | Won | Lost | Drew | F | A | Pts | Name | Goals | ||||||
1996 | West | 1st | 32 | 19 | 13 | 0 | 59 | 49 | 49 | Final | Did not enter | Did not qualify | Eduardo Hurtado | 21 |
1997 | West | 2nd | 32 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 55 | 44 | 44 | Conference Semifinal | Did not enter | Final | Welton | 11 |
1998 | West | 1st | 32 | 24 | 8 | 0 | 85 | 44 | 68 | Conference Semifinal | Did not enter | Did not enter | Cobi Jones | 19 |
1999 | West | 1st | 32 | 20 | 12 | 0 | 49 | 29 | 54 | Final | Quarterfinal | Did not qualify | Cobi Jones Carlos Hermosillo | 8 |
2000 | West | 2nd | 32 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 47 | 37 | 50 | Semifinal | Semifinal | Champions | Cobi Jones | 7 |
2001 | West | 1st | 26 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 52 | 36 | 47 | Final | Champions | Not Held | Luis Hernández | 8 |
2002 | West | 1st | 28 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 44 | 33 | 51 | Champions | Final | Did not qualify | Carlos Ruiz | 24 |
2003 | West | 4th | 30 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 35 | 35 | 36 | Conference Semifinal | Semifinal | Quarterfinal | Carlos Ruiz | 15 |
2004 | West | 2nd | 30 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 42 | 40 | 43 | Conference Semifinal | Fourth round | Did not qualify | Carlos Ruiz | 11 |
2005 | West | 4th | 32 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 44 | 45 | 45 | Champions | Champions | Did not qualify | Landon Donovan | 12 |
2006 | West | 5th | 32 | 11 | 15 | 6 | 37 | 37 | 39 | Did not qualify | Final | Quarterfinal | Landon Donovan | 12 |
2007 | West | 5th | 30 | 9 | 14 | 7 | 38 | 48 | 34 | Did not qualify | Third round | Did not qualify | Landon Donovan | 8 |
2008 | West | 6th | 30 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 55 | 62 | 33 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Landon Donovan | 20 |
2009 | West | 1st | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 36 | 31 | 48 | Final | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Landon Donovan | 12 |
2010 | West | 1st | 30 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 44 | 26 | 59 | Conference Final | Quarterfinal | Preliminary round | Edson Buddle | 19 |
2011 | West | 1st | 34 | 19 | 5 | 10 | 48 | 28 | 67 | Champions | Quarterfinal | Quarterfinal | Landon Donovan | 12 |
2012 | West | 4th | 34 | 16 | 12 | 6 | 59 | 47 | 54 | Champions | Third round | Semifinal | Robbie Keane | 16 |
2013 | West | 3rd | 34 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 53 | 38 | 53 | Conference Semifinal | Third round | Quarterfinal | Robbie Keane | 16 |
2014 | West | 2nd | 34 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 69 | 37 | 61 | Champions | Fifth round | Did not qualify | Robbie Keane | 19 |
2015 | West | 5th | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 56 | 46 | 51 | Knockout round | Quarterfinal | Quarterfinal | Robbie Keane | 20 |
2016 | West | 3rd | 34 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 54 | 39 | 52 | Conference Semifinal | Semifinal | Did not qualify | Giovani dos Santos | 14 |
2017 | West | 11th | 34 | 8 | 18 | 8 | 45 | 67 | 32 | Did not qualify | Quarterfinal | Did not qualify | Romain Alessandrini | 13 |
2018 | West | 7th | 34 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 66 | 64 | 48 | Did not qualify | Round of 16 | Did not qualify | Zlatan Ibrahimović | 22 |
2019 | West | 5th | 34 | 16 | 15 | 3 | 56 | 55 | 51 | Conference Semifinal | Round of 16 | Did not qualify | Zlatan Ibrahimović | 30 |
2020 | West | 10th | 22 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 27 | 46 | 22 | Did not qualify | Cancaled | Did not qualify | Cristian Pavón | 10 |
2021 | West | 8th | 34 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 50 | 54 | 48 | Did not qualify | Cancaled | Did not qualify | Chicharito | 17 |
2022 | West | 4th | 34 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 58 | 51 | 50 | Conference Semifinals | Quarter-final | Did not qualify | Chicharito | 17 |
2023 | West | 13th | 34 | 8 | 14 | 12 | 51 | 67 | 36 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Tyler Boyd Ricard Puig | 7 |
Season | Conf | Pos | League Record | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | CONCACAF Champions League | Top scorer | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plyd | Won | Lost | Drew | F | A | Pts | Name | Goals | ||||||
2018 | West | 3rd | 34 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 68 | 52 | 57 | Knockout round | Semifinal | Did not qualify | Carlos Vela | 14 |
2019 | West | 1st | 34 | 21 | 4 | 9 | 85 | 37 | 72 | Conference Final | Quarterfinal | Did not qualify | Carlos Vela | 34 |
2020 | West | 7th | 22 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 47 | 39 | 32 | First Round | Canceled [10] | Runner-up | Diego Rossi | 14 |
2021 | West | 9th | 34 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 53 | 51 | 45 | Did Not Qualify | Canceled | N/A | Cristian Arango | 14 |
2022 | West | 1st | 34 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 66 | 38 | 67 | Champions | Round of 16 | N/A | Cristian Arango | 16 |
2023 | West | 3rd | 34 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 54 | 39 | 52 | Runners-up | Round of 16 | Runners-up | Denis Bouanga | 20 |
Season | Pos | League Record | Playoffs | Challenge Cup | Top scorer | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plyd | Won | Lost | Drew | F | A | Pts | Name | Goals | ||||
2022 | 8th | 22 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 23 | 27 | 29 | Did not qualify | 4th, West Division | Savannah McCaskill | 6 |
2023 | 5th | 22 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 31 | 30 | 31 | First Round | 2nd, West Division | Savannah McCaskill | 6 |
The rivalry ended in 2014 when Chivas ceased operations.
Los Angeles FC joined the league in 2018 and a crosstown rivalry, El Tráfico, was created. [11]
Teams in bold are still active.
Team | D1 Regular season | U.S. Open Cup | D1 Playoffs | CONCACAF Champions League | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
LA Galaxy | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 13 |
Los Angeles Aztecs | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Los Angeles FC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Los Angeles Wolves | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
California Surf | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Chivas USA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
June 10, 1966 | Bayern Munich (Bundesliga) | 3–3 | Orange County Soccer Club (Continental League) | Santa Ana, CA |
Stadium: Santa Ana Stadium |
April 24, 1988 | C.D. Guadalajara (Primera División de México) | 5–4 | United States (United States Soccer Federation) | Santa Ana, CA |
Stadium: Santa Ana Stadium |
August 28, 1988 | Club Sport Herediano (Primera División de Costa Rica) | 1–0 | Club Deportivo Olimpia (Liga Nacional de Honduras) | Santa Ana, CA |
Stadium: Santa Ana Stadium |
January 13, 1989 | Club América (Liga MX) | 2–1 | Bayern Munich (Bundesliga) | Santa Ana, CA |
Stadium: Santa Ana Stadium Attendance: 11,500 |
November 16, 2015 | Atlético Marte (Salvadoran Primera División) | 2–4 | Orange County Blues FC (USL) | Santa Ana, CA |
Stadium: Santa Ana Stadium Attendance: 1,684 |
In 2009, Los Angeles became home to a third top-level professional team, the Los Angeles Sol, a charter member of Women's Professional Soccer. WPS was the second attempt to establish a fully professional women's league in the U.S., after the demise of the Women's United Soccer Association (which did not have an L.A. representative). The Sol shared The Home Depot Center, now known as Dignity Health Sports Park, with the Galaxy and Chivas USA, before ceasing operations in January 2010.[ citation needed ]
WPS folded after the 2011 season; its effective successor, the National Women's Soccer League, does not currently have a fully operational franchise in Los Angeles, nor in California. In July 2020, a then-unnamed team backed by an almost all-female ownership group was announced as a new NWSL member. The team, later unveiled as Angel City FC, plans to start play in 2022 at Banc of California Stadium, home to Los Angeles FC of MLS.
Although the area does not have any current professional indoor soccer teams, Los Angeles has hosted three. The Los Angeles Aztecs played one tournament and two seasons in the NASL Indoor leagues in 1975 and from 1979 to 1981. The Los Angeles Lazers played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1982 to 1989. Finally, the Los Angeles United played a single season in the Continental Indoor Soccer League in 1994 before being relocated to Anaheim.
The LA Galaxy, originally known as the Los Angeles Galaxy, are an American professional soccer club based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. The Galaxy began play in 1996 as one of the league's ten charter members.
Dignity Health Sports Park is a multi-use sports complex located on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills in Carson, California. The complex consists of the 27,000-seat Dignity Health Sports Park soccer stadium, the Dignity Health Sports Park tennis stadium, a track-and-field facility, and the VELO Sports Center velodrome. It is approximately 14 miles (23 km) south of downtown Los Angeles, and its primary tenant is the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer (MLS). The main stadium was also home to the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL in 2020. The LA Galaxy II of MLS Next Pro play their home matches at the complex's track and field facility. For 2020 and 2021, the stadium served as the temporary home of the San Diego State Aztecs football team.
Paul David Caligiuri is an American former professional soccer player who played as a defensive midfielder.
Martín Vásquez Gómez is an American former professional soccer player. The first of five players to have played for both the United States and Mexico, he has served as a coach since retiring. He is currently an assistant coach for USL Championship club Sacramento Republic.
Michael Alejandro Muñoz is an American soccer coach and former player. He currently works for Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy as the Director of Methodology and Development overseeing all LA Galaxy Academy decisions.
FC Santa Clarita (FCSC) is an American soccer team based in Santa Clarita, California, United States. FC Santa Clarita also known as the Santa Clarita Storm make just north of Los Angeles home, as they compete in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL). Santa Clarita FC announced they joined the UPSL’s Western Conference November 5, 2014. The team is owned by American businessman Gary Brunner, President and CEO of United Sports International Inc. The team is Santa Clarita’s only sports franchise calling the area home with the encouragement and support of the city.
Chivas USA was an American professional football club that was based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California. The club played from 2005 to 2014 in Major League Soccer (MLS) and was a subsidiary of Mexican club C.D. Guadalajara, sharing common ownership and branding.
Paolo Daniel Cardozo is a Uruguayan footballer who plays for Olympians FC in the United Premier Soccer League.
Santa Ana Winds FC, also known as Winds FC, is a soccer team founded in Santa Ana, California, and a founding United Premier Soccer League club currently playing at the Lake Forest Sports Park, with occasional matches played at Championship Stadium at the Orange County Great Park. The club takes its name from a Southern California weather condition known as the Santa Ana winds. Santa Ana Winds FC, an elite amateur and professional development club, has played international development squads in the past, namely matches against a Club Atlas U-20 squad in March 2011, and a Chivas de Guadalajara U-20 squad in November 2011. On November 18, 2017, the club made history by qualifying to the 2018 U.S. Open Cup for the first time. On Tuesday, June 5, 2018, Winds FC winger Juan Arellano became the first player to transfer directly from Santa Ana Winds FC to an international professional club.
L.A. Wolves FC is an American amateur soccer club based in Torrance, California. They are named after the Los Angeles Wolves who played in the United Soccer Association in 1967 and in the North American Soccer League in 1968.
The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) is an American for-profit soccer league that was founded in Santa Ana in Southern California, with teams in regionalized conferences throughout the United States, and recently Canada and Mexico. The league was founded in 2011 by Santa Ana Winds President Leonel López as a regional league for teams in Greater Los Angeles, but expanded to include 400 teams from 41 states as of the 2022 season.
Santa Ana Stadium, also known as Eddie West Field or the Santa Ana Bowl, is a city-owned and operated 9,000-capacity American football and soccer stadium located in downtown Santa Ana. The field was named after Eddie West, a writer for the Orange County Register and tireless supporter of the Santa Ana College Dons and all Orange County sports.
La Máquina is an American amateur football club, based out of the Santa Ana, California area, in central Orange County, competing in the United Premier Soccer League. The club takes its name and identity from Cruz Azul of Liga MX, and was formed as a branch of the Irvine Premier Soccer Club's FC Golden State, for competing in the UPSL.
Orange County FC is an American soccer club based in Lake Forest, California, that currently plays in the United Premier Soccer League. They previously played in the National Premier Soccer League and SoCal Premier League. The club's colors are light blue and white. NPSL home matches are currently played at Portola High School.
Oxnard Guerreros FC is a semi-professional men's soccer club based in Oxnard, California. The club currently competes in the National Premier Soccer League in the Southwest Conference, having joined the league as an expansion team in 2016. The Guerreros joined the United Premier Soccer League Socal North Division 1 as an expansion team in 2019.
California United Strikers FC is an American professional soccer club based in Orange County, California.
El Tráfico, also known as the Los Angeles Derby, is a soccer rivalry between the two Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs based in the Greater Los Angeles area, the LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC. The rivalry is one of two crosstown derbies in MLS, alongside the Hudson River Derby in the New York City area, and replaced the SuperClasico between the LA Galaxy and the now-defunct Chivas USA.
The 2019–20 California United Strikers FC season was the club's inaugural season in the National Independent Soccer Association, a newly established third division soccer league in the United States.
The 2019–20 San Diego 1904 FC season was the club's first ever and its first in the newly created National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), a newly established third division soccer league in the United States.
The 2022 Leagues Cup Showcase was a friendly edition of the Leagues Cup, an annual soccer competition between clubs from Major League Soccer and Liga MX in North America. The event featured five matches between MLS and Liga MX sides, played in August and September 2022. It served as a one-time replacement of the previously-planned 2022 Leagues Cup, which was not held due to fixture congestion from the 2022 FIFA World Cup and other factors.