10 Worst MLS Seasons Ever, Ranked by Losses
MLS history is filled with epic moments, but not every team gets to bask in glory. Some campaigns are remembered for a different reason—racking up losses at an almost painful rate. Here’s a look at ten MLS seasons in which the only consistent thing was the struggle.
New England Revolution (2024)
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The New England Revolution entered 2024 with high hopes. Caleb Porter’s debut as head coach brought early flashes of promise, but the wheels quickly fell off. The team finished last in the East with 21 losses, the fewest goals scored, and one of the league’s worst defenses.
Orlando City SC (2018)
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Orlando City SC’s 2018 season started like a rollercoaster climbing the tracks—full of anticipation—before plunging into a freefall. Interim coach Bobby Murphy barely had time to unpack before James O’Connor stepped in, but the shuffle was useless. The team crashed to 11th in the East after racking 22 losses and conceding a brutal 74 goals.
FC Cincinnati (2019)
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FC Cincinnati’s jump to MLS in 2019 didn’t go so well—22 losses, a last-place finish, and a record-setting 75 goals conceded. Alan Koch got the axe after a brutal 2-7-2 start, which left interim coach Yoann Damet and later Ron Jans to clean up the mess. Spoiler: they didn’t.
Real Salt Lake (2005)
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Five wins, 22 losses, and a 10-game losing streak made for a rough initiation for Real Salt Lake in 2005. The attack barely made a dent and scored just 30 goals all year, while the defense was in shambles, conceding 65 for a staggering -35 goal difference. It wasn’t pretty, but every expansion team has to start somewhere.
FC Cincinnati (2021)
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FC Cincinnati’s 2021 season felt like a rerun no one wanted to watch. Just like in 2019, they racked up 22 losses and finished dead last in the East with only four wins and eight draws. To top it off, they closed the season on a brutal 12-game losing streak and tied their own record for most losses in a single MLS campaign.
Chivas USA (2005)
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Chivas USA arrived in MLS in 2005, thinking they’d set the league on fire. Instead, they spent the season putting out their own flames. Their debut season was nothing short of a disaster, with just four wins, 22 losses, and a league-worst 67 goals conceded.
Kansas City Wizards (1999)
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The 1999 season for the Kansas City Wizards was a disaster from the start. Seven straight losses got head coach Ron Newman fired and left assistant Ken Fogarty to hold things together until Bob Gansler stepped in. They limped to a league-worst 8-24 record and finished dead last in the West.
D.C. United (2013)
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The 2013 season was less-than-ideal for D.C. United. Three wins, 24 losses, and a brutal 16-point finish made it one of the worst campaigns in MLS history. The attack barely showed up and scored just 22 goals. Fans suffered, players struggled, and by the end, everyone wanted it to be over.
San Jose Earthquakes (2024)
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Rock bottom doesn’t get much lower than the San Jose Earthquakes 2024 season. With 25 losses, they finished dead last in the Western Conference with just 21 points. Their defense was a turnstile, and they conceded a record-setting 78 goals, ending with a brutal -37 goal differential.
MetroStars (1999)
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Struggle is inevitable in sports, and then there was the MetroStars in 1999—a season so rough it set records for all the wrong reasons. With 25 losses, they barely scraped together seven wins. Their attack barely made a dent with 32 goals, while the defense leaked 64, ending with a painful -32 goal differential.