This is a list of American soccer clubs in international competitions. American clubs have participated in competitive international soccer competitions since 1963, when New York Hungaria entered the 1963 CONCACAF Champions' Cup.
Unlike other major professional sports leagues in the United States, the winners of Major League Soccer and National Women's Soccer League are not universally considered to be world champions in their respective sport. Yearly, MLS and NWSL teams will compete against other soccer clubs abroad in competitions to determine the champions of North America, the Americas, and the world.
Since 1963, American men's soccer clubs have won three CONCACAF Champions' Cup/Champions League titles, and finished runners-up five times. since 2024 Women's clubs competed in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup.Gotham FC won the inaugural 2024–25 CONCACAF W Champions Cup.
Qualification for CONCACAF competitions
Men's clubs
For the CONCACAF Champions Cup, up to nine American soccer clubs are eligible for entry into the competition. Starting in 2024, all MLS clubs (United States or Canada based) may qualify through MLS or Leagues Cup.[1]
Competition
|
Details
|
Since
|
Eligible clubs
|
Ref.
|
MLS Cup champion |
Major League Soccer (Division I) championship |
1996 |
MLS-only |
[2]
|
Supporters' Shield winner |
Major League Soccer regular season winner |
2006 |
[3]
|
Conference regular season winner |
MLS Conference regular season champion of conference opposite of Shield winner |
2014 |
[4][5]
|
Next best clubs |
Two highest-ranked clubs in MLS regular season standings that have not already qualified |
2023 |
[1]
|
Leagues Cup champion, runner-up, and third-place finisher |
Competition between clubs from MLS and Liga MX |
2023 |
[1]
|
U.S. Open Cup champion |
Domestic cup competition |
1963 |
All U.S. clubs |
[6]
|
If one (or more) MLS club(s) were to qualify through multiple methods, then the next MLS club(s) with the most overall table points, regardless of conference, would qualify in the remaining slot(s). If the U.S. Open Cup champion has qualified through multiple methods, then the runner-up would fill the slot; should the runner-up have already qualified, then the next best MLS club in the overall table would earn the slot. If the Leagues Cup champion were to win the MLS Cup, then the MLS Cup runner-up would qualify to the round of 16; should the Leagues Cup slot(s) have already qualified, then MLS would be awarded with one additional slot to be given to the next best non-qualified team in the overall table.[7]
In past competitions, such as the North American SuperLiga (held from 2007 to 2010), the best teams based on regular season record to not qualify for the Champions League participated.[8]
Leagues Cup
For the 2025 Leagues Cup 18 Major League Soccer clubs that reached 2024 MLS Cup playoffs qualified, with one exception. San Diego FC replaced Vancouver Whitecaps who competed in two other cup competitions in 2025.[9]
Women's clubs
For the CONCACAF W Champions Cup, three American soccer clubs qualify.
Competition
|
Details
|
Since
|
Eligible clubs
|
ref
|
National Women's Soccer League playoff champion |
National Women's Soccer League (Women's Division 1) championship |
2023 |
NWSL |
[10]
|
National Women's Soccer League Sheild winners |
National Women's Soccer League regular season winners |
2023 |
|
National Women's Soccer League Shield runners-up |
NWSL that finished second in regular season |
2023 |
|
Cups and finals
Men's Competitive tournaments
CONCACAF Champions' Cup / Champions League
North American SuperLiga (defunct)
CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup / Giants Cup (defunct)
Copa Interamericana (defunct)
Leagues Cup
FIFA Club World Championship / Club World Cup
No American club has reached the final of the FIFA Club World Cup or the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. The furthest a club has reached is the round of 16 by Inter Miami CF in the 2025 edition.
Friendly tournaments
Emirates Cup
International Champions Cup
La Manga Cup (defunct)
Team
|
Winners
|
Runners-up
|
Years won
|
Years runner-up
|
MetroStars |
1 |
0 |
2004 |
|
Pan-Pacific Championship (defunct)
Women's tournaments
CONCACAF W Champions Cup
NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup
Full international record
Competitive tournaments only.
FIFA Club World Championship / Club World Cup
Copa Interamericana (defunct)
CONCACAF Champions' Cup / Champions League
The competition was named CONCACAF Champions' Cup until 2008 and CONCACAF Champions League until 2024, when it was renamed back to CONCACAF Champions Cup.
North American SuperLiga (defunct)
Year
|
Team
|
Progress
|
Result
|
Opponent(s)
|
2007 |
D.C. United |
Semi-finals |
0–2 |
LA Galaxy
|
FC Dallas |
4th in group stage |
— |
Guadalajara, LA Galaxy, Pachuca
|
Houston Dynamo |
Semi-finals |
2–2 (3–4 p) |
Pachuca
|
LA Galaxy |
Final |
1–1 (3–4 p) |
Pachuca
|
2008 |
Chivas USA |
3rd in group stage |
— |
New England Revolution, Pachuca, Santos Laguna
|
D.C. United |
4th in group stage |
— |
Atlante, Guadalajara, Houston Dynamo
|
Houston Dynamo |
Final |
2–2 (5–6 p) |
New England Revolution
|
New England Revolution |
Winners |
2–2 (6–5 p) |
Houston Dynamo
|
2009 |
Chicago Fire |
Final |
1–1 (3–4 p) |
UANL
|
Chivas USA |
4th in group stage |
— |
Chicago Fire, San Luis, UANL
|
Kansas City Wizards |
4th in group stage |
— |
Atlas, New England Revolution, Santos Laguna
|
New England Revolution |
Semi-finals |
1–2 |
Chicago Fire
|
2010 |
Chicago Fire |
3rd in group stage |
— |
Morelia, New England Revolution, UNAM
|
Chivas USA |
3rd in group stage |
— |
Houston Dynamo, Pachuca, Puebla
|
Houston Dynamo |
Semi-finals |
0–1 |
Morelia
|
New England Revolution |
Final |
1–2 |
Morelia
|
CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup / Giants Cup (defunct)
Campeones Cup
Leagues Cup
Year
|
Team
|
Progress
|
Result
|
Opponents
|
2019 |
Chicago Fire |
Quarter-finals |
0–2 |
Cruz Azul
|
Houston Dynamo |
Quarter-finals |
1–1 (5–6 p) |
América
|
LA Galaxy |
Semi-finals |
1–2 |
Cruz Azul
|
Real Salt Lake |
Quarter-finals |
0–1 |
UANL
|
2020 |
D.C. United |
Canceled
|
LA Galaxy
|
Minnesota United FC
|
New York Red Bulls
|
Philadelphia Union
|
Portland Timbers
|
Real Salt Lake
|
2021 |
New York City FC |
Quarter-finals |
1–1 (2–3 p) |
UNAM
|
Orlando City SC |
Quarter-finals |
0–1 |
Santos Laguna
|
Seattle Sounders FC |
Final |
2–3 |
León
|
Sporting Kansas City |
Quarter-finals |
1–6 |
León
|
in 2023 & 2024, all MLS clubs qualified.
|
2025
|
Atlanta United FC |
League stage |
— |
Necaxa, UNAM, Atlas
|
FC Cincinnati |
League stage |
— |
Monterrey, Juárez, Guadalajara
|
Columbus Crew |
League stage |
— |
Toluca, Puebla, León
|
Charlotte FC |
League stage |
— |
Juárez, Guadalajara, Monterrey
|
Colorado Rapids |
League stage |
— |
Santos Laguna, Tijuana, Cruz Azul
|
Houston Dynamo FC |
League stage |
— |
UANL, Mazatlán, Pachuca
|
LA Galaxy |
|
|
|
Los Angeles FC |
League stage |
— |
Mazatlán, Pachuca, UANL
|
Inter Miami CF |
|
|
|
Minnesota United FC |
League stage |
— |
Queretaro, América, Atlético San Luis
|
New York City FC |
League stage |
— |
Puebla, León, Toluca
|
New York Red Bulls |
League stage |
— |
Guadalajara, Monterrey, Juárez
|
Orlando City SC |
|
|
|
Portland Timbers |
League stage |
— |
Atlético San Luis, Queretaro, América
|
Real Salt Lake |
League stage |
— |
América, Atlético San Luis, Queretaro
|
Seattle Sounders FC |
|
|
|
San Diego FC |
League stage |
— |
Pachuca, UANL, Mazatlán
|
Copa Sudamericana
Copa Merconorte (defunct)
CONCACAF W Champions Cup
FIFA Women's Champions Cup
FIFA Women's Club World Cup
Appearances in CONCACAF competitions
Men's clubs
As of March 11, 2021.
Women's clubs
Summer Olympics
Notes
- ^
For statistical purposes if a team withdrew or forfeited a match, each match that was withdrawn or forfeited is counted as a loss. Double forfeits are counted as a draw. Finally, matches where a team advanced because their opponent with draw are counted as a win for each match their opponent withdrew.
- ^
FC Dallas were called the
Dallas Burn from 1996–2004.
[11]
- ^
New York Red Bulls were called the
MetroStars from 1994–2006.
[12]
- ^
This includes CONCACAF and international records collectively held by the
NASL Sounders,
USL Sounders, and the
MLS Sounders.
- ^
Sporting Kansas City were called the
Kansas City Wiz from 1995–1996, and
Kansas City Wizards from 1996–2011.
[13]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Concacaf announces qualification criteria for Confederation's expanded Champions League starting in 2024". CONCACAF. June 30, 2022 [First published June 1, 2022]. Archived from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
- ^ "2011–12 Champions League Qualification". CONCACAF. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "Colorado clinch spot in 2017 CONCACAF Champions League, joining Dallas, TFC". MLSsoccer.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
- ^ "Portland Timbers headed to 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League after USSF rule change approved". mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on March 26, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
- ^ "CONCACAF Approves U.S. Soccer's/MLS Request to Amend Their Qualification Process to CONCACAF Champions League". CONCACAF.com. December 13, 2013. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- ^ "Qualifying Format Unveiled for 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League" (Press release). New York City: Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football. May 14, 2008. Archived from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
- ^ "2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Regulations" (PDF). Concacaf. October 25, 2023. pp. 14–19. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 26, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ "MLS announces competition changes for 2009". November 21, 2008. Archived from the original on February 15, 2009. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
- ^ Benatar, Orri (January 29, 2025). "MLS adjusts cup qualifying criteria, sending Crew to Leagues Cup and Crew 2 to U.S. Open Cup". Yahoo Sports.
- ^ "Concacaf launches region's first official women's continental club competition with annual W Champions Cup". CONCACAF. March 12, 2024 [First published March 12, 2024]. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
- ^ Hall, Cheryl (July 13, 2013). "Lamar Hunt's soccer vision a pipe dream no more, sons say". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on July 15, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
- ^ Jensen, Ric; Wang, Yawei (January 7, 2008). "How Do Fans React When Sports Teams Are Named After Corporations?". The Sport Journal. Archived from the original on February 22, 2008. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ "Pro Lax in Kansas City?!". Central Iowa Lacrosse & Sports Ramblings. November 22, 2010. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013.
External links
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Outdoor leagues | Professional | |
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