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.
History
Soccer in Los Angeles began in the 20th century when the Southern California Football League was founded in 1902.
Historic clubs
Los Angeles Wolves
The first and only champions of the United Soccer Association (1967), predecessor to the North American Soccer League (1968–1984).
Los Angeles Kickers
The LA Kickers were the first LA area team to win the National Challenge Cup, known today as the U.S. Open Cup.
Maccabi Los Angeles
LA Maccabi won the U.S. Open Cup, known in their time as the National Challenge Cup, a record number five times.
Orange County Soccer Club
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.
Los Angeles Aztecs
The LA Aztecs won the NASL National Championship in their inaugural season, 1974. They played in many stadiums, including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Aztecs folded in 1981.
California Sunshine
The California Sunshine, an Orange County based pro team, played in the ASL.
Chivas USA
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. The team folded in 2014.
Historic season records
Los Angeles Wolves (USA and NASL) (1967–1968)
YearLeagueWLTPtsReg. seasonPlayoffsAvg. attendance1967USA552151st, Western DivisionChampions7,7771968NASL118131393rd, Pacific Divisiondid not qualify2,441
Los Angeles Aztecs (NASL) (1974–81)
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.
SeasonDivisionPositionLeague RecordPlayoffsTop scorerPWLDFAPtsNameGoals1974Western1st2011274136110ChampionsDoug McMillan101975Western3rd201127404136Conference QuarterfinalsUri Banhoffer141976Southern3rd4425614894115First roundGeorge Best151977Southern2nd2614120374437Conference FinalGeorge Best141978Western4th302190636936did not qualifyJim Rolland171979Western2nd3018120546247Conference SemifinalJohan Cruyff131980Western2nd3220120606152Conference FinalLuis Fernando281981Western2nd3220120606152First roundChris Dangerfield35
California Surf (NASL) (1978–1981)
YearLeagueWLPtsRegular seasonPlayoffsAvg. Attend.1978NASL13171152nd, American Conference, Western DivisionLost 1st Round (San Diego)11,1711979NASL15151401st(t), American Conference, Western DivisionLost 1st Round (San Diego)10,3301980NASL15171442nd, American Conference, Western DivisionLost 1st Round (Ft. Lauderdale)7,5931981NASL11211173rd, Western Divisiondid not qualify8,299
Chivas USA (MLS) (2005–2014)
SeasonConfPosLeague RecordPlayoffsU.S. Open CupCONCACAF Champions LeagueTop scorerPlydWonLostDrewFAPtsNameGoals2005West6th324226316718Did not qualifyFourth roundDid not qualifyHéctor Cuadros42006West3rd3210913454243Conference SemifinalThird roundDid not qualifyAnte Razov142007West1st301578462853Conference SemifinalThird roundDid not qualifyMaykel Galindo122008West2nd3012117404143Conference SemifinalThird roundPreliminary roundAlecko EskandarianAnte RazovSacha Kljestan52009West4th3013116343145Conference SemifinalThird roundDid not qualifyEduardo Lillingston82010West8th308184314528Did not qualifySemifinalDid not qualifyJustin Braun92011West8th3481412414336Did not qualifyDid not qualifyDid not qualifyJustin BraunNick LaBrocca92012West9th347189245830Did not qualifySemifinalDid not qualifyJuan Pablo Ángel42013West9th346208306726Did not qualifyFourth roundDid not qualifyErick Torres72014West7th349166296133Did not qualifyFourth roundDid not qualifyErick Torres15
Professional clubs, modern era Club Stadium Capacity Founded NotesMajor League Soccer (2)LA GalaxyDignity Health Sports Park 27,000 1994Los Angeles' first MLS franchise. Los Angeles FCBMO 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 NotesUSL Championship (2)Ventura County FCDignity Health Sports Park 5,000 2015USL affiliate of LA Galaxy.Orange County SCChampionship Stadium 5,000 2016Former USL affiliate of LAFC. Club Stadium Capacity Founded NotesNational Independent Soccer Association California United Strikers FCChampionship Soccer Stadium5,0002017 Los Angeles ForceRio Hondo Stadium1,0002019
LA Galaxy (MLS) (1996–present)
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.
SeasonConfPosLeague RecordPlayoffsU.S. Open CupCONCACAF Champions LeagueTop scorerPlydWonLostDrewFAPtsNameGoals1996West1st3219130594949FinalDid not enterDid not qualifyEduardo Hurtado211997West2nd3216160554444Conference SemifinalDid not enterFinalWelton111998West1st322480854468Conference SemifinalDid not enterDid not enterCobi Jones191999West1st3220120492954FinalQuarterfinalDid not qualifyCobi Jones Carlos Hermosillo82000West2nd3214108473750SemifinalSemifinalChampionsCobi Jones72001West1st261475523647FinalChampions Not HeldLuis Hernández82002West1st281693443351ChampionsFinal Did not qualifyCarlos Ruiz242003West4th309129353536Conference SemifinalSemifinalQuarterfinalCarlos Ruiz152004West2nd3011910424043Conference SemifinalFourth roundDid not qualifyCarlos Ruiz112005West4th3213136444545ChampionsChampions Did not qualifyLandon Donovan122006West5th3211156373739Did not qualifyFinal QuarterfinalLandon Donovan122007West5th309147384834Did not qualifyThird roundDid not qualifyLandon Donovan82008West6th308139556233Did not qualifyDid not qualifyDid not qualifyLandon Donovan202009West1st3012612363148FinalDid not qualifyDid not qualifyLandon Donovan122010West1st301875442659Conference FinalQuarterfinalPreliminary roundEdson Buddle192011West1st3419510482867ChampionsQuarterfinalQuarterfinalLandon Donovan122012West4th3416126594754ChampionsThird roundSemifinalRobbie Keane162013West3rd3415118533853Conference SemifinalThird roundQuarterfinalRobbie Keane162014West2nd3417710693761ChampionsFifth roundDid not qualifyRobbie Keane192015West5th3414119564651Knockout roundQuarterfinalQuarterfinalRobbie Keane202016West3rd3412616543952Conference SemifinalSemifinalDid not qualifyGiovani dos Santos142017West11th348188456732Did not qualifyQuarterfinalDid not qualifyRomain Alessandrini132018West7th3413129666448Did not qualifyRound of 16Did not qualifyZlatan Ibrahimović222019West5th3416153565551Conference SemifinalRound of 16Did not qualifyZlatan Ibrahimović302020West10th226124274622Did not qualifyCancaledDid not qualifyCristian Pavón102021West8th3413129505448Did not qualifyCancaledDid not qualifyChicharito172022West4th3414128585150Conference SemifinalsQuarter-finalDid not qualifyChicharito172023West13th3481412516736Did not qualifyDid not qualifyDid not qualifyTyler BoydRicard Puig7
Los Angeles FC (MLS) (2018–present)
SeasonConfPosLeague RecordPlayoffsU.S. Open CupCONCACAF Champions LeagueTop scorerPlydWonLostDrewFAPtsNameGoals2018West3rd341699685257Knockout roundSemifinalDid not qualifyCarlos Vela142019West1st342149853772Conference FinalQuarterfinalDid not qualifyCarlos Vela342020West7th22985473932First RoundCanceledRunner-upDiego Rossi142021West9th3412139535145Did Not QualifyCanceledN/ACristian Arango142022West1st342194663867ChampionsRound of 16N/ACristian Arango162023West3rd34141010543952Runners-upRound of 16Runners-upDenis Bouanga20
Angel City FC (NWSL, 2022–present)
SeasonPos League Record Playoffs Challenge CupTop scorerPlydWonLostDrewFAPtsNameGoals 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
Los Angeles derbies
LA Galaxy vs Chivas USA (2008–2014)
The rivalry ended in 2014 when Chivas ceased operations.
LA Galaxy vs Los Angeles FC (2018–present)
Los Angeles FC joined the league in 2018 and a crosstown rivalry, El Tráfico, was created.
Amateur and Semi-professional
Amateur and Semi-professional leagues National Premier Soccer League United Premier Soccer League USL League Two
Amateur and Semi-professional clubs California United FC II (UPSL) Cal FC (UPSL) Club Xolos USA U-23 (NPSL) FC Golden State Force (NPSL/USL2) FC Santa Clarita (UPSL) La Máquina FC (UPSL) L.A. Wolves FC (UPSL) Orange County FC (NPSL/UPSL) Oxnard Guerreros FC (NPSL) San Nicolás FC (US Premiership) Santa Ana Winds FC (UPSL) Temecula FC (NPSL) Ventura County Fusion (USL2)
Most successful clubs overall Teams in bold are still active.
TeamD1 Regular seasonU.S. Open CupD1 PlayoffsCONCACAF Champions League Total |- LA Galaxy 4 2 6 1 13 Los Angeles FC 2 1 1 0 4 Los Angeles Aztecs 1 0 1 0 2 Los Angeles Wolves 0 0 1 0 1 California Surf 0 0 0 0 0 Chivas USA 0 0 0 0 0
Stadiums
Rose Bowl: Hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup Final Dignity Health Sports Park: Second American sports arena designed specifically for soccer in the MLS era. Used historically by the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA. BMO Stadium (formerly Banc of California Stadium): Stadium for Los Angeles FC, opened April 29, 2018. Also to be the home ground for Angel City FC once that team starts play in 2022. Santa Ana Stadium: A site for historic soccer exhibition games. The historic Orange County Soccer Club played Bayern Munich at this stadium in 1966. Other games included the following:
Women's soccer 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.
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.
Indoor soccer