D.C. United facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
D.C. United

Nickname(s)	Black-and-Red Eagles
Founded	June 15, 1994; 31 years ago (1994-06-15)
Stadium	Audi Field Washington, D.C.
Stadium capacity	20,000
Owner	D.C. United Holdings
Co-chairmen	Jason Levien Stephen Kaplan
Head coach	Troy Lesesne
League	Major League Soccer
2024	Eastern Conference: 10th Overall: 20th Playoffs: Did not qualify
Home colors Away colors

D.C. United is a professional soccer team. It is based in Washington, D.C.. The club plays in Major League Soccer (MLS). They are part of the Eastern Conference.

D.C. United has won many titles. They have won four MLS Cups. They also won four Supporters' Shields. The team has won three U.S. Open Cups. They have also won six Eastern Conference championships. In international games, they won one CONCACAF Champions Cup. They also won one Copa Interamericana. D.C. United is the only U.S. team to win the Copa Interamericana. They are one of the most successful soccer clubs in American history.

The club started in 1994. It was one of the first teams in Major League Soccer. They began playing in the league's first season in 1996. The team played at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium until 2017. In 2018, they moved to their new home, Audi Field. D.C. United was a top team in the late 1990s. They won most of their trophies during this time. Famous players like Raúl Díaz Arce, Marco Etcheverry, Jaime Moreno, and Eddie Pope played for them. Coach Bruce Arena led them to many wins.

The team continued to win titles in the 2000s. They won an MLS Cup and a U.S. Open Cup. They also won two Supporters' Shields. In 2013, they won the U.S. Open Cup again. This is their most recent major trophy. From 2010 to the early 2020s, the team had mixed results. Famous players like Wayne Rooney joined the team. Young players like Bill Hamid and Andy Najar also made a big impact.

Team History

How D.C. United Started (1994-1995)

Before the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. Soccer Federation promised to create a new professional league. This league became Major League Soccer (MLS). On June 15, 1994, Washington, D.C. was chosen. It was one of the first cities to get an MLS team. The team's name, D.C. United, was chosen to sound like European clubs. It also showed that it was the capital of the United States.

The team's colors and first logo were shown in October 1995. Black and white were the main colors. Red was used as a secondary color.

Early Wins and a Dynasty (1996–1999)

The club's first season was in 1996. Bruce Arena became the head coach. He had won many college championships before. Under Arena, the team quickly became very strong. They won two MLS Cup titles. They also won a U.S. Open Cup title. They won a Supporters' Shield (for winning the regular season). They also won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup (a championship for North and Central American teams). And they won the Copa Interamericana (a championship against South American teams). All these wins happened in their first two seasons!

Key players during this time were Jaime Moreno, Marco Etcheverry, and Raul Diaz Arce. U.S. national team stars like Eddie Pope also played for D.C. United. The team's first MLS game was on April 6, 1996. They lost to the San Jose Clash (now Earthquakes). But later that year, they won the first MLS Cup. They also won the U.S. Open Cup. This was the first time a U.S. team won both in the same year. In 1997, they won the MLS Cup again. They also won their first Supporters' Shield.

In 1998, D.C. United won the Eastern Conference. But they lost in the MLS Cup final. However, they won the 1998 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. They beat a Mexican team called Toluca. They also won the 1998 Copa Interamericana. This made D.C. United the first American club to win a CONCACAF club championship. They are still the only American club to win the Copa Interamericana.

In October 1998, Coach Arena left. He became the coach for the U.S. national team. Thomas Rongen became the new coach in 1999. The team, still strong from Arena's time, won two more titles. They won their third MLS Cup against the Los Angeles Galaxy. They also won their second Supporters' Shield.

Tougher Times (2000–2003)

After Arena left, the team had some harder years. In 2000, they missed the playoffs for the first time. They also lost early in other tournaments. In 2001, they reached the finals of the CONCACAF Giants Cup. But they lost to a Mexican team. In the MLS regular season, they finished last in their conference.

After 2001, Coach Rongen was replaced by Ray Hudson. In 2002, D.C. United had their worst season. They finished last in the whole MLS. They scored very few goals. But some young players like Santino Quaranta and Nick Rimando showed promise. In 2003, the team got better. They made it to the playoffs. But they lost to the Chicago Fire. After this season, Hudson was replaced by Piotr Nowak.

Nowak Era and More Success (2004–2006)

Under Coach Nowak, the team had a great season in 2004. They drafted Freddy Adu, a very young soccer star. He became the youngest player in a U.S. professional sport since 1887. Adu, along with players like Christian Gómez and Moreno, helped the team. They reached the playoffs. They won the Eastern Conference Final in a thrilling game. Then, they beat the Kansas City Wizards to win MLS Cup 2004. This was their fourth MLS Cup title. It is their most recent one.

D.C. United won the 2004 Eastern Conference championship in what has been called one of the best games in MLS history.

After their 2004 win, D.C. United was a top MLS team for several years. In 2005, they were the first U.S. team to play in the Copa Sudamericana. In 2006, the MLS All-Star Team, coached by Nowak and including eight United players, beat English champions Chelsea. In 2006, United also won their third Supporters' Shield.

Soehn Era and a U.S. Open Cup (2007–2009)

Nowak left to coach the U.S. national team. His assistant, Tom Soehn, became the new head coach in 2007. The team, still strong from Nowak's work, had a very successful regular season. Players like Luciano Emilio and Ben Olsen led the way. They won the Supporters' Shield for a record fourth time. This was also their second win in a row. They set a club record for points.

After 2007, the team missed the MLS Cup Playoffs for five seasons. But in 2008, they won the U.S. Open Cup. This was their only major title during this time. After the 2009 season, Soehn resigned. He had won two major titles in three seasons.

Olsen Era (2010–2020)

Andy Najar (pictured), was one of the first Homegrown Players in D.C. United history. Najar won the 2010 Rookie of the Year Award.

Curt Onalfo became the head coach in 2010. The team had a very bad start to the season. In August 2010, Onalfo was fired. Former player Ben Olsen became the interim manager. The team finished the 2010 season with a very poor record. However, two young players from the club's youth academy stood out. Bill Hamid became the starting goalkeeper. Andy Najar won the MLS Rookie of the Year Award. This was a first for a "homegrown" player.

Olsen became the full-time coach in 2011. He focused on a strong defense and quick counter-attacks. People called his style "Bennyball." During his time as coach, the team made the playoffs six times. They reached the Eastern Conference final once. They also won one major title: the U.S. Open Cup in 2013. They played in the CONCACAF Champions League twice, reaching the quarterfinals both times.

In 2011, the team got new players like Perry Kitchen and Dwayne De Rosario. De Rosario won the MLS Most Valuable Player Award. In 2012, new owners Jason Levien and Erick Thohir joined. Their goal was to build a new stadium for the team. On the field, the team improved a lot. They finished third in the league and second in the East. They beat their rivals, the New York Red Bulls, in the playoffs. But they lost in the Eastern Conference final.

In 2013, the team's budget was tight. They used many reserve and academy players. As a result, they won only three games all season. This was a record for the fewest wins in league history. But despite this, D.C. United won the U.S. Open Cup final. This was their most recent major trophy. This win also gave them a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League.

In 2014, D.C. United had a huge comeback. They finished first in the Eastern Conference. They also went undefeated in the CONCACAF Champions League group stage. This was a first for an American club. Coach Olsen won the MLS Coach of the Year Award.

Wayne Rooney (pictured), led the team in scoring during the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

In the later part of Olsen's time, the team made the playoffs four times. But they never got past the Conference Semifinals. In 2016, the club showed a new logo. In 2018, they opened their new stadium, Audi Field. Famous players like Wayne Rooney joined the team. In October 2020, Ben Olsen was no longer the coach. He had been the head coach for 10 seasons, a club record.

Recent Years (Since 2021)

In 2021, D.C. United hired Hernán Losada as coach. He changed the team's style to be more attacking. The team missed the playoffs by a small amount in 2021. But Losada was fired in April 2022. This was due to disagreements and poor results.

After Losada, former player Wayne Rooney became the coach in July 2022. The team finished last in 2022. In 2023, the team improved their record. But it wasn't enough to make the playoffs. So, Rooney was also fired. In November 2023, Ally Mackay became the new General Manager. Troy Lesesne became the head coach in January 2024.

Team Colors and Badge

D.C. United's main colors are black and white. Red is used as an accent color. The team's nickname is "Black-and-Red." The three stripes on the uniform are from Adidas, the uniform maker. In 2011, the team added a red third uniform. The white and red colors are also found on the flag of Washington, D.C..

The team's first logo was used in 1996. It had the team's name above a black bald eagle. The eagle was facing right. It had three soccer balls over three white stars. These stars and balls stood for the three areas around Washington, D.C. The eagle showed speed and power.

The logo was changed in 1998. The eagle now faced left. It had three raised wing feathers instead of stars below it. A gold star and a soccer ball in the center showed their 1996 MLS Cup win. The logo can also have four silver stars above it. These stars represent the four MLS Cups the team has won.

In 2015, D.C. United showed an updated logo. It has a design inspired by the D.C. flag across the eagle. It also has new text and more dynamic wings.

Team Sponsors

A company called Guidehouse became the jersey sponsor in February 2024. This is a multi-year partnership.

Home Stadiums

RFK Stadium (1996–2017)

RFK Stadium was the first home to D.C. United

Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium (RFK) was D.C. United's home. They played there from 1996 until the end of 2017. The team's training complex is also near the stadium.

RFK was built in 1961. It was used for both baseball and American football. Before 1996, it also hosted some soccer games. This included matches during the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Audi Field (2018–present)

D.C. United moved to Audi Field in 2018

Audi Field is a stadium built just for soccer. It is in Southwest, Washington, D.C.. It can hold 20,000 fans. The first game there was on July 14, 2018. The car company Audi owns the naming rights. They signed a 12-year contract in 2017.

Plans for a new stadium started in 2006. A deal for the stadium was announced in 2013. It would cost $300 million. Construction began in 2017. The stadium officially opened in July 2018.

Other Places They've Played

D.C. United has also used other stadiums. They play Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup games at university stadiums. These include Klöckner Stadium in Virginia and George Mason Stadium in Virginia. They also use the Maryland SoccerPlex for early-round games. In 2018, they played an MLS game at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. This was while Audi Field was being built. Sometimes, they play exhibition games or regular season matches at FedExField in Maryland.

Club Culture

Fans and Mascot

D.C. United's mascot, Talon.

D.C. United has several main fan groups. These include La Barra Brava, the Screaming Eagles, and District Ultras. All these groups stand together at the north end of Audi Field. La Barra Brava means "The Brave Fans" in Spanish. It was started in 1995 by Latino fans. They wanted to bring a South American style to home games.

D.C. United's mascot is Talon. Talon is a bald eagle in a costume.

Team Rivalries

D.C. United's main rival is the New York Red Bulls. They play each year for the Atlantic Cup. This cup goes to the team that earns the most points in their games that season. D.C. United also has a rivalry with the New England Revolution. They also have a growing rivalry with the Philadelphia Union. These two cities are only 120 miles apart. D.C. United also has a unique rivalry with the Charleston Battery. They play for the Coffee Pot Cup.

Team Ownership

When the league started in 1995, George Soros was the main financial supporter. Over the years, the team's ownership changed. In 2007, a new group called D.C. United Holdings bought the team. This group included Will Chang. In 2012, Erick Thohir and Jason Levien joined as partners. They wanted to make United a global brand. They also wanted to build a soccer-specific stadium.

In recent years, more investors have joined the ownership group. These include NFL player Mark Ingram II and rapper Yo Gotti.

How to Watch and Listen

Television

Most D.C. United games are now shown on Apple TV. This is part of a league-wide deal. Before this, games were shown on NBC Sports Washington. They also had a controversial deal with a streaming service called FloSports in 2019. Fans did not like the high price and technical issues.

Radio

You can listen to D.C. United games on iHeartMedia radio stations. The English broadcast is usually the same as the TV commentary. You can also listen on iHeartRadio.

Players

Current Roster

No. Position Player 3 DF Lucas Bartlett 4 MF Matti Peltola 5 MF Boris Enow 8 MF Jared Stroud 10 MF Gabriel Pirani 12 DF Conner Antley 16 DF Garrison Tubbs 17 FW Jacob Murrell 20 FW Christian Benteke (captain)

No. Position Player 21 MF Theodore Ku-DiPietro 22 DF Aaron Herrera 23 FW Dominique Badji 25 MF Jackson Hopkins 28 DF David Schnegg 43 MF Mateusz Klich 45 DF Matai Akinmboni GK Jordan Farr

Players on Loan

No. Position Player 27 FW Kristian Fletcher (on loan to Nottingham Forest)

Youth Academy

Bill Hamid was D.C.'s first Academy signing.

The D.C. United Academy is the team's youth program. It helps young players develop their skills. The program includes the Loudoun United FC team. It also has academy teams for different age groups. These teams play in MLS Next.

Some famous players who came from the D.C. United Academy include Bill Hamid. He has played for the U.S. national team. Andy Najar also came from the academy. He has played for the Honduras national team.

Team Management

Front office
Chairman	Jason Levien
Co-Chairman	Stephen Kaplan
President of Business Operations	Danita Johnson
General Manager & Chief Soccer Officer	Ally Mackay
Assistant General manager	Caleb Shreve
Senior Consultant	Dave Kasper
Director of Player Personnel	Clarens Cheridieu
Chief Marketing Officer	Lisa Franklin
Chief Financial Officer	Dan Franceschini
Chief Communications Officer	Sam Legg
Coaching staff
Head coach	Troy Lesesne
Assistant coach	Alex Martínez
Assistant coach	Zach Prince
Head of goalkeeping	Cody Mizell

Head Coaches Through the Years

Name	Nationality	Years Coached	Major Wins
Bruce Arena	USA	1996–1998	1996 U.S. Open Cup 1996 MLS Cup 1997 MLS Cup 1997 Supporters' Shield 1998 CONCACAF Champions' Cup 1998 Copa Interamericana
Thomas Rongen	NED	1999–2001	1999 MLS Cup 1999 Supporters' Shield
Ray Hudson	ENG	2002–2003	None
Piotr Nowak	POL	2004–2006	2004 MLS Cup 2006 Supporters' Shield
Tom Soehn	USA	2007–2009	2007 Supporters' Shield 2008 U.S. Open Cup
Curt Onalfo	USA	2010	None
Ben Olsen	USA	2010–2020	2013 U.S. Open Cup
Hernán Losada	ARG	2021–2022	None
Wayne Rooney	ENG	2022–2023	None
Troy Lesesne	USA	2024–

Team Honors (Trophies Won)

D.C. United trophy collection as of 2007.

Team Records

Season Performance

This table shows how D.C. United has performed in recent seasons.

Season	League											Position		Playoffs	USOC	Continental / Other		Average attendance	Top goalscorer(s)
	Division	League	Played	Wins	Losses	Draws	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Diff.	Points	Points Per Game	Conference	Overall						Name(s)	Goals
2018	1	MLS	34	14	11	9	60	50	+10	51	1.50	4th	9th	Round 1	Round of 16	Did Not Qualify		17,635	Wayne Rooney	12
2019		MLS	34	13	11	10	42	38	+4	50	1.47	5th	10th	Round 1	Round of 16	Did Not Qualify		17,744	Wayne Rooney	13
2020		MLS	23	5	12	6	25	41	−16	21	0.91	13th	24th	Did Not Qualify	Not Held	Leagues Cup MLS is Back tournament	Not Held Group Stage	17,056	Ola Kamara	3
2021		MLS	34	14	15	5	56	54	+2	47	1.38	8th	16th	Did Not Qualify	Not Held	Did Not Qualify		12,791	Ola Kamara	19
2022		MLS	34	7	21	6	36	71	−35	27	0.87	14th	28th	Did Not Qualify	Round 4	Did Not Qualify		16,256	Taxiarchis Fountas	12
2023		MLS	34	10	14	10	45	49	−4	40	1.18	12th	23rd	Did Not Qualify	Round 4	Round of 32		17,540	Christian Benteke	14

1. Avg. attendance includes statistics from league matches only.
2. Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in League, MLS Cup Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup, MLS is Back tournament, CONCACAF Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and other competitive continental matches.

Player Records

These are the all-time leaders for D.C. United in regular-season games. Bold means the player is still active with D.C. United.

Jaime Moreno holds most of D.C. United's offensive records.

Category	Record Holder	Total
Games Played	Jaime Moreno	329
Goals Scored	Jaime Moreno	131
Assists	Jaime Moreno	102
Penalty Kick Goals	Jaime Moreno	42
Game-Winning Goals	Jaime Moreno	26
Hat Tricks	Raúl Díaz Arce Christian Benteke	3
Shutouts (Goalkeeper)	Bill Hamid	80
Wins (Goalkeeper)	Bill Hamid	103

Team MVP Awards

Wayne Rooney played for D.C. United from 2018 to 2020

Year	Name	Nationality
2004	Jaime Moreno	Bolivia
2005	Christian Gómez	Argentina
2006	Christian Gómez (2)	Argentina
2007	Luciano Emilio	Brazil
2008	Jaime Moreno (2)	Bolivia
2009	Clyde Simms	United States
2010	Andy Najar	Honduras
2011	Dwayne De Rosario	Canada
2012	Chris Pontius	United States
2013	Perry Kitchen	United States
2014	Fabián Espíndola	Argentina
2015	Chris Rolfe	United States
2016	Steve Birnbaum	United States
2017	Bill Hamid	United States
2018	Wayne Rooney	England
2019	Luciano Acosta	Argentina
2020	Julian Gressel	Germany
2021	Ola Kamara	Norway
2022	Taxiarchis Fountas	Greece
2023	Christian Benteke	Belgium
2024	Christian Benteke (2)	Belgium

MLS All-Time Best Players

In 2005, four players who played for D.C. United in the 1990s were chosen for the MLS All-Time Best XI team:

• Defender: Jeff Agoos: Played for D.C. United (1996–2000)
• Defender: Eddie Pope: Played for D.C. United (1996–2002)
• Midfielder: Marco Etcheverry: Played for D.C. United (1996–2003)
• Forward: Jaime Moreno: Played for D.C. United (1996–2002, 2004–10)

Hall of Tradition

Banners for the "Hall of Tradition" members are displayed at RFK Stadium.

In 2003, D.C. United started the "Hall of Tradition." This honor is given to players, coaches, and staff. They are chosen for being very important to the team's success.

Name	Role	Years with Club	Inducted
Jeff Agoos	Defender	1996–00	October 16, 2008
Raúl Díaz Arce	Forward	1996–97; 2000	September 2, 2009
Betty D'Anjolell	Executive	1995–98	June 29, 2008
Danilo Noel Dirón	Broadcaster	1997–08	September 2, 2009
Marco Etcheverry	Midfielder	1996–03	October 20, 2007
John Harkes	Midfielder	1996–98	May 14, 2003
Jaime Moreno	Forward	1996–02 2004–10	September 14, 2013
Ben Olsen	Midfielder	1998–09	September 15, 2012
Kevin Payne	President/CEO	1994–01 2004–12	October 2, 2015
Eddie Pope	Defender	1996–02	July 18, 2010
Richie Williams	Midfielder	1996–00, 2002	October 15, 2011

See also

In Spanish: D.C. United para niños

• Sports in Washington, D.C.