Soccer in Los Angeles facts for kids
Soccer, also known as football, is super popular in Los Angeles. As of 2019, there are two main professional soccer teams in Los Angeles County that play in Major League Soccer (MLS): the LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC. The Los Angeles area also has two professional teams in the second division, the USL Championship: Orange County SC and LA Galaxy II. LA Galaxy II is the reserve team for the LA Galaxy. Many other semi-professional clubs and leagues, like the United Premier Soccer League, also play here. In 2022, a new professional women's team, Angel City FC, will start playing in the National Women's Soccer League, which is the top women's league in the U.S.
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History of Soccer in Los Angeles
Soccer in Los Angeles started way back in the 1800s. The Southern California Football League was created in 1902.
Famous Older Clubs
Los Angeles Kickers
The LA Kickers were the first team from the LA area to win the National Challenge Cup. Today, this cup is known as the U.S. Open Cup.
Maccabi Los Angeles
LA Maccabi won the U.S. Open Cup (then called the National Challenge Cup) a record five times!
Orange County Soccer Club
The Orange County Soccer Club made it to the finals of the National Challenge Cup two years in a row, in 1966 and 1967. They even played against the famous Bayern Munich team in 1966 at Santa Ana Stadium.
Los Angeles Aztecs
The LA Aztecs won the NASL National Championship in their very first season, which was 1974. They played in several stadiums, including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Aztecs stopped playing in 1981. This team had international soccer stars like George Best and Johan Cruyff.
California Sunshine
The California Sunshine was a professional team from Orange County. They played in the ASL.
Chivas USA
Chivas USA was a team that worked with the Mexican club Chivas de Guadalajara and Major League Soccer. The team stopped playing in 2014.
Historic Season Highlights
Some teams had interesting seasons in the past:
Los Angeles Wolves (1967–1968)
The Los Angeles Wolves played in the United Soccer Association (USA) and later the North American Soccer League (NASL). In 1967, they won their division and became champions!
Los Angeles Aztecs (1974–1981)
The Los Angeles Aztecs joined the NASL in 1974. They played until 1981. Famous players like George Best and Johan Cruyff played for them. The team was most popular in 1979 and 1980, with over 12,000 fans at their games.
California Surf (1978–1981)
The California Surf also played in the NASL. In 1979, they finished first in their division.
Chivas USA (2005–2014)
Chivas USA played in Major League Soccer. In 2007, they finished first in the Western Conference.
Professional Clubs Today
Here are the professional soccer clubs in Los Angeles today:
| Club | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major League Soccer (2 Teams) | ||||
| LA Galaxy | Dignity Health Sports Park | 27,000 | 1994 | Los Angeles' first MLS team. |
| Los Angeles FC | Banc of California Stadium | 22,000 | 2014 | |
| Club | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USL Championship (2 Teams) | ||||
| LA Galaxy II | Dignity Health Sports Park | 5,000 | 2015 | The reserve team for LA Galaxy. |
| Orange County SC | Championship Stadium | 5,000 | 2016 | Used to be linked with LAFC. |
| Club | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Independent Soccer Association (2 Teams) | ||||
| California United Strikers FC | Championship Soccer Stadium | 5,000 | 2017 | |
| Los Angeles Force | Rio Hondo Stadium | 1,000 | 2019 | |
LA Galaxy (1996–present)
The Los Angeles Galaxy was one of the first teams when Major League Soccer started in 1996. They won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2000. The Galaxy has won the MLS Cup five times, making them one of the most successful teams in the league.
Los Angeles FC (2018–present)
Los Angeles FC joined MLS in 2018. They quickly became a strong team. In 2019, they finished first in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles Soccer Rivalries
Soccer in Los Angeles has some exciting rivalries!
LA Galaxy vs Chivas USA (2008–2014)
This was a big rivalry called the "SuperClasico." It ended in 2014 when Chivas USA stopped playing.
LA Galaxy vs Los Angeles FC (2018–present)
When Los Angeles FC joined MLS in 2018, a new rivalry began with the LA Galaxy. It's called "El Tráfico" because both teams are in Los Angeles.
Amateur and Semi-professional Soccer
Besides the big professional teams, Los Angeles also has many amateur and semi-professional soccer clubs and leagues. These leagues help players develop their skills and often include local community teams.
Leagues for Amateur and Semi-professional Teams
- 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 in Los Angeles Soccer
Teams in bold are still playing today.
| Team | Top League Regular Season Wins | U.S. Open Cup Wins | Top League Playoff Wins |
CONCACAF Champions League Wins | Total Major Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA Galaxy | 4 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 12 |
| 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 |
Soccer Stadiums in Los Angeles
- Rose Bowl: This famous stadium hosted the final game of the 1994 FIFA World Cup Final.
- Dignity Health Sports Park: This was the second stadium in the U.S. built just for soccer during the MLS era. The LA Galaxy and Chivas USA used to play here.
- Banc of California Stadium: This is the home stadium for Los Angeles FC. It opened in 2018. It will also be the home for the new women's team, Angel City FC, starting in 2022.
- Santa Ana Stadium: This stadium has hosted many special soccer games, including the historic match between the Orange County Soccer Club and Bayern Munich in 1966.
Women's Soccer in Los Angeles
In 2009, Los Angeles had a top professional women's team called the Los Angeles Sol. They were part of the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league. The Sol shared Dignity Health Sports Park with the Galaxy and Chivas USA. However, the team stopped playing in 2010.
The WPS league ended after 2011. Its new version, the National Women's Soccer League, didn't have a team in Los Angeles for a while. But in July 2020, a new team was announced! This team, now called Angel City FC, will start playing in 2022 at Banc of California Stadium. It has an ownership group made up almost entirely of women.
Indoor Soccer History
Even though there are no professional indoor soccer teams in Los Angeles right now, the area has had three in the past. The Los Angeles Aztecs played in the NASL Indoor leagues. The Los Angeles Lazers played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League. Finally, the Los Angeles United played one season in the Continental Indoor Soccer League before moving to Anaheim.
