Western Conference (MLS) facts for kids
| Founded | 1996 |
|---|---|
| No. of teams | 13 |
| Country | United States Canada |
| Confederation | CONCACAF |
| Most recent champion(s) |
Seattle Sounders FC (2020) (4th title) |
| Most titles | LA Galaxy (8 titles) |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Domestic cup(s) | U.S. Open Cup (USA) Canadian Championship (Canada) |
The Western Conference is one of the two main groups of teams in Major League Soccer (MLS). MLS is the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. The other group of teams is called the Eastern Conference. These conferences help organize the many teams in the league.
Contents
Teams in the Western Conference
Have you ever wondered which teams play in the Western Conference? Here's a list of the teams that are currently part of this exciting conference. Each team plays in a different city and has its own home stadium.
Who are the current teams?
| Team Name | City | Home Stadium | Joined Conference | Fun Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Rapids | Commerce City, CO | Dick's Sporting Goods Park | 1996 | One of the original MLS teams. |
| FC Dallas | Frisco, TX | Toyota Stadium | 1996, 2002 | Started as Dallas Burn, changed name in 2005. |
| Houston Dynamo | Houston, TX | BBVA Compass Stadium | 2006, 2015 | Moved to the Eastern Conference for a few years. |
| LA Galaxy | Carson, CA | StubHub Center | 1996 | One of the most successful teams in MLS history. |
| Los Angeles FC | Los Angeles, CA | Banc of California Stadium | 2018 | A newer team from Los Angeles. |
| Minnesota United FC | Saint Paul, MN | Allianz Field | 2017 | Joined MLS as an expansion team. |
| Portland Timbers | Portland, OR | Providence Park | 2011 | Known for their passionate fans. |
| Real Salt Lake | Sandy, UT | Rio Tinto Stadium | 2005 | The first MLS team in Utah. |
| San Jose Earthquakes | San Jose, CA | Earthquakes Stadium | 1996 | Started as San Jose Clash, renamed in 2000. |
| Seattle Sounders FC | Seattle, WA | CenturyLink Field | 2009 | A very popular team with a large fan base. |
| Sporting Kansas City | Kansas City, KS | Children's Mercy Park | 1996 | One of the founding MLS teams. |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Vancouver, BC | BC Place | 2011 | The only Canadian team in the Western Conference. |
Western Conference Champions
Each year, teams in the Western Conference compete to be the best. The team that finishes with the most points at the end of the regular season is crowned the Western Conference winner. Sometimes, this team also wins the Supporters' Shield, which means they were the best team in the entire MLS league that year!
Who has won the conference title?
Here's a look at the teams that have won the Western Conference title each year. The teams highlighted in yellow also won the Supporters' Shield that season.
| Year | Western Conference Winner | Playoff Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | LA Galaxy | Lost in the MLS Cup Final |
| 1997 | Kansas City Wizards | Lost in Conference Semifinals |
| 1998 | LA Galaxy | Lost in Conference Finals |
| 1999 | LA Galaxy | Lost in the MLS Cup Final |
| 2000 | Kansas City Wizards | Won the MLS Cup! |
| 2001 | LA Galaxy | Lost in Semifinals |
| 2002 | LA Galaxy | Won the MLS Cup! |
| 2003 | San Jose Earthquakes | Won the MLS Cup! |
| 2004 | Kansas City Wizards | Lost in the MLS Cup Final |
| 2005 | San Jose Earthquakes | Lost in Conference Semifinals |
| 2006 | FC Dallas | Lost in Conference Semifinals |
| 2007 | Chivas USA | Lost in Conference Semifinals |
| 2008 | Houston Dynamo | Lost in Conference Semifinals |
| 2009 | LA Galaxy | Lost in the MLS Cup Final |
| 2010 | LA Galaxy | Lost in Conference Finals |
| 2011 | LA Galaxy | Won the MLS Cup! |
| 2012 | San Jose Earthquakes | Lost in Conference Semifinals |
| 2013 | Portland Timbers | Lost in Conference Finals |
| 2014 | Seattle Sounders FC | Lost in Conference Finals |
| 2015 | FC Dallas | Lost in Conference Finals |
| 2016 | FC Dallas | Lost in Conference Semifinals |
| 2017 | Portland Timbers | Lost in Conference Semifinals |
| 2018 | Sporting Kansas City | Lost in Conference Finals |
| 2019 | Los Angeles FC | Lost in Conference Finals |
| 2020 | Sporting Kansas City | Lost in Conference Semifinals |
Related pages
- Eastern Conference (MLS)
- Central Division (MLS)
See also
In Spanish: Conferencia Oeste (MLS) para niños
