When the dust settled, only one MLS team remained standing: the Los Angeles Galaxy, who claimed their sixth league title. But while there was only one winner in a literal sense, some teams ended 2024 in better places than they started — while others barely survived the twists and turns or are much worse off. Let’s look back at what was another wild MLS campaign.
The Biggest Winners: LA Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy were one of the top teams of the 2024 MLS season, emerging as the biggest winners in a year that was supposed to spotlight the rise of Inter Miami. The Galaxy returned to their roots, balancing a squad with a potent attack and a solid defense. Heading into the final without their best player in Riqui Puig, the Galaxy showcased their depth, and unlikely MLS Cup MVP Gastón Brugman delivered a masterful performance.
Brugman became the first Uruguayan in MLS history to win the Cup MVP, but it wasn’t just him carrying the load in the Galaxy’s 2-1 victory over the Red Bulls.
Maya Yoshida was a rock at the back, and Dejan Joveljić broke through to end the club’s 10-year title drought, securing the Galaxy’s sixth crown.
With key transfers like Gabriel Pec and MLS Cup hero Joseph Paintsil, plus a qualification to the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the Galaxy head into the 30th season as the gold standard of MLS, making them the biggest winners of 2024.
Other Winners
Seattle Sounders
After a disappointing start, the Sounders turned things around with a major winning streak in June and an undefeated run in the final seven games of the regular season. This momentum helped them finish fourth and advance to a deep playoff run, where they were on the verge of another MLS Cup.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Sounders will have cap space, with Raúl Ruidíaz departing, and could bolster their attack with a healthy Pedro De La Vega. The Galaxy’s MLS Cup title made way for the Sounders to enter the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and the club also qualified for the new expanded FIFA Club World Cup, so the Sounders will certainly need to add depth to allow themselves to compete across these multiple tournaments.
Inter Miami
Despite the shouts of “failure” after losing in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs, Inter Miami still had a great run in 2024, and will return stronger than ever next season. Core players like Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez are expected to stay, and the club will have full seasons from Facundo Farías and Federico Redondo. The mystery lies in new manager Javier Mascherano and if he can quickly adapt to MLS. If he’s able to, Miami could be the best team in the league on paper. But the question remains: can Mascherano handle the unique challenges MLS presents? And will Messi lift that MLS Cup trophy?
Columbus Crew
The Crew continue to be one of the most exciting teams in MLS. Under Wilfried Nancy’s leadership, they have built a strong, team-first mentality with key players like Diego Rossi, Cucho Hernández, Darlington Nagbe, and Patrick Schulte. Columbus may look to add another game-changer to their squad, and the club has not been shy about making a transfer and moving players along as well. The Crew have a proven track record in finding talent and replacements that dates back to 1998, and they’re always in the hunt for quality additions.
Honorable Mentions: FC Cincinnati, Orlando City, and Real Salt Lake
Survivors
LAFC
It was a rough year for LAFC in 2024. Not only did they watch their rivals, the Galaxy, lift the MLS Cup, but they also faltered in crucial moments, including their losses in the playoffs and Leagues Cup final. A U.S. Open Cup title against a weak Sporting Kansas City squad felt more like a consolation prize than a real achievement.
Head coach Steve Cherundolo struggled to integrate Olivier Giroud, one of the best strikers of his generation, into LAFC’s style of play. Giroud failed to score in the MLS regular season or playoffs, and it’s clear the system didn’t suit him. While not a complete flop, it was a disappointing season. Cherundolo has potential, but he needs to prove himself in big games. The brass of LAFC also take blame in bringing in Giroud to play on a team built for other kinds of strikers — in hindsight that money could have been used in other areas.
NYCFC
The 2024 season was shaping up to be a poor one for NYCFC, but they managed to make the playoffs, only to be eliminated by Hudson River Derby rivals and eventual runners-up Red Bulls. That loss cost Nick Cushing his job. With a new stadium coming and a World Cup year on the horizon, NYCFC needs to bolster their squad to compete with the likes of LA Galaxy, LAFC, and Inter Miami. It’s time for the City Football Group to prove that they want to win in MLS.
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes? The team that had one of the worst seasons in MLS history? Hear us out.
The hiring of Bruce Arena offers hope for the future of the Earthquakes, who have struggled for years. Arena has already started adding pieces to the team, and if he can get San Jose into the playoffs, his tenure will be seen as a success. But with a historically tight budget and rumors of interest in star player Hernán López from River Plate, Arena’s task won’t be easy.
Colorado Rapids
Chris Armas laid the foundation for the Rapids, but they need much more than a handful of underwhelming USMNT European flops to be competitive. The Rapids finished with a string of poor results, losing six consecutive games from the end of the regular season into the playoffs. They need more quality additions to make any significant noise in 2025.
Honorable Mentions: Minnesota United, Houston Dynamo, CF Montreal
Flops
New York Red Bulls
For the Red Bulls, how do the supporters say? Same ol’ Metros, always losing. Despite reaching the MLS Cup final, it was a showcase of the club’s history: Crash into a wall, fight back, yet still finish defeated. The Red Bulls have a solid foundation of homegrown talent, but they lack the star power needed to contend for major titles. Their performance in the final highlighted the club’s ongoing struggle to break through and truly compete at the highest level in MLS. The brass at Red Bull hopefully saw that there is something in New York, other than a farm system.
Austin FC
Austin FC took far too long to fire manager Josh Wolff, and their decision to hire Nico Estévez as a replacement did little to inspire confidence from their fans. Sebastián Driussi, one of the league’s highest-paid players, had a lackluster season, and the team as a whole was underwhelming. Austin FC will need a complete overhaul to progress, but right now, their future looks much like their present: stagnant.
New England Revolution
Caleb Porter’s first season as Revolution coach was a disaster, with the team winning only nine games. Despite having key players like Carles Gil, Luca Langoni, and Tomás Chancalay, the Revolution struggled throughout the season. Many fans are skeptical of Porter’s ability to lead the team moving forward, and the club will need to rebuild if they want to return to contention in 2025.
Toronto FC
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Toronto FC’s season was a total mess. John Herdman resigned after just one full season, and the future of star player Lorenzo Insigne is uncertain. If it were up to the TFC brass, Insigne would be gone yesterday. The team has spent big in the past but may need to offload Insigne or more to free up Designated Player spots. The club’s next managerial hire will be crucial in determining a future path, and it can’t afford another misstep after the failures of Herdman and Bob Bradley.
Honorable Mentions: DC United, Philadelphia Union, Nashville SC, FC Dallas, St. Louis SC
