3 Clubs That Are No Longer Part of MLS

If you look back, you’ll see that soccer in the United States has always been a constantly evolving challenge, a rollercoaster of highs and lows, where some clubs soared to the skies only to, ironically, be tossed into oblivion. It’s no secret that Major League Soccer (MLS) has struggled to find its place in the hearts of Americans. But what few know is the price that was paid along the way, marked by the disappearance of three clubs.

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3. Tampa Bay Mutiny

Let’s start with Tampa Bay Mutiny, a club that, for a brief moment, shined brightly. Founded in 1996, Mutiny was the first champion of the MLS Supporters' Shield, a title that, for many, was the light at the end of the tunnel. But that light soon dimmed. In just five years, the franchise crumbled, crushed by a lack of profitability and results. Desperate attempts to sell, including one to the powerful Glazer family, failed miserably. It’s almost as if the club was doomed from the start, a relic from an era that MLS preferred to bury.

2. Miami Fusion

The fate of Miami Fusion wasn’t much different. Despite carrying the name of an iconic city, the club was based in Fort Lauderdale, a detail that already hinted at an identity crisis. And perhaps that lack of identity was its biggest problem. Fusion also had its moments of glory, winning the MLS Supporters' Shield in its last year of existence. But don’t be fooled, that victory was a smokescreen. Deep down, Fusion was teetering on the edge. When the league decided to cut the number of clubs, Fusion was one of the sacrifices. Ironic, isn’t it? The team that was supposed to represent Miami never really got accepted, and when it rose from the ashes in 2015, it did so in a setting of little relevance, the fourth division, only to be extinct again in 2018.

1. Chivas USA

But perhaps the most intriguing case is that of Chivas USA, a bold attempt to bring Mexican passion to MLS. The idea was simple: create a team that would be an extension of the popular Chivas Guadalajara, tapping into the large Mexican population in Los Angeles. On paper, it was perfect. In practice, a disaster waiting to happen. Though Chivas USA was born with a sizable fan base, expectations were never met. The club racked up disappointments on the field, and the lack of significant results was a fatal blow. In 2014, Jorge Vergara, from Chivas Guadalajara, threw in the towel, selling the franchise back to MLS.

The league that now celebrates the success of big clubs like LAFC and Inter Miami is the same one that turned its back on these teams that helped pave the way. The reduction of clubs from 12 to 10 in 2001 was the final blow for Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion, but we can’t ignore that it was a cold, almost cynical decision by a league desperate to survive at any cost. Mutiny and Fusion were victims of a survival strategy that prioritized more profitable markets and greater chances of commercial success. And Chivas USA? This was perhaps the most tragic victim of a poorly conceived idea, an experiment that should never have been conducted.