2018 MLS Supporters' Shield

Lore & Background

Atlanta United won the Supporters' Shield in 2018. On eight occasions (1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2011, 2017, and 2022) the winner of the Supporters' Shield also won the MLS Cup that same year, but it does not mention any team achieving the Shield and MLS Cup final in their second year of existence.

Reader's Guide

The Supporters' Shield winner earns a berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup (since 2006). The Shield winner and the MLS Cup winner represent the United States in that competition. If the Shield winner also wins the MLS Cup, the U.S.-based team with the second-highest regular season point total qualifies.

Did You Know?

• Sixteen different teams have won at least one Supporters' Shield, with the LA Galaxy and D.C. United level with the most wins at four each.
• The 2025 Supporters' Shield holder has not yet been determined, as the season is still ongoing.
• The record for most points in a regular season is 73, set by the New England Revolution in 2021.
• The original Supporters' Shield trophy was a wooden shield with a silver plate, not a chevron, and the exact cost is not widely established in canonical sources.

Record-Breaking Attendance and Venue Evolution

The 2018 MLS Cup final stands as a monumental event in league history, primarily due to setting an all-time attendance record. Held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, the match drew a staggering crowd of 73,019 spectators, surpassing previous benchmarks for the championship game. This surge in fan engagement coincided with a significant structural shift in how the final is hosted. Prior to 2012, the league utilized a neutral site model similar to the NFL's Super Bowl, selecting venues before the regular season began.

However, starting in 2012, the format changed so that the finalist with the superior regular-season record would host the match at their home stadium. This transition aimed to capitalize on local fanbases and improve revenue, though it introduced risks regarding weather conditions in northern cities during late autumn or winter months. Despite these concerns, the post-2012 era has seen a high success rate for host teams, with eleven of fourteen editions won by the home side, demonstrating the competitive advantage of playing on familiar turf.

Broadcast Rights and Media Landscape

The television coverage of the MLS Cup has undergone substantial transformations over nearly three decades, reflecting the league's growing media footprint. The rights then shifted to ESPN for seven years before entering an alternating arrangement between ESPN and Fox from 2015 to 2022. Notably, the 2019 final was moved back to ABC despite the existing rotation agreement. Beginning in 2023, Fox and Fox Deportes assumed U.S. linear television rights for English and Spanish broadcasts respectively, with global streaming availability through Apple TV+'s MLS Season Pass. In Canada, TSN has handled English broadcasts since 2011, while TVA Sports took over French coverage in 2017. The most-watched final to date remains the 2016 edition, which attracted 3.5 million viewers across North America.

Historical Dominance and Championship Records

The history of the MLS Cup is defined by a mix of recurring champions and unique statistical achievements. As of 2025, thirty-three teams have competed in the league, with twenty-one reaching the final stage. The LA Galaxy holds the distinction of being the most successful franchise, securing six titles across ten appearances. Conversely, the New England Revolution has reached the final five times without capturing a championship. A rare feat known as winning 'the double'—claiming both the MLS Cup and another major trophy like the Supporters' Shield or U.S. Open Cup in the same season—has been achieved by nine different clubs. Only Toronto FC has accomplished the ultimate treble, adding the Canadian Championship to their 2017 domestic success.

Stadium Diversity and Geographic Reach

The MLS Cup has been hosted across a diverse array of venues, spanning fourteen stadiums in ten metropolitan areas throughout the United States and Canada. The Los Angeles region has been particularly central to this history, hosting nine editions across three different stadiums: the Rose Bowl, Dignity Health Sports Park, and Banc of California Stadium. While the majority of matches occur in the U.S., three editions have taken place outside American borders at BMO Field in Toronto. This variability highlights how external factors and venue selection continue to shape the championship experience.