How the LA Galaxy has done each season opener following a championship season

While 2024 was certainly a season to celebrate, the new MLS season is upon us. All 30 teams are tied as of Friday at 0-0-0.

Of those 30 teams, one of them opens up the season defending the league title for the sixth time. Their opponent is the newest of the 30 teams, San Diego FC.

In the 29 previous seasons, only three franchises have ever won back-to-back titles. DC United was the first to did it and did so in the league’s first two seasons. Thanks to the Chicago Fire in 1998, DC United fell shy of potentially a four-peat.

The Houston Dynamo tasted defeat twice in a row when they won the MLS Cup in 2006 and 2007. They were poised to do it again in 2011 and 2012. However, the Los Angeles Galaxy won both of those finals.

The LA Galaxy have their path before them if they want to become the first team ever to win back-to-back titles twice. After all, this team is accustomed to making history.

How have the LA Galaxy fared in their previous season openers following a championship?

In their last six season openers to date, (since 2019), the Los Angeles Galaxy have done well as they have gone 3-2-1. However, in season openers following an MLS Cup title, the LA Galaxy did not perform well in the first few.

The Galaxy’s first MLS championship came in 2002. When they opened up the 2003 regular season on the road against the Colorado Rapids, the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

While that’s not necessarily a bad start to a season, the LA Galaxy followed that up with a 1-0 loss in 2006. The Galaxy had won their second MLS Cup three seasons later. Clint Dempsey of the New England Revolution scored the game’s only goal.

Again in 2011, the MLS Western Conference powerhouse hoisted a league championship. A season later, they fell 3-1 to Real Salt Lake.

It was perhaps one of the more disasterous season openers as the Galaxy conceded an own goal (by Sean Franklin) that tied the game up 1-1. Goals by Javier Morales and Fabian Espindola sealed the 3-1 defeat for the defending champions.

Finally, the Los Angeles Galaxy win their first season opener following a title defense. In 2013, they won 4-0 against the Chicago Fire. A hat-trick by Mike Magee was critical in the win. Robbie Keane’s goal at the 80th minute would have been enough, though, to win this one.

The last such instance to date for the LA Galaxy came in 2015 against a familiar foe, the Fire. Another shutout sealed the victory for the Galaxy. Robbie Keane scored once more on an opening day. Jose Villareal’s goal prior added to the 2-0 win against Chicago.

After going 0-1-2 in their first season openers when defending their MLS title, the Galaxy have now had two shutout wins in a row. Granted, that was against the same Eastern Conference nemesis, the Fire.

A new adversary now will challenge the Galaxy on Sunday. Enter San Diego FC. Game time is at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time and 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The game will be played at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.