San Jose Earthquakes

The San Jose Earthquakes are one of Major League Soccer's original franchises, founded in 1996 as the San Jose Clash. They played the league's first-ever match, a 1–0 win over D.C. United. Over the years, the team has claimed two MLS Cup titles (2001, 2003) and two Supporters' Shields (2005, 2012). Their fierce rivalry with the LA Galaxy, the California Clásico, is a highlight of the Western Conference calendar.

The club's history took a dramatic turn in 2005 when owner Anschutz Entertainment Group announced a move to Houston, where the team became the Houston Dynamo in 2006. After a two-year hiatus, the Earthquakes returned in 2008, playing at Buck Shaw Stadium before moving to PayPal Park in 2015. In June 2025, owner John Fisher put the team up for sale, signaling a new chapter for the franchise. [edit]

The Earthquakes trace their origins to 1995 when the league awarded a franchise to San Jose, initially named the San Jose Clash. They kicked off MLS's inaugural season on April 6, 1996, with a 1–0 victory over D.C. United at Spartan Stadium, Eric Wynalda scoring the only goal. The team reached the playoffs in 1996 but struggled in the following years, missing the postseason from 1997 to 1999.

A turning point came in 2001 when Landon Donovan joined the squad, helping the club capture its first MLS Cup that year with a 2–1 overtime win against the LA Galaxy. They repeated the feat in 2003, defeating the Chicago Fire 4–2 in the final. The 2005 season brought a Supporters' Shield, but shortly after, ownership moved the team to Houston, where it became the Dynamo. The Earthquakes were dormant for two years until returning as an expansion side in 2008, initially at Buck Shaw Stadium on the Santa Clara University campus.

The team's modern era has been marked by the opening of PayPal Park in 2015, a soccer-specific stadium with a capacity of 18,000. They won another Supporters' Shield in 2012 under coach Frank Yallop, led by striker Chris Wondolowski, who earned the MLS Golden Boot that year. In recent seasons, the club has struggled to reach the playoffs, with a notable playoff appearance in 2023 under Luchi Gonzalez. Bruce Arena took over as head coach in 2025, and in June of that year, owner John Fisher announced plans to sell the franchise, raising questions about its future location and management. [edit]