Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dynamo FC entered Major League Soccer by relocation rather than expansion. When the owners of the San Jose Earthquakes moved the club's players and staff to Texas after the 2005 season, Houston inherited an intact roster and a coaching staff. The franchise formally launched on December 15, 2005, and took the field in the Western Conference the following spring. The first two seasons produced MLS Cup titles in 2006 and 2007, a back-to-back run that remains the club's defining achievement. Home matches were played at Robertson Stadium on the University of Houston campus until 2012, when the team moved into Shell Energy Stadium, a soccer-specific ground in East Downtown Houston.

The trophy case holds four major pieces of silverware: MLS Cup in 2006 and 2007, and U.S. Open Cup in 2018 and 2023. Houston finished as MLS Cup runners-up in 2011 and 2012 and as Supporters' Shield runner-up in 2008. The club also reached the final of the North American SuperLiga, losing to the New England Revolution. Ted Segal is the majority owner, and Ben Olsen, the former D.C. United midfielder and coach, signed a contract extension on October 21, 2026, keeping him in charge.

The Dynamo share Shell Energy Stadium with the Houston Dash of the NWSL and field Houston Dynamo 2 and a Dynamo Academy, giving the organization a development pipeline beneath the first team. In late October 2026 the club secured a playoff place in the Western Conference, drew 0-0 with Minnesota United on October 25, and traveled to Seattle Sounders FC on October 28. Goalkeeper Jonathan Bond made the MLSSoccer.com Team of the Matchday after his 11th clean sheet of the season, and Brazilian attacker Guilherme has become the public face of the side. [edit]

The Dynamo's origin is a relocation story. San Jose Earthquakes owners moved the team's players and staff to Houston after the 2005 season, and the new club launched on December 15, 2005. The inherited roster, coached by Dominic Kinnear, won MLS Cup in 2006 and repeated in 2007, beating the New England Revolution in both finals. Those remain the only two MLS Cup titles in franchise history.

Houston played its first six seasons at Robertson Stadium on the University of Houston campus before moving to Shell Energy Stadium in 2012. The club reached MLS Cup finals again in 2011 and 2012, losing both. A Supporters' Shield runner-up finish came in 2008, and the team lost the North American SuperLiga final to New England. The U.S. Open Cup arrived in 2018 under Wilmer Cabrera and again in 2023 under Ben Olsen.

The coaching line has included Kinnear, Cabrera, Davy Arnaud, Tab Ramos, Paulo Nagamura, Kenny Bundy, and Olsen. Olsen, a former D.C. United player and head coach, signed a contract extension on October 21, 2026. In the 2026 season Houston clinched a playoff spot in the Western Conference, drew 0-0 with Minnesota United on October 25, and faced Seattle Sounders FC on October 28. Goalkeeper Jonathan Bond recorded his 11th clean sheet of the year, and Brazilian attacker Guilherme has been positioned by the league as the club's star. [edit]