All the MLS logos ranked: Which is the best logo in the MLS?

All the MLS logos ranked: Which is the best logo in the MLS?

Lenah Ann
updated at November 13, 2023 at 7:52 PM
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A logo is a graphic mark, emblem, or symbol used to promote and aid public identification and recognition. MLS logos are the emblems or visual representations used by each Major League Soccer franchise. Every team in the league has its logo, which has meaning within the MLS and fulfils various tasks.

MLS logos and name
A general view of the New York Red Bulls and Atlanta United logos on the scoreboard during the Major League Soccer game on 30 June 2022 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. Photo: Rich Graessle (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Most MLS logos have evolved in line with the success of various teams over the years. They are critical due to their powerful symbols that bond clubs with their followers, symbolise their principles, and contribute to the league's overall spirit.

All the MLS logos ranked

Remember that opinions on what constitutes the best MLS logos are subjective and that personal preferences differ. According to Impose Magazine, here are all MLS logos and names, ranked according to design, simplicity, adaptability, and uniqueness.

29. New York Red Bulls

Once purchased, the team's name and branding were modified to reflect Red Bull. The current design has two bulls going head-to-head with a soccer ball in the centre, similar to the Red Bull emblem.

MLS logos ranked
A general view of the New York Red Bulls logo during the MLS game against Atlanta United on 30 June 2022 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. Photo: Rich Graessle
Source: Getty Images

28. Real Salt Lake

Based on a national crest, Real Salt Lake's comparatively traditional logo features a stylized monogram inside a blue shield design.

27. Nashville SC

Gold and blue are the Nashville SC's primary colours, inspired by the many tints of Nashville's flag. The monogram "N" with multiple vertical bars intended to depict sound waves and a golden octagon with a thin outline encases the entire logo.

26. Columbus Crew SC

While the emblem's shape has evolved, the Columbus crew's colours of black and gold have stayed constant. With a black banner surrounded by a golden frame and a stylized "C," this team's new MLS logo design is sleek and contemporary.

MLS logos through the years
Columbus Crew Logo on the ceiling of the team's locker room during the ribbon cutting ceremony held at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio on 29 June 2021. Photo: Jason Mowry
Source: Getty Images

25. FC Cincinnati

Cincinnati has one of the more vibrant MLS logos on our list. The club has a lively image because orange and blue are the team's primary colours. The team's initial crest featured Saint Mark, the Evangelist's winged lion.

24. Chicago Fire

The club underwent a rebranding in 2019, and the result is a circular emblem with a big "C" in the centre and a blue border around it. A group of triangles known as the "fire crown" are included in the blue border, signifying Chicago's rebirth after the great fire.

23. St Louis City SC

The historic Gateway Arch from St. Louis is featured on a shield-like design in the club's ultra-modern crest. Two of the longest rivers in America are represented by the curving lines. In some lighting conditions, the image's vivid red can easily be mistaken for pink.

New MLS logos
A St Louis City SC logo attached to the side of Citypark before a game against Charlotte FC on 4 March 2023 in St Louis City, MO. Photo: Rick Ulreich
Source: Getty Images

22. Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Vancouver Whitecaps FC's logo comprises a mountain range depicting a string of diamonds, which is the inspiration behind the design. The overlapping forms represent strength and togetherness.

21. San Jose Earthquakes

The LA Galaxy team and the Earthquakes are bitter rivals, with the former winning two MLS Cup victories. The Quakes' current MLS emblem alludes to their prior crest as an NASL team. The year "1974" draws attention to the preceding squad.

20. Portland Timbers

The basic logo's primary colour is green, with golden stripes and a white axe in the centre. The logo, meant to stand for unity and wholeness, includes aspects of the former USL design. An allusion to the forestry business in the Pacific Northwest is the axe.

MLS logos and name
A detailed view of Portland Timbers logo before the game between Minnesota United FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps at Providence Park on 22 February 2020 in Portland, Oregon. Photo: Soobum Im
Source: Getty Images

19. New York City FC

After the Red Bulls, the team is the second New York-based franchise. The clubs’ colours have mostly stayed the same over the years. The stylized monogram for "New York City" is present in the image today, enclosed by a circular blue frame.

18. Montreal Club de Foot

The club was established in 1992 and joined Major League Soccer in 2012 as an expansion franchise. In 2022, the team brought a new logo with blue and black stripes, a stylized Fleur de Lys, and a more contemporary design.

17. Minnesota United FC

Considering most US soccer teams on this list, the club's logo is intriguing and modern. Minnesota's official bird, the "loon," is stylized and featured in the artwork. Every player on the field is represented by one of the eleven feathers.

16. Sporting Kansas City

MLS logos and name
A view of the Sporting KC logo on a chair before an MLS match against Minnesota United on 13 May 2023 at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS. Photo: Scott Winters
Source: Getty Images

The stylized outline of the Kansas–Missouri state boundary is displayed on a teardrop-shaped shield in the Kansas City logo. The picture refers to the team's previous "Wizards" emblem.

15. Houston Dynamo

The team's emblem has an almost Art Deco design, with a monogram in the centre of a hexagon-shaped badge. The name and design allude to Houston's role in the energy-dependent industrial economy.

14. FC Dallas

The squad finished second in the 2010 MLS Cup and earned its first Supporters' Shield in 2016. A bull picture on the club badge highlights the Texas mascot. The team also uses red, white, and blue to display patriotic nature.

13. DC United

New MLS logos
DC United logo on the large digital scoreboard at Audi field during the Atlanta United versus DC United MLS game on 2 April 2022 at Audi Field in Washington, DC. Photo: Randy Litzinger
Source: Getty Images

The DC logo blends modern style with historical components. An eagle is positioned above a shield-like crest in the illustration. The three stars and the red and white stripes of the design represent the Washington DC flag.

12. Colorado Rapids

From the beginning, the Rapids MLS logo has seen several changes. The shield in the current design has a burgundy pointed upper part. A mountain range with a soccer ball perched on top is visible in the centre of the design.

11. Charlotte FC

Charlotte FC has had one of the best MLS logos through the years. It is a circular badge with a black frame that displays the team name, similar to many other Major League Soccer logos. A white crown on a blue background sits in the centre, signifying greatness and legacy.

10 Philadelphia Union

The Union obtained the Supporter's Shield in 2020. The thirteen stars on the Philadelphia Union emblem, symbolising the original thirteen colonies, are a nod to the American Revolutionary War.

9. Orlando City SC

New MLS logos
Orlando City hat logo on the bench prior to the Major League Soccer game between the York Red Bulls and Orlando City on 23 March 2019 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. Photo: Rich Graessle
Source: Getty Images

Like other MLS teams, Orland City's logo is a shield with a gold lion face encircled by twenty-one "flares." The Orlando Lions, Orlando's first professional soccer team, is honoured by the lion emblem and colour combination.

8. New England Revolution

The New England Revolution logo is among the new MLS logos introduced in 2021. It has an "R" and a floral design resembling the Boston Tea Party emblem.

7. Inter Miami CF

The club attracted much attention after Lionel Messi announced his intention to join the team in 2023. The Miami crest has two birds arranged back to back that, although they resemble flamingos, are white herons. The badge has three colours: pink, white, and black.

6. LAFC

The LAFC logo, which features an LA monogram and a shield outline that alludes to the city seal, is influenced by the Art Deco movement, in contrast to many other MLS team emblems. Matthew Wolff designed the logo. LAFC has one of the best MLS logos as of 2023.

5. Austin FC

New MLS logos
The Austin FC logo is on display prior to MLS game between the Portland Timbers and Austin FC on 21 August 2021 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, TX. Photo: John Rivera
Source: Getty Images

Austin FC's logo is a shield-shaped design with a curving lower border. The letters "F" and "C" are positioned on either side of a straightforward green tree in the logo's middle. At the top of the brand symbol, the city's name is shown on a banner.

4. Toronto FC

One of the few Canadian clubs in the MLS is the Toronto Football Club, which plays in the Eastern Conference. The team has a standard MLS logo consisting of a striped shield with a decorative accent on top and a banner with "Toronto" written across the middle.

3. Seattle Sounders FC

The Sounders are among the league's most successful clubs, with record-breaking game attendance. Their logo is designed as a heraldic shield with two layers, signifying community. A picture of the Space Needle, a well-known landmark in Seattle, is also included.

2. LA Galaxy

The club has won a record five cups and is among the top clubs with the best MLS logos. The LA Galaxy team has a reasonably straightforward MLS logo centred on a traditional shield with a four-pointed star in a dark blue and bold design.

1. Atlanta United FC

The Atlanta City seal inspired the circle with a large "A" in the centre of the team's emblem, unveiled along with its colours in 2015. It has a set of red and black stripes, which stand for the team's pillars of community, togetherness, determination, innovation, and excellence

MLS logos through the years
A general view of the Atlanta United logo during the MLS game against the New York Red Bulls on 30 June 2022 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. Photo: Rich Graessle
Source: Getty Images

The stars are on the logo to represent the MLS brand for the club, country, and community.

Final word

The best MLS logos are frequently determined by their simplicity, adaptability, uniqueness, and ability to accurately convey the team's identity and core values. Personal ties to teams may also impact preferences for particular logos. As teams rebrand, rankings are subject to change.

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Authors
Lenah Ann photo
Lenah Ann
Lenah Ann is a Kenyan-based content creator with 2 years of experience. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Media and Communication from Dedan Kimathi, Kenya in 2021.