What Happened to Chivas USA?
Chivas USA, a Major League Soccer (MLS) team founded in 2004 as a sister club to Mexico's C.D. Guadalajara, ceased operations after the 2014 season. The club struggled with on-field performance, declining attendance, and significant ownership and legal issues, leading MLS to dissolve the franchise and pave the way for the successful expansion team Los Angeles FC (LAFC), which began play in 2018.
Quick Answer
Chivas USA, a Major League Soccer team, ceased operations after the 2014 season due to a combination of poor results, low attendance, and controversial ownership decisions, including a discrimination lawsuit. Major League Soccer purchased the struggling franchise in 2014 and ultimately dissolved it. This cleared the path for a new Los Angeles expansion team, Los Angeles FC (LAFC), which launched in 2018 and has since become one of the league's most successful and popular franchises, effectively replacing Chivas USA in the market.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Chivas USA Officially Announced
Major League Soccer officially announces Chivas USA as an expansion team, intended to be a sister club to Mexico's C.D. Guadalajara, sharing the Home Depot Center with the LA Galaxy.
Inaugural MLS Match
Chivas USA plays its first-ever MLS match, a 3-3 draw against co-tenant LA Galaxy.
Western Conference Regular Season Title
Chivas USA finishes first in the Western Conference, marking its only division title, though they are eliminated in the Conference Semifinals.
Jorge Vergara Becomes Sole Owner
Jorge Vergara, owner of C.D. Guadalajara, buys out his partners to become the sole owner of Chivas USA, leading to increased focus on the 'Mexican-only' identity.
Discrimination Lawsuit Filed
Two former youth academy coaches, Daniel Calichman and Theothoros Chronopoulos, file a discrimination lawsuit against Chivas USA, alleging they were fired for not being Latino.
MLS Purchases Chivas USA
Major League Soccer announces it has purchased Chivas USA from Jorge Vergara, taking over operations for the 2014 season while seeking new ownership.
Final MLS Match Played
Chivas USA plays its last-ever MLS match, a 1-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo, concluding its ten-season history.
Chivas USA Ceases Operations
MLS officially announces that Chivas USA will cease operations immediately, citing the failure of its original strategy.
Los Angeles FC (LAFC) Announced
MLS officially awards a new expansion franchise to a new ownership group for Los Angeles, which would later be named Los Angeles FC (LAFC) and begin play in 2018.
LAFC Plays Inaugural Match
Los Angeles FC plays its first MLS match, a 1-0 victory against Seattle Sounders FC, marking the return of a second MLS team to the Los Angeles market.
LAFC Wins First MLS Cup
LAFC captures its first MLS Cup, defeating the Philadelphia Union, solidifying its success as the successor franchise to Chivas USA.
LAFC Signs Son Heung-min
LAFC makes a significant signing with South Korean star Son Heung-min, further boosting its roster and competitive aspirations.
LAFC Sets MLS Clean Sheet Record
LAFC, led by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, sets a new MLS record by recording its fifth straight clean sheet to open the 2026 season, extending its shutout streak to 450 minutes.
Chivas USA Remains Defunct, LAFC Thrives
As of today, Chivas USA remains a defunct entity, serving as a historical case study in MLS. Its successor, Los Angeles FC, continues to be a highly successful and prominent franchise in Major League Soccer, building on a strong 2026 season start.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Chivas USA was established in 2004 as an MLS expansion team, making its debut in the 2005 season. The club was conceived as a 'little brother' to Mexico's iconic C.D. Guadalajara, aiming to tap into Southern California's vast Hispanic soccer fanbase by mirroring its parent club's branding, colors, and a controversial 'Mexican-only' player policy. Initially, the team showed some promise, making four playoff appearances in its first five seasons, including a first-place finish in the Western Conference in 2007.
However, the club's unique identity strategy proved to be a significant challenge. The 'Mexican-only' policy alienated potential non-Mexican fans and limited the team's ability to acquire diverse talent, contributing to consistently mediocre on-field performance and a failure to win any major trophies. Attendance steadily declined, reaching a league-record low average of 7,063 fans per match in its final 2014 season. Ownership instability further plagued the franchise. Jorge Vergara, owner of C.D. Guadalajara, became the sole owner in August 2012, and his tenure was marked by controversial decisions and internal turmoil.
A key turning point occurred on May 29, 2013, when two former youth academy coaches filed a discrimination lawsuit against Chivas USA, alleging they were fired for not being Latino or Spanish-speaking. This lawsuit brought negative national attention and highlighted the club's operational issues. In February 2014, Major League Soccer intervened, purchasing the club from Vergara and taking over operations for its final season, signaling the imminent end of the Chivas USA experiment. MLS Commissioner Don Garber openly admitted that the original strategy for Chivas USA 'wasn't effective'.
Chivas USA played its final match on October 26, 2014, and the league officially announced its dissolution the following day, October 27, 2014. The players were subsequently dispersed to other MLS teams through a special draft. The dissolution of Chivas USA was a direct precursor to the formation of Los Angeles FC (LAFC). On October 30, 2014, MLS announced a new expansion team for Los Angeles, which would eventually be named LAFC and begin play in 2018. LAFC, under a new ownership group and with a broader appeal, has since achieved significant success, winning the MLS Cup in 2022 and multiple Supporters' Shields, establishing a strong connection with the diverse Los Angeles community.
As of July 6, 2026, Chivas USA remains a defunct entity, often cited as a cautionary tale in sports franchise management and MLS expansion. Its legacy is primarily defined by its failures and the subsequent success of LAFC, which continues to thrive as one of MLS's premier clubs. LAFC has started the 2026 season strong, remaining unbeaten in early March across all competitions and setting new MLS records for consecutive clean sheets, with key players like Hugo Lloris and Son Heung-min (signed in 2025) contributing to their ongoing success. Meanwhile, the original C.D. Guadalajara (Chivas) continues to be a prominent club in Liga MX, with its players featuring in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and participating in the 2026 Leagues Cup.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Chivas USA made different choices?