Houston Dynamo FC

AEG announced on December 15, 2005, that the San Jose EarthquakesSan Jose EarthquakesSan Jose Earthquakes is an MLS professional soccer club in San Jose, California, with PayPal Park as its home.Open the full entry organization, contracted players and coaches would move to Houston. MLS retained the Earthquakes name, colors and competition records for a future team in San Jose.⁠[1]

The team initially adopted Houston 1836 to mark the city’s founding year. Its association with Texas’s separation from Mexico drew objections from the local Latino community. The club changed to Houston Dynamo, evoking the city’s energy industry and an earlier Houston Dynamos team.⁠[2]

Houston drew 1–1 with New England RevolutionNew England RevolutionNew England Revolution are a founding Major League Soccer club that began playing in 1996. Operated by the Kraft family, the club plays at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.Open the full entry after extra time on November 12, 2006, then won MLS Cup 4–3 on penalties. Brian Ching equalized in the 114th minute, and Pat Onstad saved Jay Heaps’s final penalty.⁠[3]

Houston came from behind to beat New England Revolution 2–1 at RFK Stadium on November 18, 2007, becoming the second club to retain MLS Cup. Joseph Ngwenya equalized before Dwayne De Rosario scored the winner.⁠[4]

Houston returned to the MLS Cup final in 2011 but lost 1–0 to LA GalaxyLA GalaxyLA Galaxy are a Major League Soccer club that began playing in 1996 and won their sixth MLS Cup in 2024. Their home is in Carson, California.Open the full entry through a Landon Donovan goal.⁠[5]

The club’s new downtown Houston stadium opened on May 12, 2012. It later also became home to Houston DashHouston DashHouston Dash is an NWSL women's professional soccer club in Houston, Texas. It began play in 2014, hosts matches at Shell Energy Stadium, and won the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.Open the full entry.⁠[6]

Houston took the lead through Calen Carr in the 2012 MLS Cup final but lost 3–1 to LA Galaxy, finishing runners-up for a second consecutive year.⁠[7]

On December 15, 2015, the club announced that Gabriel Brener had bought a controlling stake from AEG. The ownership group included Oscar De La Hoya, Jake Silverstein and Ben Guill; Brener and De La Hoya had held minority stakes since 2008.⁠[8]

Houston won its first U.S. Open Cup on September 26, 2018, defeating Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia UnionPhiladelphia Union is a Major League Soccer club representing the Philadelphia region. It began play in 2010 and plays at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania. Keystone Sports and Entertainment owns and operates the club.Open the full entry 3–0.⁠[9]

The club introduced the Houston Dynamo Football Club identity on November 17, 2020, with Houston Dynamo FC as the first-team name. The new Dynamo and Dash crests used hexagons to reference the 2006 Houston debut and the city’s original six wards.⁠[10]

The club announced completion of its sale on June 22, 2021, making Ted Segal majority owner and chairman. He also took control of Houston Dash.⁠[11]

On August 25, 2022, the club announced that Segal had bought out Gabriel Brener, Oscar De La Hoya and Ben Guill. Vice-chairman Lyle Ayes also became an equity investor.⁠[12]

The club announced on January 17, 2023, that PNC Stadium would become Shell Energy Stadium. The partnership also covered energy-efficiency improvements and community projects.⁠[13]

Ben Olsen’s Houston side beat Inter Miami 2–1 in Fort Lauderdale on September 27, 2023, to win a second U.S. Open Cup. Griffin Dorsey and Amine Bassi scored in the first half.⁠[14]

The club’s 21st season in Houston in 2026 retains Shell Energy Stadium as its regular home. Its schedule includes in-state matches against FC DallasFC DallasFC Dallas is a professional soccer club in Texas competing in MLS, with its regular home at Toyota Stadium in Frisco.Open the full entry and Austin FCAustin FCAustin FC is a professional soccer club in Austin, Texas, competing in MLS at Q2 Stadium.Open the full entry.⁠[15]

Houston Dynamo FC: Official website: https://www.houstondynamofc.com/ (opens in a new window).⁠[16]