Rivalry raises fans in Major League Soccer games like no other when it comes to defending your team's pride, dignity and glory from a hated rival.
Competitors often appear geographically. New York vs. Boston, New York vs. Philadelphia are just a few examples of national rivalries that extend beyond any sports league, but rivalries within a single state are what really excite MLS fans. A city or county battle is one thing fans mark on their calendars each year. Some of the most popular tournaments have risen to prominence in recent history.
Here's a look at the fiercest rivalries in Major League Soccer.
Portland vs. Seattle has been a rival for nearly 50 years, predating the inception of MLS. The rivalry began to rise to the highest level of soccer in the United States in 2011. Many would argue that the derbies are the purest and most authentic of men's American football.
There have been 44 games played in MLS between the two with Portland getting the better of Seattle historically (19-17-9). Portland had the best success in the MLS playoffs with a 3-1 record.
The rivalry will be renewed this year as the teams face each other in the competition week.
Unfortunately we're not getting El Tráfico this year during MLS Rivalry Week, but that doesn't mean it's not one of the hottest rivalries in the league. The LA Galaxy applied for the Greater Los Angeles Area until LAFC was kicked out in 2018.
LAFC even built BMO Stadium (formerly Banc of California Stadium) 13 miles from StubHub Center. The first meeting between the two helped establish El Tráfico on center stage.
LAFC in their third regular season game traveled to face the LA Galaxy. The Black and Gold led 3-0 after 60 minutes, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic had other plans. This famous striker scored two goals from the bench in Hollywood to keep the Galaxy winning 4-3. Zlatan later added fuel to the fire when he spoke to ESPN when he said he was the best MLS player compared to former LAFC signing Carlos Vela.
The LA Galaxy have gotten the better of LAFC historically with nine wins to eight and five draws. However, LAFC held a huge margin of victory defeating the LA Galaxy 6-2 in the MLS is Back Tournament in 2020.
The top scorer in the history of El Tráfico is Vela with nine goals.
These two Ohio teams probably have the best name for their rivalry: Hell is the Real Derby. Another rivalry that recently emerged in MLS (2019), FC Cincinnati first faced the Columbus Crew in the 2017 US Open Cup while part of the United Soccer League.
Cincinnati later joined MLS in 2019 and has faced 12 Columbus teams in the league and once in the playoffs.
Columbus dominates the series between the two with seven wins and four draws. Cincinnati has won only two more games since the first game of the derby. Columbus' best win came last year in the MLS Cup Playoffs when they defeated their rival 3-2 in extra time thanks to Christian Ramirez's goal in the 115th minute.
This year's Rivalry Week features the first meeting between the two since the playoffs.
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