The MLS Belt · season
The 1996 season
41 belt games · 18 title changesSan Jose Clash carried the belt into the 1996 season. It changed hands 18 times among 10 franchises, 3 of those in the playoffs, and D.C. United finished the season with it. Most defenses: LA Galaxy, 7.
Who held it, in order
San JoseDallasColoradoSan JoseGalaxyColoradoSporting KCTampa BayColumbusD.C. UnitedSporting KCColoradoRed BullsTampa BayNew EnglandTampa BayColumbusTampa BayD.C. United
Every belt game
| Belt game | Date | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 6, 1996 | San Jose Clash beat D.C. United 1–0 in the first game | First holder |
| 2 | Apr 14, 1996 | Dallas Burn beat San Jose Clash 1–0 | Title change |
| 3 | Apr 18, 1996 | Dallas Burn beat Kansas City Wiz 3–0 | Defense |
| 4 | Apr 21, 1996 | Colorado Rapids beat Dallas Burn 3–1 | Title change |
| 5 | May 5, 1996 | Colorado Rapids beat Kansas City Wiz 4–0 | Defense |
| 6 | May 8, 1996 | San Jose Clash beat Colorado Rapids 3–1 | Title change |
| 7 | May 12, 1996 | LA Galaxy beat San Jose Clash 2–1 | Title change |
| 8 | May 19, 1996 | LA Galaxy beat Kansas City Wiz 2–0 | Defense |
| 9 | May 26, 1996 | LA Galaxy beat Columbus Crew 3–2 | Defense |
| 10 | Jun 1, 1996 | LA Galaxy beat Tampa Bay Mutiny 2–1 | Defense |
| 11 | Jun 6, 1996 | LA Galaxy beat New England Revolution 3–2 | Defense |
| 12 | Jun 9, 1996 | LA Galaxy beat NY/NJ MetroStars 4–0 | Defense |
| 13 | Jun 16, 1996 | LA Galaxy beat Tampa Bay Mutiny 3–2 | Defense |
| 14 | Jun 26, 1996 | LA Galaxy beat Colorado Rapids 3–1 | Defense |
| 15 | Jun 30, 1996 | Colorado Rapids beat LA Galaxy 2–1 | Title change |
| 16 | Jul 4, 1996 | Colorado Rapids beat NY/NJ MetroStars 3–1 | Defense |
| 17 | Jul 7, 1996 | Colorado Rapids beat Columbus Crew 2–1 | Defense |
| 18 | Jul 10, 1996 | Kansas City Wiz beat Colorado Rapids 2–0 | Title change |
| 19 | Jul 18, 1996 | Tampa Bay Mutiny beat Kansas City Wiz 3–2 | Title change |
| 20 | Jul 21, 1996 | Tampa Bay Mutiny beat Colorado Rapids 3–1 | Defense |
| 21 | Jul 25, 1996 | Columbus Crew beat Tampa Bay Mutiny 1–0 | Title change |
| 22 | Jul 28, 1996 | D.C. United beat Columbus Crew 2–0 | Title change |
| 23 | Jul 31, 1996 | Kansas City Wiz beat D.C. United 3–2 | Title change |
| 24 | Aug 4, 1996 | Kansas City Wiz beat D.C. United 4–2 | Defense |
| 25 | Aug 7, 1996 | Colorado Rapids beat Kansas City Wiz 4–2 | Title change |
| 26 | Aug 11, 1996 | NY/NJ MetroStars beat Colorado Rapids 2–0 | Title change |
| 27 | Aug 14, 1996 | NY/NJ MetroStars beat New England Revolution 4–0 | Defense |
| 28 | Aug 17, 1996 | Tampa Bay Mutiny beat NY/NJ MetroStars 3–1 | Title change |
| 29 | Aug 21, 1996 | New England Revolution beat Tampa Bay Mutiny 4–2 | Title change |
| 30 | Aug 31, 1996 | Tampa Bay Mutiny beat New England Revolution 3–1 | Title change |
| 31 | Sep 4, 1996 | Tampa Bay Mutiny beat NY/NJ MetroStars 2–0 | Defense |
| 32 | Sep 12, 1996 | Tampa Bay Mutiny beat New England Revolution 2–1 | Defense |
| 33 | Sep 14, 1996 | Tampa Bay Mutiny beat D.C. United 2–0 | Defense |
| 34 | Sep 18, 1996 | Tampa Bay Mutiny beat San Jose Clash 2–1 | Defense |
| 35 | Sep 21, 1996 | Tampa Bay Mutiny beat NY/NJ MetroStars 4–1 | Defense |
| 36 | Sep 25, 1996 | Tampa Bay Mutiny beat Columbus Crew 2–0 Playoffs | Defense |
| 37 | Sep 28, 1996 | Columbus Crew beat Tampa Bay Mutiny 2–1 Playoffs | Title change |
| 38 | Oct 2, 1996 | Tampa Bay Mutiny beat Columbus Crew 4–1 Playoffs | Title change |
| 39 | Oct 10, 1996 | D.C. United beat Tampa Bay Mutiny 4–1 Playoffs | Title change |
| 40 | Oct 12, 1996 | D.C. United beat Tampa Bay Mutiny 2–1 Playoffs | Defense |
| 41 | Oct 20, 1996 | D.C. United beat LA Galaxy 3–2 (AET) Playoffs | Defense |