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Feature
- 10 Feb 2026
The most valuable MLS clubs in 2026
Tom Weber
- Updated: 11 Feb 2026 09:16 CST
- 5 min read
News
Inter Miami have become the most valuable franchise in Major League Soccer.
The Herons are coming off a successful 2025 campaign, winning MLS Cup for the first time after beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1. Miami also reached the final of Leagues Cup, where they lost to the Seattle Sounders.
Owned by David Beckham and the billionaire Mas brothers, and spearheaded by Argentine megastar Lionel Messi, Miami have become one of the most recognisable clubs in soccer.
This year, the Herons will open their 25,000-capacity soccer-specific stadium, Miami Freedom Park, which will elevate the franchise to a new level. Additionally, Miami have spent big in the offseason in a bid to win more silverware.
As a result of their success in recent seasons - on and off the pitch - Miami have now overtaken LAFC to become the most valuable club in MLS, according to Sportico.
Miami are MLS's most valuable franchise
The outlet used the following methodology to arrive at its valuations: "Sportio calculated each team’s revenue, relying on publicly available information and financial records - and interviews with those knowledgeable of team finances, including sports bankers and attorneys who actively work on MLS transactions."
Miami's valuation has surged by 22% compared to 2025, the biggest increase in MLS. The only other franchise with an increase of more than 12% are the Chicago Fire, who have jumped 20% after making the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
NYCFC (12%), the Seattle Sounders (11%), the Columbus Crew and Real Salt Lake (both 10%) are the only other clubs to experience double-figure growth. The San Jose Earthquakes (-3%), the Vancouver Whitecaps and CF Montreal (both -4%) have seen their value decrease compared to 2025.
The Whitecaps' drop is particularly eye-catching, considering that they are coming off their best season in franchise history. They made the finals of MLS Cup and the CONCACAF Champions Cup, retained their Voyageurs Cup and signed European superstar Thomas Muller.
However, the Whitecaps' revenue lags behind that of other franchises. CEO Axel Schuster recently claimed that the average MLS team makes up to $40 million CAD more than Vancouver.
Accordingly, only CF Montreal have a lower valuation ($430m) than Vancouver ($450m). This is $1 billion less than Miami, who now clock in at a valuation of $1.45bn, ahead of LAFC with $1.4bn who experienced 9% growth.
The LA Galaxy come in third with $1.17bn after a 5% increase, while Atlanta United sit at $1.14bn, up by 6% from 2025. The final team with a valuation of over $1bn are NYCFC with $1.12bn.
The Seattle Sounders ($915m) have leapfrogged Austin FC ($910m) into sixth. 11th-placed Charlotte FC ($755m) jumped up two spots after 7% growth. The Chicago Fire ($690m), thanks to their 20% boost, moved up six places into 16th. Finally, RSL ($580m) climbed from 26th to 24th.
Toronto FC (15th, $730m) and Minnesota United (21st, $655m) plummeted six places each after stagnating in 2025 with a 1% and 0% gain in valuation, respectively. The average MLS team is now worth $767m, which is a 6% increase to 2025.
| Rank | Franchise | 2026 Valuation | Change from 2025 |
| 1 (+1) | Inter Miami CF | $1.45 billion | +22% |
| 2 (-1) | Los Angeles FC | $1.4 billion | +9% |
| 3 | LA Galaxy | $1.17 billion | +5% |
| 4 | Atlanta United | $1.14 billion | +6% |
| 5 | New York City FC | $1.12 billion | +12% |
| 6 (+1) | Seattle Sounders FC | $915 million | +11% |
| 7 (-1) | Austin FC | $910 million | +5% |
| 8 | Columbus Crew | $800 million | +10% |
| 9 | FC Cincinnati | $790 million | +9% |
| 10 | San Diego FC | $765 million | N/A |
| 11 (+2) | Charlotte FC | $755 million | +7% |
| 12 (-1) | D.C. United | $750 million | +4% |
| 13 (-2) | Portland Timbers | $745 million | +3% |
| 14 | Philadelphia Union | $740 million | +6% |
| 15 (-6) | Toronto FC | $730 million | +1% |
| 16 (+6) | Chicago Fire FC | $690 million | +20% |
| 17 | Sporting Kansas City | $685 million | +5% |
| 18 (-3) | St. Louis City SC | $675 million | +3% |
| 19 | Nashville SC | $670 million | +5% |
| 20 (-2) | New York Red Bulls | $660 million | +2% |
| 21 (-6) | Minnesota United FC | $655 million | 0% |
| 22 (-1) | Houston Dynamo FC | $600 million | +3% |
| 23 (-3) | San Jose Earthquakes | $585 million | -3% |
| 24 (+2) | Real Salt Lake | $580 million | +10% |
| 25 (-1) | Orlando City SC | $565 million | +6% |
| 26 (-1) | New England Revolution | $560 million | +6% |
| 27 (-4) | FC Dallas | $555 million | +3% |
| 28 (-1) | Colorado Rapids | $480 million | +1% |
| 29 (-1) | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | $450 million | -4% |
| 30 (-1) | CF Montreal | $430 million | -4% |
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