On April 6th, 31,683 fans poured into Spartan Stadium in San Jose to witness United taking on the Clash in the first-ever MLS match. The game would be kept scoreless until San Jose's Eric Wynalda scored the first goal in MLS history and sent fans wild.

The loss seemed to send United into a downward spiral as they were in last place at one point. But they eventually picked up the pace and made the playoffs with an even 16-16 record.

United's inaugural roster included superstars such as Marco Etcheverry, Jeff Agoos, Richie Williams, John Harkes, Jaime Moreno, Raúl Díaz Arce. It was coached by future US National team coach Bruce Arena.

In the playoffs, United would be taken to the limit by the MetroStars before eliminating them in a third game. In the next round, the Black-and-Red would shock the best team in the league, the Tampa Bay Mutiny, as they earned the right to be the first Eastern Conference team to reach MLS Cup.

1996 MLS Cup: October 20th was a great day for US soccer as DC United took on the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first-ever MLS Cup at New England's Foxboro Stadium. United would not only have to battle the Galaxy, but they would also have to defeat Mother Nature.

Over much of the past week, the Boston area had been pounded with nonstop torrential downpours, and on game day, it would be just as bad. Despite the soaking conditions, the game would be a classic.

LA went on top with a goal by Eduardo Hurtado in the 5th minute. In the second half, the Galaxy's Chris Armas gave his squad insurance in the 56th minute, and LA appeared ready to take the first-ever Cup.

Even with a 2-goal deficit and the blinding rainstorm, the Black-and-Red would not go away as Tony Sannah brought his team to within one goal in the 73rd minute. Then Shawn Medved evened the score in the 82nd.

The match would go to golden goal overtime, and United stepped up. With the rain at its heaviest match MVP, Marco Etcheverry took a corner kick to his teammate, Eddie Pope, and he calmly headed the ball in the net, completing DC's comeback and giving his team the first-ever MLS Cup championship.