Founded by Flavio Augusto da Silva in 2010, Orlando City Soccer Club began play in the tier three United Soccer League. The intention right from the start was to bring the MLS back to Florida following the folding of the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion in 2001.

The hard work would pay off when Orlando was awarded an MLS team in 2013, which would begin play in 2015. On March 8th at the Citrus Bowl Stadium, Orlando City coached by Adrian Heath would make their debut against fellow expansion team New York City Football Club.

The team new teams would play to a 1-1 draw, with Kaka scoring in the 91st minute for the first MLS goal for the Lions. Orlando City would win its first game five days later, beating the Houston Dynamo on the road 1-0.

Despite struggling through much of the spring, the Lions played well during the early part of the summer and looked to be on track for the playoffs. But a collection of injuries and national team call-ups conspired to drop the team out of the playoff picture to seventh place with a 12-14-8 record.

Orlando City did provide a spark with a five-game winning streak at the end of the season, but it wasn't enough as Toronto FC finished five points better.