Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dynamo Football Club is an American soccer team based in Houston. The team plays in Major League Soccer in the Western Conference. The team started on December 15, 2005, after the old owners moved the San Jose Earthquakes players and staff to Houston after the 2005 season.

For the first six years, the Dynamo played at Robertson Stadium on the University of Houston campus. In the 2012 season, they moved to Shell Energy Stadium, a soccer-specific stadium in East Downtown Houston.

The team is owned by Ted Segal, who bought the team in August 2022. The Houston Dynamo have won the MLS Cup twice, in their first two years, and the U.S. Open Cup twice, in 2018 and 2023. They have also been second place in many big competitions.

History

In 2005, Major League Soccer let the owners of the San Jose Earthquakes move their team to Houston for the 2006 season. The players and staff moved, but the name and colors stayed in San Jose. Because of this, Houston became a new team called the Dynamo in 2006.

The Dynamo played their first game in April 2006 and won the MLS Cup, a big championship game, that same year. They won the MLS Cup again in 2007. Over the years, the team has had many changes but kept playing in Major League Soccer.

Colors and badge

The Houston Dynamo FC uses three main colors: Wildcatter orange, Space City blue, and Raven black. Their original logo had a star, maybe inspired by the flag of Houston, Texas. After big wins in 2006 and 2007, they added special designs to the logo.

In 2020, they changed their logo to a hexagonal shape. This shape shows the year the team started, 2006, and also looks like the city's original layout. The logo also has shapes that represent Houston's waterways.

Name

The team chose the name "Dynamo" on March 6, 2006. The name matches Houston's strong energy industry and honors an old soccer team, the Houston Dynamos. The team president said “Dynamo” means someone who never gives up, just right for a hardworking city like Houston. Their colors—orange, white, and “Space City” blue—honor the city’s flag and another famous Houston team, the Houston Oilers.

At first, the team was going to be called “Houston 1836,” after the year Houston was founded. But some fans thought this name had sensitive meanings, so the team chose “Dynamo” instead. In 2020, the club added “Football Club” to its name, now called Houston Dynamo FC.

Stadiums

Shell Energy Stadium

Main article: Shell Energy Stadium

In 2010, plans began for a special soccer stadium in Downtown Houston. The stadium, first called BBVA Compass Stadium, opened in 2012 with a game against D.C. United. It has changed names a few times and is now called Shell Energy Stadium. The stadium can hold over 20,000 fans and has special seating made of mesh. It also hosts football games, concerts, and other events.

Houston Sports Park

The Houston Dynamo, Houston Dash, and their academy teams train at the Houston Sports Park. This facility opened in 2011 and has seven soccer fields. Most fields are for the teams, but some are open to the public. It is located a short drive from Shell Energy Stadium.

Club culture

Supporters

The first match in 2006 had many fans watching against the Colorado Rapids. As it got warmer, fewer people came, but attendance went up again later. A large crowd came to see a game against the Los Angeles Galaxy in August because of a special event with two other teams.

In 2006, the average number of fans for home games was 18,935. Fans helped fill stadiums during the playoffs and were part of a sold-out crowd for the 2006 MLS Cup in Frisco.

There are four official supporter groups: El Batallón, Texian Army, Bandera Negra, and The Surge.

Mascot

In 2007, Houston chose a mascot. Artists from The Art Institute of Houston made designs, and fans voted online. The winner was an orange-haired fox named Dynamo Diesel. He was introduced at the Houston Zoo and joined the team's community events.

Rivalries

Houston Dynamo’s main rival is FC Dallas, and they play in the Texas Derby. Since Austin FC joined in 2021, the three teams compete for the Copa Tejas trophy. The Dynamo also have a rivalry with Sporting Kansas City after playing them often in important games.

Broadcasting

From 2023, every Houston Dynamo match can be watched using MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. Before this, the games were shown on TV stations in Houston and also on national MLS TV channels.

Most matches are also broadcast on radio in both English and Spanish. ESPN Houston 97.5 FM is the English station, with Glenn Davis as the announcer.

TUDN Radio Houston 93.3 FM is the Spanish station, where Daniel Mejia describes the action and Cesar Procel gives expert advice.

Players and staff

For details on former players, see All-time Houston Dynamo roster.

Current roster

As of April 17, 2026

Note: Flags show the country each player plays for under FIFA eligibility rules. Some players may have more than one nationality that is not under FIFA rules.

Out on loan

Note: Flags show the country each player plays for under FIFA eligibility rules. Some players may have more than one nationality that is not under FIFA rules.

Head coaches

• Note: Record is for MLS Regular season games only. As of February 1, 2025

General managers

Ownership history

• AEG (2005–2015)
• Gabriel Brener (2008–2022)
• Oscar De La Hoya (2008–2022)
• Ben Guill (2015–2022)
• Jake Silverstein (2015–2021)
• Ted Segal (2021–present)
• Lyle Ayes (2022–present)

Staff

As of August 5, 2024^[update]

Affiliates and club academy

The Houston Dynamo Academy started in 2007. Their first homegrown player, Tyler Deric, joined the team in 2009. After that, Francisco Navas Cobo became the second homegrown player and played in a game for the Dynamo. In 2011, Alex Dixon scored a goal for the team against Real Salt Lake.

The academy has been at Houston Sports Park since 2011. Before that, they played at different fields around the city. The Dynamo also had affiliate teams, like the Charleston Battery and later the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, where they sent players to gain experience. In 2022, the Dynamo started a new team called Houston Dynamo 2 to play in the MLS Next Pro league.

The Dynamo work closely with the Houston Dash of the NWSL, and both teams are operated by Houston Dynamo Football Club.

Honors

Domestic

• MLS Cup
  • Champions (2): (/wiki/MLS_Cup_2006), (/wiki/MLS_Cup_2007)
  • Runners-up (2): (/wiki/MLS_Cup_2011), (/wiki/MLS_Cup_2012)
• U.S. Open Cup
  • Champions (2): (/wiki/2018_U.S._Open_Cup), (/wiki/2023_U.S._Open_Cup)
• Supporters' Shield
  • Runners-up (1): (/wiki/2008_Major_League_Soccer_season)
• Western Conference (Playoff)
  • Champions (2): (/wiki/2006_Major_League_Soccer_season), (/wiki/2007_Major_League_Soccer_season)
  • Runners-up (3): (/wiki/2009_Major_League_Soccer_season), (/wiki/2017_Major_League_Soccer_season), (/wiki/2023_Major_League_Soccer_season)
• Eastern Conference (Playoff)
  • Champions (2): (/wiki/2011_Major_League_Soccer_season), (/wiki/2012_Major_League_Soccer_season)
  • Runners-up (1): (/wiki/2013_Major_League_Soccer_season)
• Western Conference (Regular Season)
  • Champions (1): (/wiki/2008_Major_League_Soccer_season)

International

• North American SuperLiga
  • Runners-up (1): (/wiki/2008_North_American_SuperLiga)

Seasons

Main article: List of Houston Dynamo seasons

Here is a quick look at the last five seasons for the Houston Dynamo. For the full history, see List of Houston Dynamo seasons.

**^**1. Avg. attendance includes stats from league matches only.
**^**2. Top goalscorer(s) includes goals from League, MLS Cup Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup, MLS is Back Tournament, CONCACAF Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and other important matches.

Team records

Main article: Houston Dynamo records and statistics

Main article: Houston Dynamo in International Competition

Because the team won the MLS Cup, they played in big tournaments like the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the North American SuperLiga. In 2008, they also played in the first ever Pan-Pacific Championship and the first ever CONCACAF Champions League. They reached the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup twice and the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League three times.

Here are some of the team's top performers:

• Games played: Brad Davis (271)
• Goals: Brian Ching (56)
• Assists: Brad Davis (104)
• Shots: Brad Davis (473)
• Wins: Pat Onstad (53)
• Shutouts: Pat Onstad (37)
• Saves: Pat Onstad (384)

These records are from the MLS regular season only, up until December 19, 2019.

Player awards

Houston Dynamo FC players have won many awards over the years.

They have been chosen for the MLS Best XI team. This means they were among the best players in the league that year. Some of these players include Dwayne De Rosario, Ricardo Clark, Geoff Cameron, Stuart Holden, Brad Davis, and Héctor Herrera.

Players have also been selected for the MLS All-Star Game. This is a match with some of the best players from around the league. Players like Brian Ching, Dwayne De Rosario, Eddie Robinson, Brad Davis, Geoff Cameron, and Héctor Herrera have been part of this special game.

Other awards given to Houston Dynamo FC players include Goal of the Year, Save of the Year, and the Fair Play Player award. This award recognizes sportsmanship and fair play.

Attendance

Average season attendance

The Houston Dynamo FC has many fans who come to watch them play each season. The average number of fans who go to each game changes from year to year.

Highest attended matches

Some games have more fans than others. These are usually games against big rival teams or important matches in the season.