San Jose Earthquakes

The San Jose Earthquakes represent Silicon Valley in Major League Soccer, playing at PayPal Park in San Jose where the club has maintained a presence in the tech-centric Bay Area since the league's early years. The Quakes' blue and black colors and earthquake-themed identity reflect the region's seismic activity while creating a memorable brand in a market crowded with sports options. The club's soccer-specific stadium, opened in 2015, finally gave the Earthquakes a permanent home after years at various Bay Area venues following the Houston relocation. San Jose's diverse, international population has embraced the Quakes, with the 1906 Ultras and other supporters creating atmosphere at matches. The Earthquakes continue building toward relevance in the Western Conference, aiming to restore the success that defined the club's early championship years.

The San Jose Earthquakes were one of MLS's founding clubs in 1996, though the franchise's complex history includes the 2006 relocation to Houston (which became the Dynamo) and the league's decision to award San Jose a new expansion team in 2008. The original Earthquakes won MLS Cup in 2001 and 2003, with Landon Donovan, Dwayne De Rosario, and Jeff Agoos forming the core of those championship teams—the 2003 final saw the Quakes overcome a 2-0 aggregate deficit against the LA Galaxy in one of MLS's greatest comebacks. Chris Wondolowski's 171 career goals, the most in MLS history, were almost entirely scored in Quakes colors, making him the franchise's defining player. The California Clásico rivalry with the LA Galaxy has endured through the club's various iterations, with the Northern California-Southern California dynamic adding stakes to every meeting.