MLS at 30: 15 Stranger-Than-Fiction Stories | OneFootball

Our MLS at 30 series continues with a wild look at 15 strange, bizarre, or downright unbelievable stories from across the league’s three-decade history. From odd player requests and wrong signings to mascots being ejected and clubs sued over their name, these tales remind us just how weird and unpredictable Major League Soccer can be.

As MLS celebrates its 30th season, we’ve dug through the archives to uncover some of the league’s weirdest moments — some from the early days, others from recent years.

Yes, MLS has grown tremendously, but it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Along the way, there have been missteps, misfires, and some truly bizarre decisions. Below are 15 of the strangest stories we could find. (Honorable mentions include Jorge Campos reportedly asking for a Ferrari to sign with LA Galaxy, Crew Cat getting red carded, and the league’s first celebrity All-Star Game in 1998.)

Enjoy the misadventures of MLS!

Kansas City Wiz — But Not for Long

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In 1996, Kansas City kicked off its MLS existence with an unorthodox name, the Wiz — a nod to the city’s connection to The Wizard of Oz — and a loud, garish kit. After one season, the club quietly rebranded to the “Wizards” due to a trademark dispute with electronics chain Nobody Beats The Wiz. Instead of going to court, MLS, cash-strapped in its early days, simply tweaked the name and moved on. In 2011, the club would change its name once more, to a more Euro-sounding Sporting Kansas City.

D.C. United Takes Soccer to Prison

In 2024, D.C. United partnered with the D.C. Department of Corrections and the Twinning Project to bring soccer to local prisons. Starting in August, coaches from the club and its academy ran weekly training sessions at the Central Detention Facility to promote physical wellness and help inmates develop life skills for reintegration into society — one of the league’s more progressive initiatives.

Alexi Lalas’ Rock Album

In 1998, Alexi Lalas was struggling with the MetroStars, made a forgettable appearance at the World Cup with the United States men’s national team, and released a rock album titled Ginger that no one asked for. It was panned by critics and ignored by fans. Strangely, Lalas has released eight albums, most of them timed suspiciously close to World Cups. Coincidence?

Rhett Harty: From MLS Pioneer to Medical Professional

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Defender Rhett Harty was part of the first trade in league history and a standout on a struggling MetroStars side. But in a lesser-known twist, he was involved in an antitrust lawsuit against MLS over its single-entity structure. After being lowballed on a new contract, Harty left pro soccer entirely and pursued a career in medicine.

Alain Sutter Wanted to Tour America — Literally

Stephen Dunn / Allsport

Swiss international Alain Sutter, one of MLS’s early marquee players, requested to be traded to a different team each season so he could “see the country.” The league declined and assigned him to Dallas, where he impressed until a fluke injury — stepping in a hole — ended his career in 1998.

Chivas USA: A Cultural Experiment Gone Wrong

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Chivas USA was created to attract Mexican-American fans in Los Angeles and throughout the country, but the project backfired. The club was accused of hiring based on ethnicity, leading to a discrimination lawsuit by former staff who claimed they were let go for not being Latino. Combined with poor management and declining support, MLS shut the team down in 2014.

MetroStars Sign the Wrong Palacios?

Image via MetroFanatic

In 1998, the MetroStars signed Colombian defender Jose Arley Palacios — but many believe they meant to sign his more famous brother, Everth Palacios, who had just played in the World Cup. The team’s yearbook reportedly used Everth’s bio by mistake. It’s never been officially confirmed, but the rumors never died.

Eric Wynalda Pays for a “Fire the Coach” Banner

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In 1996, Eric Wynalda feuded so badly with San Jose Clash coach Laurie Calloway that he paid for a plane to fly a banner over Spartan Stadium calling for Calloway’s firing. That’s next-level player-coach drama — even for Wynalda, who has never shied away from conflict throughout his career.

David Beckham Booed by His Own Fans

Despite being the league’s biggest star, David Beckham was booed by LA Galaxy fans in 2009 after returning from a loan to AC Milan. Fans saw him as a part-time player who cared more about Europe than MLS — and let him know it, loudly and repeatedly.

Inter Miami’s Backdoor Into the Club World Cup

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When FIFA announced its new Club World Cup format, most assumed the MLS Cup winner would represent the league. But after Inter Miami won the Supporters’ Shield with Lionel Messi, FIFA and MLS quickly named them the “host representative,” bypassing the eventual MLS Cup winners, LA Galaxy. A convenient loophole? Absolutely. FIFA needed the ticket sales.

MLS Abandons the U.S. Open Cup

In 2024, MLS shocked fans by sending mostly reserve teams to the U.S. Open Cup, citing scheduling concerns and player fatigue. Critics saw it as disrespect toward the historic tournament — and a sign MLS is prioritizing its own competitions like the Leagues Cup. The panned move seems to now be taking a turn to redemption as some MLS teams have returned to the competition.

Claudio Caniggia Deal Collapses Over Drug Test

Shaun Botterill/ALLSPORT

In 1999, the MetroStars were reportedly close to signing Argentine legend Claudio Caniggia. Local Spanish-language media even broke the story. But according to a former team executive, the deal fell apart after Caniggia was asked to take a drug test and pulled out in protest and feeling insulted. He later returned to Serie A with Atalanta and made Argentina’s 2002 World Cup squad. The MetroStars, meanwhile, continued to linger in mediocrity.

Freddy Adu: The 14-Year-Old Savior Who Never Was

At just 14, Freddy Adu became the youngest player in MLS history and was hailed as the next Pelé. Despite flashes of brilliance, he never lived up to the hype. His journey through Europe and lower-tier teams turned him into a symbol of mismanaged youth talent rather than a star. It also did not help the image of MLS that 30-year-olds were taking pride in smashing into a 14-year-old kid.

Clint Mathis Blocked From Bayern Munich

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After starring in the 2002 World Cup, Clint Mathis drew interest from Bayern Munich — but MLS reportedly blocked the transfer. His form dipped, and he left on a free two years later. A prime example of MLS getting in its own way during the early days of player movement.

The MLS Shootout: So American It Hurt

From 1996 to 1999, MLS didn’t allow regular season draws. Instead, tied games went to a 35-yard breakaway shootout, where players had five seconds to score one-on-one against the keeper. It was meant to appeal to American fans — but instead became a symbol of how out of touch the league was with global soccer norms.