D.C. United vs. New York Red Bulls. MLS's oldest rivalry. First played June 20, 1996. Still burning.
The Atlantic Cup is the name of the rivalry between D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls (formerly MetroStars) in Major League Soccer. It's the oldest rivalry in MLS, dating back to the league's inaugural season in 1996.
The name was coined in 2002 as a marketing ploy to revive a waning rivalry, but the hatred was real long before that. These two clubs have clashed in MLS Cup playoffs, Open Cup knockout rounds, and regular-season battles that have defined Eastern Conference soccer for nearly three decades.
| Stat | D.C. United | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 47 | 43 |
| Draws | 21 | |
| Goals Scored | 166 | 148 |
| MLS Cup Playoffs | 6 | 2 |
| U.S. Open Cup | 1 | 1 |
| Atlantic Cup Trophies | 10 | 8 |
| Largest Victory | 5–0 (1998) | 5–0 (2014) |
Updated September 2026. 111 meetings across all competitions. Stats via Wikipedia.
The Atlantic Cup has always been about more than bragging rights. Both teams have been Eastern Conference powers for much of MLS history, and their meetings have often carried playoff implications.
This isn't just about geography — it's about two different visions of American soccer. D.C. United as the league's original dynasty. New York as the league's biggest market, still chasing that elusive first MLS Cup.