what is the supporters shield in mls

The Supporters Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer (MLS) team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system. It has been awarded annually at the MLS Supporters Summit since 1999 (with the winners between 1996 and 1998 awarded retroactively), and has been recognized as a major trophy by the league. The Supporters Shield echoes the practice of the top European leagues in which the team with the best record is the champion. Since 2006, the Supporters Shield winner has earned a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League if they are an American-based team. If the Supporters Shield winner also wins the MLS Cup, the team with the second-highest regular season point total qualifies as well. D.C. United and LA Galaxy, with four Supporters Shields each, have won the most shields of any MLS team. The Shield is made of sterling silver and stainless steel and weighs 35 pounds. It is designed to grow over time as more teams win the Shield and are etched into its history.