Houston Dynamo Football Club was established on December 15, 2005, in Houston, Texas, when Major League Soccer transferred the players and staff of the San Jose Earthquakes to a new franchise in the city. The club began competing in the Western Conference of MLS from the 2006 season, initially playing home matches at Robertson Stadium on the University of Houston campus before moving to Shell Energy Stadium, a soccer-specific venue in East Downtown Houston, in 2012.
The Dynamo made an immediate impact on the league, winning back-to-back MLS Cup titles in their first two seasons, 2006 and 2007. The 2006 final against the New England Revolution was the first in MLS history decided by a penalty shootout, with Houston prevailing 4–3. They repeated the feat the following year, defeating the same opponents with a late goal to secure consecutive championships — only the second club in MLS history to achieve that. The club reached the MLS Cup final again in both 2011 and 2012, though they fell short on both occasions.
Beyond the league, Houston has claimed the U.S. Open Cup twice, in 2018 and 2023, adding domestic cup silverware to their portfolio. The Texas Derby against FC Dallas stands as one of the defining rivalries in MLS, fuelled by geographic proximity and state pride. The club's identity is also closely tied to Houston's energy industry, with the Dynamo name referencing the city's prominent role in that sector. Majority ownership passed to Ted Segal in 2022. Houston Dynamo continue to compete in the Western Conference as one of MLS's founding-era success stories.