When FIFA awarded the United States the rights to host the 1994 World Cup back in 1988, it was with the condition that the US create a Division 1 (top professional level) soccer league. After a slight delay, Major League Soccer started play on April 6, 1996. The very first game was held in San Jose's Spartan Stadium, with the then-San Jose Clash defeating the eventual-champion D.C. United by a 1-0 score. Almost four years later, the team would be renamed the San Jose Earthquakes.

The San Jose Earthquakes represents Major League Soccer in the Bay Area. The team follows a rich tradition of professional soccer in San Jose, which also includes the previous San Jose (later Golden Bay) Earthquakes of the now-defunct North American Soccer League (NASL) and the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks of the old American Professional Soccer League (later the A-League).

The team's general manager is Lynne Meterparel, who earlier served as Director of Crowd-Building for the New England Revolution. The Earthquakes is currently coached by Lothar Osiander, a former U.S. National Team coach who later led the Los Angeles Galaxy to the MLS Cup final in 1996.

Some of the past and present players of the San Jose Earthquakes include:

• Paul Bravo
• Eric Wynalda
• Eddie Lewis
• John Doyle
• Ronald Cerritos

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