The 2013 D.C. United season was the club's eighteenth, and their eighteenth season in Major League Soccer, the top division of American soccer. The regular season began on March 2 and concluded on October 27.
Outside of MLS play, the club competed in the U.S. Open Cup. Also, for the first time in their history, they played in the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic, a preseason tournament to be held in February, after participating in the Carolina Challenge Cup for the past five seasons.
After a promising 2012 campaign, United's form took a sharp turn downward as injuries, underachievement from offseason acquisitions, and a loss of form caused the team to record the worst season in MLS history. The extremely poor season came as universal shock to fans and media, who thought United would be one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference, and a potential candidate for the MLS Cup title.
United's top scoring players were Dwayne De Rosario, Luis Silva, and Kyle Porter, who each scored three goals. The club benefited from four own goals—outscoring any player on the team in MLS play.
Despite their poor league play, United qualified for the 2014–15 CONCACAF Champions League by winning the 2013 U.S. Open Cup Final on October 1. That marked their 13th major honor, the most in North American soccer history. As of 2023, this is the most recent major title won by the club.
Background: 2012 season
After four consecutive seasons of failing to qualify for the playoffs, D.C. United returned to the playoffs by finishing second in the Eastern Conference, and third in the overall tables, amassing a total of 58 points from a record of 17–7–10 (wins, losses, draws). In their return to the playoffs, D.C. United defeated their Atlantic Cup rivals, New York Red Bulls, 2–1 on aggregate. In the Eastern Conference Finals, D.C. United fell to Houston Dynamo 4–2 on aggregate, making it the furthest D.C. United went in the MLS Cup Playoffs since 2006.
Since neither the San Jose Earthquakes nor Sporting Kansas City reached MLS Cup 2012, D.C. United narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League, which would have been United's third appearance in the newly revamped Champions League, their thirteenth overall CONCACAF club tournament, and their first since the 2009–10 season.
Elsewhere, United competed in the U.S. Open Cup, where they fell in the fourth round proper to Philadelphia Union in a penalty shoot-out. During the preseason, United won their third-straight Carolina Challenge Cup.
Review
Offseason
One of the largest offseason news was the departure of longtime CEO of the club, Kevin Payne, who had been the chief executive officer and president of the D.C. United franchise since its inception in 1994. Payne left on November 27, 2012, reportedly on good terms with the club, to take over as the president of fellow Major League Soccer outfit, Toronto FC. He was announced as Toronto's president the next day, on November 28, 2012.
Prior to the 2012 MLS Re-Entry Draft, United declined options on four players; Mike Chabala, Emiliano Dudar, Maicon Santos and Stephen King. Santos, was selected by Chicago Fire in the first round of the Re-Entry Draft. Held on December 3, 2012, Santos was the only selection in the first stage of the re-entry draft. The second stage was held on December 14, 2012. There, United selected former-Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder, John Thorrington. In Thorrington's two seasons in Vancouver, he made 30 appearances.
Preseason/February
As of December 14, D.C. United will participate in four preseason exhibitions prior to the start of the regular season. Participating in the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic for the first time in franchise history, United open the exhibition tournament on February 9, 2013 against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, the 2012 North American Soccer League (second division) champions. United will subsequently play against Sporting Kansas City and Montreal Impact.
Two weeks into the new year, the 2013 MLS SuperDraft was held, with D.C. United having the 17th overall pick. The club traded away their second round pick in this draft back in 2011 with New England Revolution. Needing defensive depth, it was anticipated that United was going to select a defender from the draft to help bolster the defense, in which they ended up doing. The club selected Taylor Kemp from the Maryland Terrapins men's soccer program.