The 2025 season was D.C. United's 30th in existence and its 30th consecutive season in the top division of American soccer, Major League Soccer. The team participated in the 2025 U.S. Open Cup in addition to MLS play.
The 2025 was poor season for United, who for the second time in four years, finished at the very bottom of the MLS table. This caused the club to miss the MLS Cup playoffs for the sixth season in a row, extended the club's record for playoff drought. The poor performance caused head coach, Troy Lesesne to be sacked midway through the regular season and general manager, Ally Mackay, to be fired at the season's end. Nevertheless, fans and the media put less blame on Lesesne and Mackay and instead aimed more blamed at club ownership, specifically Jason Levien and Steven Kaplan, who, under their ownership, have seen the team earn four last-place finishes and only one major trophy won.
Despite woes in MLS play, United did have their deepest run in the U.S. Open Cup since the 2013 championship run. United reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup before losing to eventual Open Cup, champions, Nashville SC. Outside of these two competitions, United did not participate in any continental tournaments.
The 2024 D.C. United season saw the arrival of Ally Mackay as general manager following the dismissal of Dave Kasper, and Troy Lesesne as head coach following the sacking of Wayne Rooney. Entering the season, expectations among the media were low among the club, and most expected the team to finish at the bottom of the table, and possibly win the Wooden Spoon. The club vastly improved their attack thanks to a Golden Boot-winning season by Christian Benteke as well as acquisitions of players such as Aaron Herrera, Jared Stroud, and Lucas Bartlett. However, the club let in a record 70 goals, the third worst in the league, which offset the 52 goals they scored during the season.
Benteke and Herrera nevertheless were named All-Stars and the former won the MLS Golden Boot, becoming the first D.C. United player to win the boot since Dwayne De Rosario did so in 2011.