| 2006 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Owner | D.C. United Holdings | ||
| Head coach | Piotr Nowak | ||
| MLS | Conference: 1st Overall: 1st | ||
| MLS Cup Playoffs | Conference Final | ||
| U.S. Open Cup | Semifinals | ||
| Atlantic Cup | Winners | ||
| Carolina Challenge Cup | Runners-up | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: All: C. Gomez (16) | ||
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The 2006 season was D.C. United's eleventh season of soccer, its eleventh consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top tier of American soccer. The club also played in the U.S. Open Cup, the United States' domestic knockout cup competition. The reserve team played for their second season in the MLS Reserve League.
D.C. United earned their third ever Supporters' Shield, and their first since 1999 by defeating their longtime rivals, the New York Red Bulls 4–3 on September 23. The Shield, which is given to the MLS club with the best regular season record, was United's third ever shield, becoming the first MLS franchise achieve three or more Supporters' Shields, a feat that would not be achieve by a different top division team until 2009. By finishing first in the Eastern Conference, United earned a top seed in the MLS Cup Playoffs, where they won a two-match aggregate series against the Red Bulls, 2–1. United's postseason ended in the Eastern Conference Final on November 5, when they were defeated 1–0 by the New England Revolution.
In the U.S. Open Cup, United reached the semifinal proper of the competition, their best run in the tournament since 2003. United opened their first two rounds of the competition against MLS opposition posting an extra time victory over Columbus Crew, and a 3–1 victory over the Red Bulls in the quarterfinal proper. United was ultimately defeated by a resounding 3–0 scoreline against eventual Open Cup champions, Chicago Fire on September 1.