Orlando City Soccer Club is an American professional soccer club based in Orlando, Florida. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. Owned by Zygi, Leonard, and Mark Wilf, it is the sister club of the National Women's Soccer League's Orlando Pride and MLS Next Pro's Orlando City B. The team plays its home games in downtown Orlando at Inter&Co Stadium, which is owned and operated by the club.

The team played as a charter member of the USL Pro, winning three Commissioner's Cups and two league championships in its first four seasons. The victories led to a successful bid to enter MLS, the highest level of the United States soccer league system, debuting in its 2015 season alongside New York City FC, and selling their USL franchise rights to Louisville City FC. Since its purchase by the Wilf family in 2021, the club has qualified twice for the Concacaf Champions Cup, and won the U.S. Open Cup in 2022.

Originally a United Soccer League (USL) club, Orlando City was founded in 2010 by Stoke City F.C. board member Phil Rawlins. Following the conclusion of the 2010 season, Rawlins bought the USL franchise rights of Orlando Pro Soccer – an stillbirth club affiliated with the Orlando Titans of the National Lacrosse League that failed to field a team, despite Steve Donner leaving the Titans to focus his efforts on the soccer team. Rawlins subsequently moved Austin Aztex FC to Orlando, bringing with him the Aztex's manager and most of its roster, and unveiled its rebranding as Orlando City SC in an October 2010 press conference. Rawlins stated at the press conference that he intends to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Orlando "within 3–5 years", and intends to bring international matches to the city. On February 28, 2011, Orlando City announced it met with commissioner Don Garber and league officials concerning expansion. Topics covered included the demographics of the Orlando marketplace, the local corporate and fan support for soccer, and developing a roadmap for a future Major League Soccer franchise in Orlando.

Orlando City's first preseason began with a home match against Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union, winning 1–0, with Lewis Neal scoring the first goal in club history. Orlando City opened their first season on April 2, 2011, at Richmond Kickers, losing 0–2, and played their first home game on April 9 against F.C. New York, winning 3–0 with Maxwell Griffin scoring the first competitive goal for the club. They finished the regular season top of the American Division on 51 points, which resulted in the USL Pro regular season title. On September 3, they played the Harrisburg City Islanders in the final. This match ended in a 1–1 draw, and after extra time the score was still tied at 2–2. Orlando went on to win 3–2 in penalty kicks making them the 2011 USL Pro champions.

Following their inaugural season, Orlando City team officials met with Garber again on November 10, 2011, for further discussions about joining MLS as its 20th club (which ultimately went to New York City FC).

On March 1, 2012, Garber visited Orlando to meet with city and county officials. He stated, "It's not a matter of if, but when", addressing Orlando's chances of joining MLS. Later on August 31, Rawlins told the Orlando Business Journal the team could get the Major League Soccer approval as early as late 2013, and be ready to play in the league by 2014 or 2015. Rawlins said to make that happen, the league had asked the team to explore building a 22,000-seat soccer-specific stadium. "They didn't say we had to have a stadium built before we could join, but they at least would like a plan that it's happening." Orlando City repeated as regular season champions, but exited the playoffs in the semi-finals with a 4–3 loss to Wilmington Hammerheads.

In their third year in USL Pro, the Lions took second place in the regular season. Their first game in the playoffs was a 5–0 win against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The semi-finals were a 3–2 win over the defending champions, the Charleston Battery. The result in the finals was a 7–4 win over the Charlotte Eagles. This marked Orlando City's second championship in 3 years. On November 19, 2013, leaded by Flavio Augusto da Silva, Orlando City was announced as the league's twenty-first franchise.

The team's new logo was unveiled in May 2014 and Flavio Augusto da Silva signed their first player to an MLS contract, former Brazil international Kaká, a month later. Kaká, who also became the team's first Designated Player after his release from AC Milan, was immediately loaned to São Paulo until the start of the MLS season. In the same month, Orlando City announced a partnership with Benfica. As part of that partnership, Orlando City later signed two players from Benfica U19s  – Estrela and Rafael Ramos – to MLS contracts on August 7, 2014. On July 6, 2014, four Orlando City supporters were arrested following an altercation at Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg during a game against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in which fans were assaulted and illegal fireworks were used after members from both supporters groups had hidden themselves in the crowd. One of the arrested had previously identified himself as a co-president of the Iron Lion Firm. In response, the club "indefinitely suspended" both the Ruckus and Iron Lion Firm, pending their agreement to a new Fan Code of Conduct. One week after the St. Petersburg incident, members of the Iron Lion Firm were ejected from a home game after profane language was chanted in their section. The majority of the remaining Firm members walked out before the end of the game. The Ruckus was reinstated on July 21, 2014, after agreeing to abide by a new Code of Conduct. Weeks later the club reinstated the Iron Lion Firm as a recognized supporter's group as well. On November 21, 2014, head coach Adrian Heath signed a contract extension committing him to the club until the end of the 2017 MLS season.