The 2016 D.C. United season was the club's twenty-first season of existence, their twenty-first in Major League Soccer and their twenty-first consecutive season in the top flight of American soccer.

The 2016 season began in February 2016, with United playing Liga MX club, Querétaro, in the quarterfinal series of the 2015–16 CONCACAF Champions League. United ultimately lost 1–3 on aggregate to Querétaro and were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the second consecutive season. United began the Major League regular season winless in their first five matches, before winning at home 4–0 to Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Through the spring and summer, United maintained a playoff bubble position in the Eastern Conference table. Additionally, during this time, United was bumped from the fourth round of the 2016 U.S. Open Cup by NASL club, Fort Lauderdale Strikers. In the fall, United went on a regular season surge, which saw the Black-and-Red win four of their final five games, allowing them to finish fourth in the Eastern Conference and tied for ninth overall. This resulted in United qualifying for the MLS Cup Playoffs for the third consecutive season. In the preliminary round of the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs, United lost at home to Montreal Impact, 2–4. The late October loss in the MLS Cup Playoffs was United's last competitive game of the year.

United's top scorers during the campaign came from newcomers, both of whom had previous played for MLS franchises: Lamar Neagle from Seattle Sounders FC lead the team with 10 goals across all competitions. Mid-season signee, Patrick Mullins, from New York City FC had eight goals during the campaign. Additionally, newcomer Luciano Acosta, a loanee from Boca Juniors lead United during the 2016 season with 11 assists across all competitions.

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