The 2012 Real Salt Lake season was the team's eighth year of existence.

The team's first game was on March 10 at the Home Depot Center against the Los Angeles Galaxy, which they won 3-1.

[1] Real Salt Lake is in the #17 position in the MLS Allocation Ranking.

[25] Real Salt Lake has 6 MLS International Roster Slots for use in the 2012 season.

Each club in Major League Soccer is allocated 8 international roster spots and Real Salt Lake has traded away two spots permanently, one to Chivas USA in 2004 and the other to Colorado Rapids in 2005.