The team is a member of the Ivy League of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The Lions fielded their first varsity team in 1906, and have since won 10 Ivy League Championships and have made 14 NCAA tournament appearances.

Their most recent appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship came in 2017 where the Lions reached the second round before losing 1–0 to Wake Forest in the 88' on a penalty kick.

[3] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.

Columbia has won 10 Ivy League championships,[5] their last being in the 2016–2017 season.