Plagued with mediocrity in their first few seasons of existence, the Diplomats did not qualify for the playoffs until 1976, their third year in the league.

Consequently, the club experienced a spike in average attendance, nearing 20,000 fans a game by the 1980 season, although a significant number of tickets were "comps" or "papered" by the team's front office staff.

However, a regression of attendance and a lack of field success sounded the death knell of the franchise, and the Diplomats folded following the 1981 season.

[2][4] After a lackluster beginning to the franchise, the Diplomats qualified for the playoffs and increased average game attendance in each of their last three years of existence.

Additionally, in their final year, the Diplomats were able to sign the future European Player of the Century Johan Cruyff.

This was especially true when Johan Cruyff was playing in DC and the Cosmos had Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia.

Arguably the most famous were the Dutch pair of Johan Cruyff and Wim Jansen who had over 100 caps for the Netherlands between them and who represented the Dips between 1979 and 1981.

Future Real Madrid and Netherlands coach, Guus Hiddink also played for the Diplomats.