The Major League Soccer Cup playoffs continue as the Eastern and Western Conference semifinals are set to take center stage.
Just eight teams remain in the MLS Cup playoffs following a nail-biting first round which included multiple best-of-three series that went the distance. Now, the stakes are raised with every round from here on out featuring a single elimination game.
Win and you’re one step closer to lifting the biggest prize in North American soccer. Lose and your season comes to an unceremonious end.
Sports Illustrated previews all four MLS conference semifinals.
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Denis Bouanga (left) made a late season push, but came up short of the MLS Golden Boot. / Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Date
Time
Venue
Saturday, Nov. 23
9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT
BC Place
Regular Season Results
Date
Home Team
Score
Away Team
May 11
Vancouver Whitecaps
2–2
LAFC
June 29
LAFC
0–1
Vancouver Whitecaps
If you were hoping to see more of Son Heung-min and Thomas Müller this postseason, the conference semifinals will be your last chance to see both of them in action as they’re set to face off.
The former Tottenham and Bayern Munich players each made the jump to MLS this summer instantly bringing new star power to the league. Son reinvigorated an LAFC side that were flirting with being a pretender rather than a contender. Since joining, the South Korea international has formed a deadly partnership with Denis Bouanga.
The two combined for an MLS-record 18 straight goals, at one point putting Bouanga firmly in the Golden Boot race. Son even won the MLS Goal of the Year award for his stellar free kick against FC Dallas.
LAFC made swift work of Austin FC in a two-game sweep outscoring the Texas side six goals to two. Their next challenge is a whole different beast.
For all of Son’s flair, there’s Müller’s unrelenting charisma. The raumdeuter, or space interpreter, has transformed Vancouver’s mentality since joining. Constantly highlighting the mindset needed to win trophies, Müller has become an integral piece in a side that came just three points shy of the Supporters’ Shield.
The Whitecaps might’ve needed penalties to eliminate FC Dallas in round one, but a two-game sweep nonetheless. The lone Canadian side left in the playoffs were unbeaten against LAFC this season, but the Black and Gold hold the all-time, head-to-head lead.
Prediction: Vancouver Whitecaps 2–2 LAFC (LAFC advance on penalties)
MLS Cup Playoffs 5 Best Players. MLS Cup Playoffs: The Five Best Players From Round One—Ranked. dark. Next
Luis Suárez (left) should return after serving a one-game suspension. / Eston Parker/ISI Photos/Getty Images
Date
Time
Venue
Sunday, Nov. 23
5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT
TQL Stadium
Regular Season Results
Date
Home Team
Score
Away Team
July 16
FC Cincinnati
3–0
Inter Miami
July 26
Inter Miami
0–0
FC Cincinnati
Rejoice, Inter Miami fans. The pain of first round eliminations is a thing of the past.
The Herons overcame last season’s heartbreak and eliminated Nashville SC in three games to advance. Not only was it their first playoff series victory, but they also postponed the impending retirements of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
MLS MVP favorite Lionel Messi was on fire against the U.S. Open Cup champions with six goal contributions in three games (five goals, one assist). The Herons need their talisman up top to deliver once again as they travel to Ohio for the semifinals.
FC Cincinnati had an emotional first round given they faced derby rival Columbus Crew. There’s no doubt the Ohio side have the talent to not only topple Messi and co., but truly challenge for the MLS Cup.
The attacking trio of Brenner, Kévin Denkey and Evander will consistently threaten a shaky Inter Miami defense. They’ll rely on USMNT international Miles Robinson and MLS Comeback Player of the Year Nick Hagglund at the back.
The head-to-head record between these two sides is dead even at five wins each with three draws, so whoever emerges victorious gets some extra bragging rights along the way.
Prediction: FC Cincinnati 2–3 Inter Miami
Next. Miami Road to MLS Final. Inter Miami’s Route to the MLS Cup Final. dark
Alonso Martínez (middle) is likely to miss the match through injury. / Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images
Date
Time
Venue
Sunday, Nov. 23
7:45 p.m. ET/4:45 p.m. PT
Subaru Park
Regular Season Results
Date
Home Team
Score
Away Team
April 12
New York City FC
1–0
Philadelphia Union
Oct. 4
Philadelphia Union
1–0
New York City FC
The other Eastern Conference semifinal might not have the same star power on paper, but there’s nothing quite like a Philadelphia vs. New York sports rivalry.
The Union won the Supporters’ Shield this year, the honor for most points in the regular season, in Bradley Carnell’s first go. Despite unpredictability in how they would get on after parting ways with longtime manager Jim Curtin, Philadelphia are a true MLS Cup contender.
The strike force of Tai Baribo and Bruno Damiani is as good as it gets, plus there’s talent in midfield and defense with the likes of Milan Iloski and Kai Wagner. If their strikers perform like they did in game two against the Chicago Fire, teams won’t want to face Philadelphia.
On the other side is an NYCFC team that upset Charlotte FC in three games. First-year manager Pascal Jansen has the New York side one round away from repeating as an Eastern Conference finalist.
Yet, there’s concern regarding star forward Alonso Martínez. The Costa Rican picked up a knee injury while representing his country and is set for further evaluation. Missing the semifinals would be a major blow as Hannes Wolf, Maxi Moralez and Nicolás Fernández will be called upon to step up.
NYCFC will also need USMNT goalkeeper Matt Freese at his best if they’re to pull off another upset and eliminate the Supporters’ Shield winners.
Prediction: Philadelphia Union 3–1 New York City FC
San Diego and Minnesota split the regular season series. / Francisco Vega/Getty Images
Date
Time
Venue
Monday, Nov. 24
10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
Snapdragon Stadium
Regular Season Results
Date
Home Team
Score
Away Team
June 14
Minnesota United
2–4
San Diego FC
Sept. 13
San Diego FC
1–3
Minnesota United
Set the record for most points by an expansion team in MLS history? Check. Win your MLS Cup playoffs debut series? Check.
San Diego FC are in dreamland coming into their semifinal clash with Minnesota United.
Mikey Varas’s side navigated a tricky matchup with the Portland Timbers advancing in three games. MLS MVP nominee Anders Dreyer once again delivered in the third game with a brace adding yet another highlight to his MLS Newcomer of the Year season.
On the opposing side is a Minnesota team that eliminated Leagues Cup winners Seattle Sounders in three games. Led by Eric Ramsay, Minnesota are happy to let their opponents have the ball and make use of their counter-pressing system. Dayne St. Clair has been rock solid in goal all season, and might have an added edge in the round.
Minnesota needed two penalty shootouts to advance in games one and three. San Diego lost their game two penalty shootout forcing a decisive third match.
If Minnesota can stifle a potent San Diego attack, they’ll like their odds in a shootout. And, if they do pull off the upset, it would arguably be the story of the MLS Cup playoffs so far.
Prediction: San Diego FC 2–1 Minnesota United
- Inter Miami
- LAFC
- Vancouver Whitecaps
- Philadelphia Union
- San Diego FC
- Minnesota United
- FC Cincinnati
- New York City FC
At this stage of the competition, Inter Miami look most likely to go on and lift the MLS Cup. Messi is on fire and shows no signs of slowing down. Plus, they have some plot armor in Busquets and Alba potentially lifting one final trophy in their careers.
As long as their defense holds up at key points, the Herons are the favorites. They kept Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar, one of the best attacking duos in the league, relatively quiet in round one outscoring their Nashville 9–2 across all three games.
Rocco Ríos Novo has taken over goalkeeper duties from Oscar Ustari and looks poised between the sticks. One player that needs to step up is Rodrigo De Paul. The summer signing hasn’t made a major impact in the way some might expect a 31-year-old midfielder coming over from Atlético Madrid.
If he ups his game, Miami’s midfield will be hard to outmatch.
The MLS Cup playoff bracket. / MLS
The MLS Cup playoffs might be a bit confusing to new viewers given the format changes throughout the competition.
Things are fairly straightforward for the rest of the bracket. The higher seeds remaining in the playoffs host all single-elimination matches moving forward. If a match is tied at the end of regulation, two 15-minute extra time periods are played. If the score is still level after extra time, a penalty shootout will take place to decide the winner.
The semifinal hosts are Vancouver, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and San Diego.
Conference Semifinals Dates
Once we get to the conference finals portion of the postseason, the higher seed maintains hosting rights. Matches are all single-elimination and feature the same format as the semifinals.
Conference Finals Dates
Eastern Conference teams have a leg up in terms of hosting the MLS Cup final. / Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
The MLS season culminates with the MLS Cup final on Dec. 6. Despite the match being single-elimination, winner-takes-all, the final does not take place at a neutral ground like the Super Bowl.
Instead, hosting rights are given to the finalist based on the Supporters’ Shield standings. So, if both No. 1 seeds hypothetically make it to MLS Cup, the Union would host the game at Subaru Park over the Whitecaps.
MLS Cup Final Host Priority
Eastern Conference
Even though Inter Miami will have to travel for the conference semifinals, and potentially the Eastern final, they would get hosting duties for the MLS Cup final. The only Eastern Conference side that can’t host the final is NYCFC.
Western Conference
The Western Conference teams need some help in terms of qualification. The only way San Diego, Vancouver, LAFC and Minnesota will host the final is if NYCFC qualify.
The MLS Cup final also follows the same format as the conference semifinals and final. There will be an extra time portion if the score is level and a penalty shootout if necessary.
Year
Champion
2024
LA Galaxy
2023
Columbus Crew
2022
LAFC
2021
New York City FC
2020
Columbus Crew
2019
Seattle Sounders
2018
Atlanta United
2017
Toronto FC
2016
Seattle Sounders
2015
Portland Timbers
2014
LA Galaxy
2013
Sporting Kansas City
2012
LA Galaxy
2011
LA Galaxy
2010
Colorado Rapids
2009
Real Salt Lake
2008
Columbus Crew
2007
Houston Dynamo
2006
Houston Dynamo
2005
LA Galaxy
2004
D.C. United
2003
San Jose Earthquakes
2002
LA Galaxy
2001
San Jose Earthquakes
2000
Kansas City Wizards
1999
D.C. United
1998
Chicago Fire
1997
D.C. United
1996
D.C. United
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