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MLS Cup Playoffs are set following Decision Day drama

The 18-team MLS Cup Playoffs field is set.

Following a dramatic Decision Day on Saturday, nine spots in both the Eastern and Western Conferences were sealed. Inter Miami and LAFC grabbed the No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences, with the Herons breaking the league’s all-time record for points accumulated in a single regular season.

The single-elimination Wild Card games (No. 8 vs. No. 9) will begin on Tuesday, October 22, before the Round One Best-of-3 Series start on Oct. 25.

CF Montreal hosts Atlanta United in the Eastern Conference Wild Card match, with the winner set to take on Lionel Messi and Co. in Round One. Former Atlanta United star Josef Martinez will get a crack at his former club.

Out West, a Cascadia Cup clash between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers will decide who advances to face LAFC. The teams played out a 1-1-1 record in three regular season meetings.

Here is a breakdown of the playoff matchups that have been decided:


Eastern Conference


Reigning MLS Cup Champions Columbus Crew take on the New York Red Bulls after the two teams clinched the No. 2 and No. 7 seeds respectively. Columbus won both regular season meetings, including Saturday’s Decision Day showdown in Harrison, New Jersey.

FC Cincinnati and NYCFC will clash in Round One after three regular season meetings. Pat Noonan’s squad won both of the matchups at TQL Stadium, but lost 3-2 at Yankee Stadium on October 2.

The No. 4 – No. 5 showdown in the East pits Orlando City and Charlotte FC against one another. Charlotte FC earned a 2-2 draw on home soil back in June before the Lions captured a 2-0 home victory on September 18.


Western Conference


The LA Galaxy will meet the Colorado Rapids in Round One, holding a head-to-head advantage against Chris Armas’ squad this season. Los Angeles won 3-2 at home back in June before also winning 3-1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in early October.

Real Salt Lake will face Minnesota United in the No. 3 – No. 6 series, with both teams seeking their first wins against one another this year. The two clubs played out a 1-1 draw in St. Paul back on April 6 before also tying 0-0 in Sandy, Utah on Oct. 2.

The Seattle Sounders and Houston Dynamo will square off in the final series in the West. Brian Schmetzer’s squad defeated the Dynamo 1-0 back on Sept. 28. The two teams also played out a 2-2 draw in Texas on June 19.

Comments

    • YYYYYEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!! THANK YOU 2TONE. The kid is playing well and is explosive in the final third…….on absolute fire 🔥!!!!!!

      Reply
    • With Balo and Reyna likely still out, I think to use Luna you’d have to move Puli to the 10, and then play Weah or Paredes on the right with Luna on the left. Without Balo you need at least one wing that can use speed to run in behind.

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  1. Conmebal did a stellar job of hosting the Copa. They were in charge of logistics, organization, number of security., etc….they went cheap and lazy to squeeze every dollar out of the tourney as possible.
    Miami getting in is no surprise. Is what it is.
    That’s how futball has worked the world round. They are just bringing it here. That’s all.

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  2. I forget where, but I heard that someone in USSF was anonymously quoted as saying that this spot was going to “the team with the pinkest jerseys”. This was always going to Miami.

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    • Oh for sure had they won the Leagues Cup they would have qualified on that. FIFA was always waiting for their excuse. Based on their runner up finish in the East Group 3 of Leagues Cup … Inter Miami will host the 2025 Club World Cup.

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  3. People like to complain about USSF and Concacaf, but let’s face it they learn from the best. Infantino just shows up on Saturday and announces that since Miami won the supporter’s shield they will host the club World Cup. That’s a perfectly fine metric but since that was never announced as how to qualify it’s super shady. Once Miami won supporter shield they had to quickly announce it so if they get knocked out of the playoffs it won’t look bad because it was always going to be Messi’s team. Every other fee if you didn’t win a regional championship was based on 4 yr ranking, Miami one good season gets in. Not to mention Miami did such a stellar job hosting Copa America this summer what could go wrong.

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