MLS Cup Playoffs are set following Decision Day drama

10/20/2024 09:40 AM

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.