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    • Playoff picture, decisive scenarios for MLS matchday 35
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    Playoff picture, decisive scenarios for MLS matchday 35

    Idris Bevan Posted on

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    Multiple MLS playoff spots are at stake this weekend, and more Concacaf Champions Cup spots were secured this week.

    Let’s get down to business. Here’s a look at the teams that can clinch a spot in the MLS postseason on Saturday:

    ➤ Charlotte FC

    • Easiest way: There is no easy way…all scenarios call for Charlotte FC to win at league leaders Inter Miami
    • The most complicated route: Win, and Atlanta United lose or draw, and CF Montréal lose or draw, and DC United lose or draw, and Nashville SC lose or draw

    ➤ Houston Dynamo FC

    • Easiest way: Win
    • The most complicated route: FC Dallas lose or draw

    ➤ Los Angeles FC

    • Easiest way: Win or draw
    • The most complicated route: FC Dallas lose or draw

    ➤ New York City F.C

    • Easiest way: Win, and Toronto FC loses or draw, and DC United loses or draw, and Nashville SC loses or draw
    • The most complicated route: Win, and Atlanta United lose or draw, and CF Montréal lose or draw, and DC United lose or draw, and Nashville SC lose or draw

    ➤ New York Red Bulls

    • Easiest way: Win
    • The most complicated route: Nashville SC lose or draw and Atlanta United lose or draw and DC United lose or draw and CF Montréal lose

    ➤ Orlando City SC

    • Easiest way: Win
    • The most complicated route: Draw and Nashville SC loss or draw, and Atlanta United loss or draw, and DC United loss or draw and CF Montréal loss or draw

    ➤ Portland Timbers

    • Easiest way: Win and FC Dallas lose and Austin FC lose or draw
    • The most complicated route: N/A (there is only one scenario)

    ➤ Seattle Sounders FC

    • Easiest way: Win
    • The most complicated route: FC Dallas loss and loss or draw and Austin FC loss or draw

    ➤ Vancouver Whitecaps FC

    • Easiest way: Win and FC Dallas lose or draw
    • The most complicated route: Draw and FC Dallas loss and Austin FC loss or draw

    In addition to these scenarios, LA Galaxy can secure home-field advantage in the Western Conference playoffs this weekend.

    MORE: For 23 Make-A-Wish families, meeting Messi is a dream come true

    MLS Matchday 35: Which games will take place on Saturday?

    (All games are available in MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.)

    • FC Cincinnati vs. Los Angeles FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
    • DC United vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. ET
    • Inter Miami CF vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
    • CF Montreal vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 7:30 p.m. ET
    • New England Revolution vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m. ET
    • New York Red Bulls vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
    • Philadelphia Union vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m. ET
    • Austin FC vs. Real Salt Lake, 8:30 p.m. ET
    • Chicago Fire FC vs. Toronto FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
    • FC Dallas vs. Orlando City SC, 8:30 p.m. ET
    • Minnesota United FC vs. Colorado Rapids, 8:30 p.m. ET
    • St. Louis City SC vs. Sporting Kansas City, 8:30 p.m. ET
    • Seattle Sounders FC vs. Houston Dynamo FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
    • Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Portland Timbers, 10:30 p.m. ET

    What is the format for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs?

    A total of 18 teams will qualify for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs – the top nine teams in each conference.

    The eighth and ninth teams from each conference play in wild card games. The top seven finishers qualify for the best-of-three series in the first round.

    When do the MLS playoffs start?

    Here is the playoff schedule:

    • Oct. 3: Wildcard games (single elimination games)
    • Oct 26 – Nov 10: Round 1 (Best-of-Three Series)
    • 23-24 November: Conference semifinals (single-elimination games)
    • Nov 30 – Dec 1: Conference finals (single-elimination games)
    • Dec 7: MLS Cup (single winner-only game)

    MLS CUP: Ranking of all Major League Soccer championship games

    MLS playoff picture: If the season ended today…

    Before MLS matchday 35, these would be the first round MLS playoff games…

    EASTERN CONFERENCE

    ➤ Secure playoff spot: Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami CF

    Wildcard Match:

    • Toronto FC (No. 8 seed) vs. Philadelphia Union (9)

    Round 1 (Best-of-Three Series):

    • Inter Miami CF (1) vs. Toronto FC-Philadelphia Union winner
    • FC Cincinnati (2) vs. New York City FC (7)
    • Columbus Crew (3) vs. Charlotte FC (6)
    • New York Red Bulls (4) vs. Orlando City SC (5)

    WESTERN CONFERENCE

    ➤ Secure playoff spot: Colorado Rapids, LA Galaxy, real salt lake

    Wildcard Match:

    • Portland Timbers (No. 8 seed) vs. Minnesota United FC (9)

    Round 1 (Best-of-Three Series):

    • LA Galaxy (1) vs. Portland Timbers-Minnesota United FC winner
    • Real Salt Lake (2) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7)
    • Colorado Rapids (3) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (6)
    • Los Angeles FC (4) vs. Houston Dynamo FC (5)

    MORE: 2024 MLS Rankings

    MLS betting odds: Who is the favorite to win the championship?

    According to BetMGM, Inter Miami CF (+150) is the current favorite to win the 2024 championship, followed by LA Galaxy (+600), Columbus Crew (+700), Los Angeles FC (+900) and FC Cincinnati (+). 1200).

    Concacaf Champions Cup 2025: MLS teams that qualified

    So far, six MLS clubs have qualified for next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup competition:

    ➤ Colorado Rapids: By winning the game for third place in the League Cup

    ➤ Columbus Crew: By winning the League Cup

    ➤ Inter Miami CF: By being one of the two second-best clubs in the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings

    ➤ Los Angeles FC: By finishing second in the Leagues Cup (also winner of the US Open Cup)

    ➤ Sporting Kansas City: By being a US Open Cup finalist (if the US Open Cup winner also holds another Concacaf Champions Cup qualifying spot, the tournament runner-up will earn a spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup).

    ➤ Vancouver Whitecaps FC: By winning the Canadian championship

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    Idris Bevan
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