Which MLS games are taking place today? Playoff picture for the weekend of September 14-15
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With just over a month to go before the start of the 2024 MLS season, there is only one team that has secured its place in the playoffs.
This is Inter Miami.
Nevertheless, three teams have a chance to join the Herons in the postseason this weekend:
➤ FC Cincinnati
- Easiest route: Win or draw against their “Hell is Real” rival, the Columbus Crew
- Most confusing route: Defeats or draws by Toronto FC, New England Revolution, Atlanta United, Charlotte FC or New York Red Bulls
➤ Columbus Crew
- Easiest route: Defeat their “Hell is Real” rival FC Cincinnati
- Most confusing route: Philadelphia Union loses or draws, Atlanta United loses or draws, Toronto FC draws, New York Red Bulls loses
➤ LA Galaxy
- Easiest route: Beat your El Tráfico rival Los Angeles FC… and then get some help (in the form of a win or a draw) from Toronto FC, St. Louis City SC, San Jose Earthquakes, Houston Dynamo FC or Colorado Rapids
- Most confusing route: If the Galaxy draw with LAFC, Toronto FC must also defeat Austin FC.
Inter Miami continues to enjoy a nearly unassailable lead in the race for the Supporters’ Shield, seven points ahead of LA Galaxy with a game in hand. With a win or draw against Philadelphia Union on Saturday, Inter Miami would reach 60 points in 28 games, joining LA Galaxy in 1998 (28 games), Los Angeles FC in 2019 (26 games) and New England Revolution in 2021 (28 games) as the only teams in MLS history to reach more than 60 points in 28 games or fewer. That’s impressive considering Inter Miami was able to maintain its place at the top of the MLS table despite the absence of Lionel Messi, who is finally fit to play and making his first MLS appearance in over three months.
MLS, Matchday 32: Which games are taking place this weekend?
(All games are available on the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.)
Saturday
- Atlanta United vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m. ET
- FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. ET
- DC United vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Inter Miami CF vs Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m. ET
- CF Montréal vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Orlando City SC vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Toronto FC vs. Austin FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Chicago Fire FC – New York Red Bulls, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Houston Dynamo FC – Real Salt Lake, 8:30 p.m. ET
- St. Louis City SC vs. Minnesota United FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Colorado Rapids vs Portland Timbers, 9:30 p.m. ET
- LA Galaxy vs. Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 10:30 p.m. ET
Sunday
What is the format for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs?
A total of 18 teams will qualify for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs – the best nine participants from each conference.
The eighth and ninth seeded teams in each conference will play in wildcard matches. The top seven seeds will advance to the best-of-three first-round series.
When do the MLS playoffs start?
Here is the playoff schedule:
- October 3: Wildcard matches (knockout games)
- 26 October – 10 November: Round 1 (best-of-three series)
- 23-24 November: Conference semifinals (knockout games)
- 30 November – 1 December: Conference finals (knockout games)
- December 7: MLS Cup (single game winner-takes-all)
MLS Cup: Ranking of all championship games of Major League Soccer
MLS Playoff Picture: If the season ended today…
Before the 30th MLS matchday, these would be the pairings in the MLS playoffs up to the first round…
EASTERN CONFERENCE
➤ Playoff spot secured: Inter Miami CF
Wildcard Match:
- Toronto FC (8th place) vs. DC United (9)
Round 1 (best-of-three series):
- Winner: Inter Miami CF (1) vs. Toronto FC-DC United
- FC Cincinnati (2) vs. Orlando City SC (7)
- Columbus Crew (3) vs. Charlotte FC (6)
- New York Red Bulls (4) vs. New York City FC (5)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Wildcard Match:
- Portland Timbers (8th) vs. Minnesota United FC (9)
Round 1 (best-of-three series):
- LA Galaxy (1) vs. Portland Timbers-Minnesota United FC winner
- Los Angeles FC (2) vs. Houston Dynamo FC (7)
- Real Salt Lake (3) – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (6)
- Colorado Rapids (4) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (5)
MORE: MLS Ranking 2024
MLS betting odds: Who is the favorite to win the championship?
According to BetMGM, Inter Miami CF (+165) is the current favorite to win the 2024 league championship, followed by Los Angeles FC (+500), LA Galaxy (+800), Columbus Crew (+800) and FC Cincinnati (+1200).
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