MLS Cup 2024: Playoffs, Schedule, Bracket, Messi, Teams, Players, Final | Football News

EXPLAINER

What is the difference between the Supporters’ Shield and the MLS Cup? Which teams qualified? Al Jazeera explains.

The 2024 Major League Soccer (MLS) season in North America is nearing its end, and the region’s top soccer clubs are vying for the chance to win the coveted MLS Cup.

The 2024 tournament is expected to attract a wider global audience as it will also feature Inter Miami, football icon Lionel Messi’s team, which qualified for the playoffs for the first time.

Here’s everything you need to know about MLS Cup:

How is the MLS season going?

The 29 MLS teams are divided into two conferences – the Eastern and Western Conferences – and play a series of home and away games in a league format called the regular season.

The team that tops the league at the end of the regular season will receive the Supporters’ Shield – which Messi’s Inter Miami won in 2024 – and the league will then advance towards the MLS Cup.

What is the MLS Cup and what format does it have?

Known as the culmination of the North American soccer season, the MLS Cup crowns the MLS champion after a series of knockout games – known in North American sports as the playoffs.

The top seven teams in each conference automatically make it to the playoffs. The eighth club in each conference will be determined by a wild card playoff between the next two teams in each conference.

How do the MLS Cup Playoffs work?

The playoffs are held by conference and the East and West winners then meet at the end of the season in the MLS Cup final.

In the quarterfinals of each conference, teams must win a best-of-three game series to advance. There are no total scores or ties at this point. The team that performs better in the league will host the first game. In the event of a draw, the game goes straight to penalties – without extra time.

The conference semifinals, final and MLS Cup final will return to a single-game format, with possible overtime before penalty kicks. These games are hosted by the higher seeded club.

What is the MLS Cup Playoffs schedule?

• First round (best of three series): Saturday, October 26th to Sunday, November 10th
• Conference semifinals: Saturday November 23rd and Sunday November 24th
• Conference finals: Saturday, November 30th and Sunday, December 1st
• Final: Saturday December 7th

Which teams participate in the MLS Cup Playoffs?

Eastern Conference:

• InterMiami
• Atlanta United
• Orlando City
• Charlotte FC
• FC Cincinnati
• New York Red Bulls
• NYCFC
• Columbus crew

Western Conference:

• LA Galaxy
• LAFC
• Seattle Sounders
• Houston Dynamos
• Colorado Rapids
• Real salt lake
• Minnesota United
• Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Who are the top five players to watch in the 2024 MLS Cup?

• Lionel Messi (Inter Miami): 20 goals, 16 assists
• Luis Suarez (Inter Miami): 20 goals, 9 assists
• Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati): 14 goals, 19 assists
• Denis Bouanga (LA FC): 20 goals, 11 assists
• Cucho Hernandez (Columbus crew): 19 goals, 14 assists

How were the teams drawn in the MLS Cup Playoffs round?

The draw for the eight best-of-three quarterfinals is as follows:

Eastern bracket:

• Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United
• Orlando City vs. Charlotte FC
• FC Cincinnati vs. NYCFC
• Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls

West bracket:

• LAFC vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC
• Seattle Sounders vs. Houston Dynamos
• Real Salt Lake vs. Minnesota United
• LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids

Need a goal or an assist?

Messi led the way. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/EfIgIO94hM

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 22, 2024

“Transformational moment”: Lionel Messi is about to make his debut at Inter Miami

What is the venue for the 2024 MLS Cup Final?

By winning the Supporters’ Shield, Inter Miami secured the right to host the final as long as they remain in the running for the title-deciding game.

Should Miami be eliminated before the final, the team with the next best team of the season [league] The remaining MLS Cup record will host the final.

Will Lionel Messi play for Inter Miami in the MLS Cup Playoffs?

The Argentine superstar has been in scintillating scoring form for Inter Miami since returning from injury and is expected to lead the team in the best-of-three knockout games against Atlanta United.

What is “Messi Cam” and how do I watch it?

While on the pitch during MLS Cup games in Miami, the striker will wear a special camera on his jersey that will broadcast his every move in a TikTok livestream on the MLS and Inter Miami channels.