2024 MLS Cup playoffs

Last updated

2024 MLS Cup playoffs
2024 MLS Cup Playoffs logo black.png
Tournament details
CountryUnited States
Canada
DatesOctober 22 – December 7
Teams18
Defending champions Columbus Crew
Final positions
Champions LA Galaxy (6th title)
Runners-up New York Red Bulls
Semifinalists
Tournament statistics
Matches played29
Goals scored74 (2.55 per match)
Attendance697,403 (24,048 per match)
Top goal scorer(s) Flag of Serbia.svg Dejan Joveljić
(6 goals)
  2023
2025 

The 2024 MLS Cup playoffs (branded as the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs for sponsorship reasons) was the post-season championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top soccer league in the United States and Canada. It was the 29th edition of the MLS Cup playoffs, the tournament culminating at the end of the 2024 season. The playoffs began on October 22 and concluded with MLS Cup 2024 on December 7. [1] [2]

Contents

The Columbus Crew entered the playoffs as the defending MLS Cup champions, but were eliminated by the New York Red Bulls in round one. Inter Miami CF entered as Supporters' Shield winners and Eastern Conference regular season leaders; they were eliminated in round one by Atlanta United FC. Western Conference regular season leaders Los Angeles FC were eliminated in the conference semifinals by Seattle Sounders FC.

The LA Galaxy won a record-extending sixth MLS Cup title after defeating the New York Red Bulls 2–1. [3] The LA Galaxy broke the record for the most goals in a playoff campaign with 18 goals.

Format

Similar to the 2023 edition, the playoffs featured a field of eighteen teams—the top nine teams from each conference. The top seven teams in each conference automatically qualified for round one, while the eighth and ninth-placed teams in each conference contested a single wild card match for the right to play the best-ranked team in their conference, with only a penalty shoot-out occurring if the game was tied. Round one comprised a best-of-three format, with higher seeds playing against lower seeds. The round did not have the aggregate score kept, and tied matches proceeded directly to a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. The remaining three rounds — the conference semifinals, the conference final, and MLS Cup — were single-elimination matches played with extra time and a penalty shoot-out if still tied. [1] [4] The team with the better regular season record hosted the match in all rounds except for the best-of-three series in round one, where the team with the lower regular season record hosted the second of three possible matches. All matches were broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass, a streaming service operated by Apple. [1]

Qualified teams

The playoffs were contested by eighteen teams. The date listed indicates when each team qualified for the playoffs.

Conference standings

Bracket

The higher seeded teams hosted single-elimination matches, with the MLS Cup host determined by overall points in the Supporters' Shield table. During the best-of-three round, the team with higher seed hosted the first match and the third match if necessary.

Wild card
single match
Round one
best-of-three series
Conference semifinals
single match
Conference finals
single match
MLS Cup
single match
E1 Inter Miami CF 21 2
E8 CF Montréal 2 (4) E9 Atlanta United FC 1 23
E9 Atlanta United FC 2 (5)E9 Atlanta United FC 0
E4 Orlando City SC 1
E4 Orlando City SC 20 (1) 1 (4) Eastern Conference
E5 Charlotte FC 0 0 (3)1 (1)
E4 Orlando City SC 0
E7 New York Red Bulls 1
E3 FC Cincinnati 11 0 (5)
E6 New York City FC 0 30 (6)
E6 New York City FC 0
E7 New York Red Bulls 2
E2 Columbus Crew 0 2 (4)
E7 New York Red Bulls 12 (5)
E7 New York Red Bulls 1
W2 LA Galaxy 2
W1 Los Angeles FC 20 1
W8 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 5W8 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1 30
W9 Portland Timbers 0 W1 Los Angeles FC 1
W4 Seattle Sounders FC (a.e.t.) 2
W4 Seattle Sounders FC 0 (5)1 (7) Western Conference
W5 Houston Dynamo FC 0 (4) 1 (6)
W4 Seattle Sounders FC 0
W2 LA Galaxy 1
W3 Real Salt Lake 0 (4) 1 (1)
W6 Minnesota United FC 0 (5)1 (3)
W6 Minnesota United FC 2
W2 LA Galaxy 6
W2 LA Galaxy 54
W7 Colorado Rapids 0 1

Wild card round

Home teamScoreAway team
Eastern Conference
CF Montréal 2–2 (4–5 p) Atlanta United FC
Western Conference
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 5–0 Portland Timbers

Eastern Conference

CF Montréal 2–2 Atlanta United FC
Report
Penalties
4–5
Stade Saputo , Montreal, Quebec
Attendance: 16,566
Referee: Joe Dickerson

Western Conference

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 5–0 Portland Timbers
Report
Providence Park , Portland, Oregon [note 1]
Attendance: 19,143
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez

Round one

Team 1 Series Team 2Game 1Game 2Game 3
Eastern Conference
Inter Miami CF 1–2 Atlanta United FC 2–1 1–2 2–3
Columbus Crew 0–2 New York Red Bulls 0–1 2–2 (4–5 p)
FC Cincinnati 1–2 New York City FC 1–0 1–3 0–0 (5–6 p)
Orlando City SC 2–1 Charlotte FC 2–0 0–0 (1–3 p) 1–1 (4–1 p)
Western Conference
Los Angeles FC 2–1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2–1 0–3 1–0
LA Galaxy 2–0 Colorado Rapids 5–0 4–1
Real Salt Lake 0–2 Minnesota United FC 0–0 (4–5 p) 1–1 (1–3 p)
Seattle Sounders FC 2–0 Houston Dynamo FC 0–0 (5–4 p) 1–1 (7–6 p)

Eastern Conference

Inter Miami CF 2–1 Atlanta United FC
Report Lobzhanidze Soccerball shade.svg39'
Atlanta United FC 2–1 Inter Miami CF
Report Martínez Soccerball shade.svg40'
Mercedes-Benz Stadium , Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 68,455
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
Inter Miami CF 2–3 Atlanta United FC
Report
Chase Stadium , Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Attendance: 20,673
Referee: Lukasz Szpala

Atlanta United FC won the series 2–1.


Columbus Crew 0–1 New York Red Bulls
Report Carballo Soccerball shade.svg25'
Lower.com Field , Columbus, Ohio
Attendance: 19,050
Referee: Timothy Ford

New York Red Bulls won the series 2–0.


FC Cincinnati 1–0 New York City FC
Asad Soccerball shade.svg51' Report
TQL Stadium , Cincinnati, Ohio
Attendance: 21,413
Referee: Sergii Boiko
New York City FC 3–1 FC Cincinnati
Report Orellano Soccerball shade.svg65'
Citi Field , New York, New York
Attendance: 19,585
Referee: Ismir Pekmic

New York City FC won the series 2–1.


Orlando City SC 2–0 Charlotte FC
Report
Inter&Co Stadium , Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 17,787
Referee: Drew Fischer
Orlando City SC 1–1 Charlotte FC
Torres Soccerball shade.svg90+12' Report Świderski Soccerball shade.svg81'
Penalties
4–1
Inter&Co Stadium , Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 20,021
Referee: Ismir Pekmic

Orlando City SC won the series 2–1.

Western Conference

Los Angeles FC 2–1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Report Gauld Soccerball shade.svg90+5'
BMO Stadium , Los Angeles, California
Attendance: 22,298
Referee: Jair Marrufo
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3–0 Los Angeles FC
Report
BC Place , Vancouver, British Columbia
Attendance: 20,695
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Los Angeles FC 1–0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Bogusz Soccerball shade.svg62' Report
BMO Stadium , Los Angeles, California
Attendance: 22,220
Referee: Joe Dickerson

Los Angeles FC won the series 2–1.


LA Galaxy 5–0 Colorado Rapids
Report
Dignity Health Sports Park , Carson, California
Attendance: 24,537
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
Colorado Rapids 1–4 LA Galaxy
Larraz Soccerball shade.svg19' Report
Dick's Sporting Goods Park , Commerce City, Colorado
Attendance: 16,010
Referee: Victor Rivas

LA Galaxy won the series 2–0.


Minnesota United FC won the series 2–0.


Seattle Sounders FC won the series 2–0.

Conference semifinals

The higher-seeded team as determined by regular season ranking hosted the match. [1]

Home teamScoreAway team
Eastern Conference
Orlando City SC 1–0 Atlanta United FC
New York City FC 0–2 New York Red Bulls
Western Conference
Los Angeles FC 1–2 (a.e.t.) Seattle Sounders FC
LA Galaxy 6–2 Minnesota United FC

Eastern Conference

New York City FC 0–2 New York Red Bulls
Report
Citi Field , New York, New York
Attendance: 24,891
Referee: Allen Chapman

Orlando City SC 1–0 Atlanta United FC
Enrique Soccerball shade.svg39' Report

Western Conference

Los Angeles FC 1–2 (a.e.t.) Seattle Sounders FC
Hollingshead Soccerball shade.svg50' Report
BMO Stadium , Los Angeles, California
Attendance: 22,301
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.

LA Galaxy 6–2 Minnesota United FC
Report Yeboah Soccerball shade.svg6', 45+4' (pen.)
Dignity Health Sports Park , Carson, California
Attendance: 26,192
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza

Conference finals

The higher-seeded team as determined by regular season ranking hosted the match. [1]

Home teamScoreAway team
Eastern Conference
Orlando City SC 0–1 New York Red Bulls
Western Conference
LA Galaxy 1–0 Seattle Sounders FC

Eastern Conference

Orlando City SC 0–1 New York Red Bulls
Report Reyes Soccerball shade.svg47'
Inter&Co Stadium , Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 25,046
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza

Western Conference

LA Galaxy 1–0 Seattle Sounders FC
Joveljić Soccerball shade.svg85' Report

MLS Cup 2024

The highest-ranked finalist in the overall Supporters' Shield table (LA Galaxy) hosted the match. [1]

LA Galaxy 2–1 New York Red Bulls
Report
Dignity Health Sports Park , Carson, California
Attendance: 26,812 [24]
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr. [25]

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerClubGoals [26]
1 Flag of Serbia.svg Dejan Joveljić LA Galaxy 6
2 Flag of Scotland.svg Ryan Gauld Vancouver Whitecaps FC 5
3 Flag of Ghana.svg Joseph Paintsil LA Galaxy 4
Flag of Spain.svg Riqui Puig LA Galaxy
5 Flag of Brazil.svg Gabriel Pec LA Galaxy 3
6 Flag of Uruguay.svg Felipe Carballo New York Red Bulls 2
Flag of Venezuela.svg Josef Martínez CF Montréal
Flag of Senegal.svg Jamal Thiaré Atlanta United FC
Flag of Uruguay.svg Facundo Torres Orlando City SC
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Dante Vanzeir New York Red Bulls
Flag of Italy.svg Kelvin Yeboah Minnesota United FC

Notes

  1. Due to a scheduling conflict at BC Place, the match was played at Providence Park, with the Vancouver Whitecaps serving as the home team. [23]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "MLS announces new playoff format for 2023 season". Major League Soccer. February 21, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  2. "Inter Miami begin Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs path with standalone match". Major League Soccer. October 3, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  3. Sigal, Jonathan (December 7, 2024). "CHAMPIONS! LA Galaxy lift MLS Cup 2024 over New York Red Bulls". Major League Soccer. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  4. "MLS adds best-of-3 series to expanded playoffs for 2023 season". ESPN. February 21, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  5. "Atlanta United clinch Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. October 19, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  6. "Charlotte FC clinch Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. October 2, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  7. "FC Cincinnati clinch Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 14, 2024. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  8. "Columbus Crew clinch Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 14, 2024. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  9. "Inter Miami clinch Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. August 24, 2024. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  10. "CF Montréal clinch Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. October 19, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  11. "New York City FC clinch Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 28, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  12. "New York Red Bulls clinch Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 28, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  13. "Orlando City clinch Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 28, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  14. "Colorado Rapids clinch Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  15. "Houston Dynamo clinch Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 28, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  16. "LA Galaxy clinch Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 14, 2024. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  17. "LAFC clinch Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 28, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  18. "Minnesota United clinch Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. October 2, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  19. "Portland Timbers clinch Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. October 6, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  20. "Real Salt Lake clinch Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  21. "Seattle Sounders clinch Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 28, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  22. "Vancouver Whitecaps clinch Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 28, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  23. "Whitecaps FC to open 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs versus Portland Timbers". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. October 19, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  24. "LA Galaxy's Gastón Brugman named MLS Cup 2024 MVP pres. by Audi". MLSsoccer.com. December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  25. "2024 MLS Cup crew confirmed" (Press release). Professional Referee Organization. December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  26. "MLS Player Stats". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved December 7, 2024.