Eight sides remain in contention for MLS Cup: teams, matches, kick-off times

And then there were eight.

The weekend’s final games of the first round saw eliminations for Vancouver, Charlotte, Cincinnati and most surprisingly Supporters’ Shield winners Inter Miami as Atlanta United delivered the shock of the season with a 2-3 win in Fort Lauderdale to end the 2024 MLS campaign for the Herons.

With Miami’s exit, LAFC now move into pole position as favourites as the Black & Gold look to secure, what would be their second ever MLS Cup win after their 2022 victory.

They will be pushed all the way by city rivals LA Galaxy and should the two LA giants prevail against Seattle and Minnesota respectively, the final of the Western Conference would be, undoubtedly the biggest ever ‘El Trafico’ meeting with both sides meeting in the 2019 but at the semifinal stage.

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‘Five Stripes’, surprise package in the East

Ninth seeded Atlanta United have found momentum at a key point of the season and will hold no fear as they return to Florida in the semi-final meeting against Orlando with the other semi-final seeing a Hudson River derby as Red Bulls face NYCFC.

MLS Cup: Conference semi-final matches