How the MLS Playoff picture looks with two matchdays to go
The MLS 2024 regular season is winding down with 15 of the playoff places already known with just three more to fill.
Three playoff places are still be completed as the 2024 MLS regular season enters the final furlong. 15 teams have already filled the 18 available berths with the top seven teams per conference anxious to avoid an 8th/9th place finish and avoid the jeopardy of the wild card round and head directly to the conference quarter-finals.
Things are wide open in the Eastern Conference where we know that Inter Miami have been named Supporters’ Shield winners. The Herons advance with the other top six placed sides but at present two places remain open with seven sides still in contention for two spots. Montreal, Toronto FC, Philadelphia and DC United are strongly placed but DC United, Atlanta, Nashville and even second from bottom New England still hold a slender mathematical chance of securing a wild card berth.
How do you feel about these potential Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs matchups? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/PuloxtPXlz
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 3, 2024
Seventh placed Charlotte are guaranteed postseason action but could be leapfrogged by Montreal should results go the way of the Canadian side.
Qualified for postseason from Eastern Conference
- Inter Miami
- Columbus
- Cincinnati
- Orlando
- NYCFC
- NY Red Bull
- Charlotte FC
Things are a little clearer in the Western conference where just one space in the postseason remains up for grabs with a dogfight on the cards between Portland Timbers and Austin FC for the final space with Los Verdes beating the Oregon side earlier this week delivering a major blow for Phil Neville in his first season at Providence Park.
We regroup for Sunday.
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) October 3, 2024
🎙️ Hear what the gaffer had to say: https://t.co/fLTEvof69H pic.twitter.com/dHgtn6ek4q
The Timbers are still firm favourites to advance and a win/draw over Dallas coupled with Austin losing or drawing at LA would see Portland progress.
Qualified for postseason from Western Conference
- LA Galaxy
- LAFC
- Seattle
- Real Salt Lake
- Houston
- Colorado
- Vancouver
- Minnesota
MLS Week 37 fixtures
5 October
Toronto FC vs Inter Miami BMO Field (4PM ET)
Atlanta United vs New York Red Bulls Mercedes-Benz Stadium (7:30PM ET)
Charlotte FC vs CF Montréal Bank of America Stadium (7:30PM ET)
FC Cincinnati vs Orlando City TQL Stadium (7:30PM ET)
Columbus Crew vs Philadelphia Union Lower.com Field (7:30PM ET)
New England Revolution vs D.C. United Gillette Stadium (7:30PM ET)
Vancouver Whitecaps vs Minnesota United BC Place (7:30PM ET)
Sporting Kansas City vs Los Angeles FC Children’s Mercy Park (8:30PM ET)
St Louis CITY vs Houston Dynamo CITYPARK (8:30PM ET)
Colorado Rapids vs Seattle Sounders Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (9:30PM ET)
LA Galaxy vs Austin FC Dignity Health Sports Park (10:30PM ET)
San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake PayPal Park (10:30PM ET)
6 October
New York City FC vs Nashville Red Bull Arena (4PM ET)
Portland Timbers vs FC Dallas Providence Park (7PM ET)
The final round of Decision Day games are earmarked for 20 October with kickoff times yet to be confirmed by the league.