MLS
‘Supporters’ Shield curse’ strikes again as Inter Miami exit MLS playoffs
Despite setting a regular-season points record, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami are already out of the 2024 MLS postseason.
After their shock elimination at the hands of Atlanta United, Inter Miami have joined a growing list of MLS teams that have failed to clear their first playoff hurdle despite winning the Supporters’ Shield in the same season.
Slisz stuns Messi’s Miami
After one victory each in the teams’ best-of-three round one series, Atlanta ousted Lionel Messi’s Miami from the 2024 postseason on Saturday, Bartosz Slisz scoring a late goal to secure a 3-2 win in the decider.
Atlanta were the bottom seed in the Eastern Conference, and had the worst regular-season record of all 18 teams that qualified for the 2024 playoffs.
The Five Stripes finished the league phase a full 34 points behind No. 1 seed Miami, who accrued an MLS-record points total - 74 - on their way to claiming the Supporters’ Shield as the regular season’s top-performing club.
How many Supporters’ Shield winners have lost first playoff tie?
Throughout MLS history, it has been common to see the regular-season champions go out of the playoffs immediately. Indeed, it has now happened on 10 occasions in 29 seasons (including three times in the last five years).
The list below details all 10 instances since the league’s inception in 1996. As the size and format of the playoffs has undergone several changes over the years, there is some variation in the name of the round in which the Supporters’ Shield winner was beaten.
2024: Miami - lost to Atlanta in round one
2021: New England - lost to NYCFC in conference semi-finals
2020: Philadelphia - lost to New England in first round
2016: Dallas - lost to Seattle in conference semi-finals
2013: Red Bulls - lost to Houston in conference semi-finals
2012: San Jose - lost to Galaxy in conference semi-finals
2009: Columbus - lost to RSL in conference semi-finals
2007: D.C. United - lost to Chicago in conference semi-finals
2005: San Jose - lost to Galaxy in conference semi-finals
2004: Columbus - lost to New England in conference semi-finals
How many times has Supporters’ Shield winner lifted MLS Cup?
While just over a third of all Supporters’ Shield winners have failed to negotiate their opening postseason tie, it is also true that only a slightly smaller proportion of regular-season champions are at the opposite end of the playoff performance spectrum, having followed up league-phase success by winning the MLS trophy.
So far, eight MLS campaigns have witnessed total domination by one club - most recently in 2022, when Los Angeles FC claimed the league double in a dramatic postseason finale against Philadelphia Union.
Full list of Supporters’ Shield + MLS Cup winners:
2022: LAFC
2017: Toronto
2011: Galaxy
2008: Columbus
2002: Galaxy
2000: Kansas City
1999: D.C. United
1997: D.C. United
Miami into Club World Cup despite playoff failure
Miami’s surprise postseason exit comes just three weeks after their stellar regular season persuaded FIFA to name the Herons as the host club at the 2025 Club World Cup, which is to be held in an expanded format in the US.
“You are the best team of the season in America,” said Gianni Infantino, the president of global soccer‘s governing body, as he announced Miami’s qualification in a speech at the club’s Chase Stadium.
The host nation’s domestic title holders have tended to be chosen as the home team in previous Club World Cups, but on this occasion FIFA opted against waiting to find out the identity of the 2024 MLS champions, who are to be crowned in the MLS Cup final on December 7.
Who do Atlanta play next in 2024 playoffs?
After dumping Miami out in round one, Atlanta now move on to an Eastern Conference semi-final against Orlando City, who beat Charlotte FC 2-0 in the teams' opening-phase series.