Why is 2022 MLS Cup final being played at LAFC’s stadium in Los Angeles?
LAFC’s Banc of California Stadium will be the venue for Saturday’s MLS Cup final, with the Black and Gold’s regular-season record earning them hosting rights.
Major League Soccer rules dictate that Los Angeles FC will host Philadelphia Union in Saturday’s 2022 MLS Cup final - and the results of past championship games underline the significance of home-field advantage.
LAFC at home due to higher playoff seeding
As is the case throughout MLS’ single-elimination playoffs, the higher-seeded team is given hosting rights in the trophy decider. Postseason seedings are based on franchises’ regular-season performance: the top-ranked team in the combined Eastern and Western Conference standings is the No. 1 seed, the second-placed side is the No. 2 seed, and so on.
Having finished first in the regular-season table - a feat that earned them the title of Supporters’ Shield champions - LAFC are the playoffs’ top seeds. Steve Cherundolo’s men went into the postseason knowing they would play every game at their 22,000-capacity Banc of California Stadium, regardless of who they met.
As the Supporters’ Shield runners-up, Philadelphia are the postseason’s No. 2 seeds. Had the Union faced anyone else in the MLS Cup final, they would have been the home team. Indeed, it’s unusual for the two top-ranked sides to go head to head for the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy. The last time this happened was in 2003.
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Home teams have won three times as many MLS Cup finals
“We definitely want to take advantage of playing at home,” LAFC midfielder Ilie Sánchez told reporters on Friday. History suggests they will: hosts currently have a 9-3 record in MLS Cup finals.
Of the 10 finals played since hosting rights for the match were first awarded to the higher-seeded team in 2012, seven have been won by the home side. Portland Timbers in 2015, Seattle Sounders in 2016 and New York City in 2021 are the only teams to have triumphed on the road in the championship game.
Before 2012, the MLS Cup final venues were selected in advance, but on two occasions the chosen stadium also happened to be the home ground of one of the finalists. Both times, it was the coincidental hosts - D.C. United 1997 and Los Angeles Galaxy in 2011 - who lifted the trophy.
Previous MLS Cup finals not played at neutral venue:
- 2021: Portland Timbers 1-1 New York City FC*
- 2020: Columbus Crew 3-0 Seattle Sounders
- 2019: Seattle Sounders 3-1 Toronto FC
- 2018: Atlanta United 2-0 Portland Timbers
- 2017: Toronto FC 2-0 Seattle Sounders
- 2016: Toronto FC 0-0 Seattle Sounders*
- 2015: Columbus Crew 1-2 Portland Timbers
- 2014: LA Galaxy 2-1 New England Revolution
- 2013: Sporting KC* 1-1 Real Salt Lake
- 2012: LA Galaxy 3-1 Houston Dynamo
- 2011: LA Galaxy 1-0 Houston Dynamo
- 1997: D.C. United 2-1 Colorado Rapids
*Won on penalties
LAFC have won all but four at home in 2022
LAFC’s home form this season also bodes well for the Angelinos. Including the playoffs, the Black and Gold have won 15 and lost just two of their 19 MLS fixtures at the Banc of California.
The Union, who will be playing their first road game of the 2022 postseason, have an away record this term of seven wins, five draws and five defeats. In three previous meetings in Los Angeles - all of which witnessed plenty of goals - Philadelphia are yet to beat LAFC. The hosts were 4-1 winners at the Banc in July 2018, before 3-3 and 2-2 draws in March 2020 and May this year, respectively.
LAFC vs Philadelphia Union: key match info
LAFC vs Philadelphia Union kicks off at Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, at 1:05pm local time (PT) on Saturday 5 November 2022. Elsewhere in the US, that’s 4:05pm ET/3:05pm CT. In the States, TV viewers will be able to watch the game on FOX, TUDN USA and Univisión. Streaming options include fuboTV, which offers users a free trial.
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