The MLS Cup Playoffs begin today! Supporters’ Shield winners Inter Miami will take on Atlanta United at 8:30 p.m. this evening to kick off Round One. You can watch every single playoff match on Apple TV with MLS Season Pass.
In this article, I’ll share my playoff bracket predictions and explain why I think a certain team will be upset in the MLS Cup Final.
My MLS Cup Playoff Bracket:
Round One
Looking at the Western Conference, the only major “upset” I see happening is the Houston Dynamo eliminating the Seattle Sounders. Seattle finished fourth in the West with 57 points, but Houston was right behind them in fifth with 54 points.
Both clubs faced each other twice during the regular season. In the first meeting on June 19, the match ended in a 2-2 draw. In the next meeting on September 28, Seattle won 1-0. Seattle has gotten the better of Houston in all-time matchups, but I think Houston’s run to the Western Conference Final last season will propel them over Seattle in Round One. I predict that this series will go all the way to Game Three, and Houston will move onto the semi-finals courtesy of midfielders Amine Bassi and Héctor Herrera leading the way.
Looking at the Eastern Conference, I don’t see any upsets happening in Round One. But as the Semifinals come into play, I see two big rivalries setting the stage.
Semifinals
First, the ‘Hell is Real’ derby between FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew will be an incredible matchup. Both clubs faced each other in the Eastern Conference Final last year before Columbus went on to defeat LAFC in the final.
Columbus has already had a dominant year by winning Leagues Cup, finishing runner-up in the Concacaf Champions Cup, and finishing second in the Eastern Conference. Cincinnati also finished in third in the East, six points behind Columbus. Cincinnati beat Columbus in their first meeting of the season on May 11, 2-1. On September 14, both clubs drew 0-0.
Cucho Hernández has put together an MVP-worthy season for the Crew. He finished fifth in the league with 19 goals and 10th in assists with 14. Luciano Acosta, the reigning MLS MVP, also had another solid year for Cincinnati, but Hernández will be the X-Factor in this Semifinal matchup and will lead Columbus back into the Conference Final.
Looking at the other rivalry, I see Inter Miami facing Orlando City in ‘El Clásico del Sol’ for a Semifinal showdown. I think Inter Miami dominates this matchup, but Orlando won’t make it easy. Miami had a historic season and their run will continue into the Eastern Conference Final.
Conference Finals
This is where the real fun begins. Looking at the West, I see ‘El Tráfico’ unfolding in the conference final. LAFC claimed the top seed in the conference, but LA Galaxy was holding first place for most of the season. These two clubs faced each other three times this year, and LAFC went 2-1.
However, I think LA Galaxy will move on to the MLS Cup Final. They dismantled LAFC in comeback fashion on September 14. Riqui Puig has had an incredible year and Dejan Joveljić was clinical during the win on September 14. LA Galaxy also finished first in the West with 69 goals for compared to LAFC’s 63.
LAFC won’t go out quietly, but the amount of games played they’ve endured these past three years will catch up to them. LA Galaxy will prevent LAFC from reaching a third MLS Cup Final.
In the Eastern Conference Final, I have Inter Miami taking on the Columbus C https://www.intermiamicf.com/news/match-recap-inter-miami-cf-defeats-columbus-crew-on-the-road-clinch-historic-first-supporters-shield-title-for-the-club. Miami won every matchup against the Crew this year, going 3-0. Miami’s incredible run will see them breeze through the reigning champions, and Lionel Messi will lead his club to their first-ever MLS Cup Final.
MLS Cup Final
Here we go. In the 2024 MLS Cup Final, I predict that the LA Galaxy will defeat Inter Miami. I have a feeling that this matchup will reach the level of chaos that was the 2022 MLS Cup Final between LAFC and the Philadelphia Union.
Gabriel Pec, Puig, and Jovelić will headline the final and bring the LA Galaxy their sixth MLS Cup. Messi and Miami will face heartbreak on the final day after an incredible and historic season.
Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images
