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Playoff clinching scenarios for MLS Decision Day: Postseason berths, seeds still in play

Jim Reineking   Paste BN
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A number of MLS playoff berths and seeds are on the line for MLS Decision Day. Let's take a gander at the situation heading into the regular season's final games on Saturday.

There are the teams that already have clinched playoff berths:

➤ Eastern Conference: Charlotte FC, Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami CF, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City SC

➤ Western Conference: Colorado Rapids, Houston Dynamo FC, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, Minnesota United FC, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC

All nine playoff spots in the Western Conference have been secured. Playoff seeds, however, are still in play. Most notably is the conference's No. 1 spot. The Galaxy can secure that with a win or draw against Houston Dynamo FC. LAFC needs a win, a Galaxy loss and an advantage in tiebreakers (total wins, goal differential, goals for, fewest disciplinary points per match, away goals differential, home goals for, or coin toss in event of a tie).

There are two playoff spots in play in the Eastern Conference. D.C. United and CF Montréal both just need to win or draw to clinch playoff spots. Atlanta United and the Philadelphia Union can still sneak into a postseason berth, but need wins and a lot of help along the way. Orlando City SC and New York City FC still are playing for home-field advantage in the best-of-three Round 1 series.

2024 MLS standings: How the teams stack up entering final games

MLS Matchday 38: What are Saturday's games?

(All games available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.)

MORE: 2024 MLS scores and results

What is the format for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs?

A total of 18 teams qualify for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs — the top nine finishers from each conference.

The eighth- and ninth-place finishers in each conference will play in wild-card matches. The top seven seeds qualify for the Round 1 best-of-three series.

When do the MLS playoffs start?

Here is the playoff schedule:

  • Oct. 3: Wild-card matches (single-elimination matches)
  • Oct. 26-Nov. 10: Round 1 (best-of-three series)
  • Nov. 23-24: Conference semifinals (single-elimination matches)
  • Nov. 30-Dec. 1: Conference finals (single-elimination matches)
  • Dec. 7: MLS Cup (single winner-take-all match)

MLS CUP: Ranking every Major League Soccer championship game

MLS playoff picture: If the season ended today …

Heading into MLS Matchday 38, these would be the MLS playoff matchups through the first round …

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Clinched playoff spot: Charlotte FC, Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami CF, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City SC

Wild-card match:

  • D.C. United (No. 8 seed) vs. CF Montréal (9)

Round 1 (best-of-three series):

  • Inter Miami CF (1) vs. D.C. United-CF Montréal winner
  • Columbus Crew (2) vs. New York Red Bulls (7)
  • FC Cincinnati (3) vs. Charlotte FC (6)
  • Orlando City SC (4) vs. New York City FC (5)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Clinched playoff spot: Colorado Rapids, Houston Dynamo FC, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, Minnesota United FC, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Wild-card match:

  • Vancouver Whitecaps FC (No. 8 seed) vs. Portland Timbers (9)

Round 1 (best-of-three series):

  • LA Galaxy (1) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC-Portland Timbers winner
  • Los Angeles FC (2) vs. Minnesota United FC (7)
  • Seattle Sounders FC (3) vs. Colorado Rapids (6)
  • Real Salt Lake (4) vs. Houston Dynamo FC (5)

MLS betting odds: Who is favorite to win championship?

According to BetMGM, Inter Miami CF (+150) is the current favorite to win the 2024 league championship, followed by LA Galaxy (+500), Los Angeles FC (+600), Columbus Crew (+700), Real Salt Lake (+1600), Seattle Sounders FC (+1600) and FC Cincinnati (+1800).

Concacaf Champions Cup 2025: MLS teams that have qualified

In all, seven MLS clubs have qualified for next year's Concacaf Champions Cup competition:

➤ Colorado Rapids: Via winning third-place match of Leagues Cup

➤ Columbus Crew: Via winning Leagues Cup

➤ Inter Miami CF: Via being among two next-best clubs in MLS Supporters' Shield standings

➤ LA Galaxy: Via 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield standings

➤ Los Angeles FC: Via being Leagues Cup runners-up (also U.S. Open Cup winner)

➤ Sporting Kansas City: Via being a U.S. Open Cup finalis (if the U.S. Open Cup winner also holds another Concacaf Champions Cup qualification spot, the tournament's runner-up will earn a Concacaf Champions Cup spot)

➤ Vancouver Whitecaps FC: Via winning the Canadian Championship

In all, MLS will have 10 teams in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup competition.

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