With Decision Day 2024 approaching, it's time to look at what's at stake for every team in Major League Soccer when they take the field for the final game of the season.
First, the basics. Decision Day 2024 will be held on Saturday, October 19. All Eastern Conference games will be played at 6 pm ET, and all Western Conference games will be played at 9 pm ET. All games will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The service is currently free for Apple TV subscribers, or costs just $9.99 for the remainder of the season for non-subscribers. You can learn more here.
• Wins
• Goal Differential
• Goals Scored
• Disciplinary Record
• Away Goal Differential
Only one MLS team will not feature on Decision Day: Toronto FC already played their final game of the regular season, and will miss the MLS Cup Playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. This is despite having one of the biggest payrolls in the league, and bringing in the controversial John Herdman as head coach. As Matthew Doyle wrote on MLSsoccer.com, "For a team in one of the most talent-rich areas in North America, that’s a sin."
Hudson River Blue Staff
Eastern Conference
The top three seeds in the Eastern Conference are set: Inter Miami, Columbus Crew, and FC Cincinnati are locked into First, Second, and Third Place. But the remaining nine playoff spots remain in flux, with four teams competing for the two Wild Card spots.
Just as important, New York City FC and Orlando City are vying for Fourth Place and home-field advantage in Round One. As we noted last week, home-field advantage was strong last year: Out of the 19 games played, the home team won 14 times, and the higher seed advanced in seven of the eight matchups.
Note: All games will be played at 6 pm ET, and will be broadcast on Apple TV.
1. Inter Miami vs New England: A new MLS record
Lionel Messi & Co are sitting comfortably in First Place, and will be hosting a hopeless New England Revolution who were one of the first teams eliminated from the playoffs. And yet there is a lot on the line for both teams: Inter Miami are one win away from setting the MLS record for points in a single season, potentially surpassing the 73 points earned by Bruce Arena's Revolution in 2021.
Can a hopelessly outclassed New England channel their inner Bad News Bears and get a result in Ft. Lauderdale to spoil another Messi coronation?
Sam Minton
2. CF Montréal vs New York City FC: Home-field advantage, a Wild Card spot
New York City FC need to win if they are to contend for that elusive Fourth Place spot and home-field advantage in Round One. If Orlando City also win, then the table remains the same, and the two will face each other in the MLS Cup Playoffs with the first game played in Florida. But if Orlando lose – or if they draw and NYCFC win by four or more goals – then New York City will host Round One.
On the other side of the field, CF Montréal will be playing to keep their Wild Card place, and possibly host that round when it's played on Wednesday, October 23. A win or a draw and they make the playoffs; a loss and a win by either Atlanta United or Philadelphia Union and Montréal will miss the postseason due to their poor goal differential, which is the second tiebreak after wins (see above).
Andrew Leigh
3. Orlando City vs Atlanta United: Home-field advantage, a Wild Card spot
Orlando are in control of their fate: A win or draw (see above) by one of the most in-form teams in the league and they will end the season in Fourth Place, with home-field advantage in Round One.
Atlanta are playing for their lives: They need to win if they are to make the postseason. They have two narrow paths to the playoffs: Atlanta win and DC United or Montréal lose and Philadelphia lose or draw, or Atlanta win and DC and Montréal lose.
Sean Rollins
4. DC United vs Charlotte FC: Eastern Conference seeding, a Wild Card spot
DC United's position is clear: Win and they remain in Eighth Place, and will host Atlanta, Montréal, or Philadelphia in the Wild Card round. A draw will guarantee them a playoff spot, but they might slip to Ninth Place if Montréal wins. But they could still make the playoffs even if they lose depending on the results of the Atlanta, Montréal, and Philadelphia games.
Charlotte FC are playing for seeding. They cannot finish in Fourth Place. A win and a New York City loss and they'll finish in Fifth Place, and face Orlando. A win and they finish in Sixth Place, and will open Round One in Cincinnati. But a loss or a draw paired with a New York Red Bulls win and they'll drop to Seventh Place and will face Columbus Crew — and nobody wants to do that.
5. Philadelphia Union vs FC Cincinnati: A Wild Card spot
Philadelphia Union need to win if they are to make the MLS Cup Playoffs. They will also need either DC or Montréal to lose: Their goal differential will send them above either team if they finish the season equal on points and wins.
FC Cincinnati will finish the season in Third Place no matter the result. But they will be looking for a win and a return to form for a team on a three-game losing streak.
Matthew Ralph
6. New York Red Bulls vs Columbus Crew: Eastern Conference seeding
New York Red Bulls will need to beat Columbus if they hope to avoid Columbus in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
If Red Bulls remain in Seventh Place they will face the reigning MLS Cup Champions in Round One. But if they if they find a way to win – and if DC United beat Charlotte – they will climb to Sixth Place, and have a more favorable Round One matchup against a struggling FC Cincinnati.
But that's a big ask for a Red Bulls with just one win since returning from Leagues Cup in August.
7. Chicago Fire vs Nashville SC: Not much
It looks like it'll be a nice fall day in Chicago, sunny and 62F/17C at kickoff.
Western Conference
Unlike in the East, all the Western Conference playoff teams are set. Not only that, the four top seeds are a lock: LAFC, LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, and Seattle Sounders will all have home-field advantage in Round One.
What remains to be decided are the seedings, including who finishes at the top of the conference, and which teams will need to play in the Wild Card round next Wednesday.
Note: All games will be played at 9 pm ET, and will be broadcast on Apple TV.
1. Houston Dynamo vs LA Galaxy: First Place, Western Conference seeding
The Western Conference is LA Galaxy's to lose. A win or a draw and they finish the year in First Place, and will host the Wild Card winner in Round One. But a loss coupled with an LAFC win by at least two goals and they will slip to Second Place.
They will face a Houston Dynamo looking to hold onto Fifth Place, which will face Real Salt Lake or Seattle Sounders. And if Houston slip to Sixth Place? Then they will face Real Salt Lake or Seattle Sounders.
2. LAFC vs San Jose: First Place
LAFC are among the most in-form teams in MLS, and will be looking to extend a four-game winning streak in front of the rabid fans at BMO Stadium. Not only that, they'll be facing this year's Wooden Spoon winners in San Jose.
LAFC have an outside chance of taking First Place away from crosstown rivals LA Galaxy. If LAFC win and Galaxy lose, they will be equal on points with identical records. That makes goal differential the next tiebreak, which means LAFC will need to win by at least two goals: If they finish even on points, record, and goals, LA Galaxy will finish in First Place because of goals scored, the next tiebreak.
3. Seattle Sounders vs Portland Timbers: Western Conference seeding, Round One, Cascadia Cup
There are few rivalries in MLS as heated as the one between Seattle and Portland Timbers. They don't like each other. Both teams are playing for seeding: Seattle win and they hold onto Third Place, Portland win and they could host the Wild Card game.
But really they're playing for the 2024 Cascadia Cup, which is contested between Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver Whitecaps. Seattle win, and they take the cup. Portland win or draw, and it's theirs because of goal differential and goals scored.
Courtesy Sounder at Heart
4. Real Salt Lake vs Vancouver Whitecaps: Western Conference seeding, Round One
Real Salt Lake and Vancouver Whitecaps are playing for seeding, with Vancouver looking to climb out of the Wild Card spot and finish in Seventh Place. To do that Vancouver will need a win at Salt Lake, and need Minnesota to lose at home.
5. Minnesota United vs St. Louis City: Western Conference seeding, Round One
Minnesota United enter Decision Day in Seventh Place, but they could finish the season in Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, or Eighth Place. A win and they advance to Round One; a loss combined with a Vancouver win and they could be playing Portland in the Wild Card game next Wednesday.
6. Austin FC vs Colorado Rapids: Western Conference seeding
An Austin FC outside of the playoff zone are hosting a Colorado Rapids who will return to the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2021. Colorado could finish the season in Fifth, Sixth, or Seventh Place, and will face LAFC, LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, or Seattle Sounders. Really, it's all up in the air.
7. FC Dallas vs Sporting Kansas City: Not much
Two teams will play for 90 minutes plus regulation time, and the result will be entered into the record.
