EXPLAINER
What’s the distinction between the Supporters’ Protect and the MLS Cup? Which groups have certified? Al Jazeera explains.
The 2024 Main League Soccer (MLS) season in North America is heading in the direction of its conclusion, with the area’s prime membership soccer groups vying for an opportunity to raise the coveted MLS Cup.
The 2024 event is anticipated to draw a wider international viewers with the inclusion of soccer icon Lionel Messi’s workforce, Inter Miami, who’ve certified for the playoffs for the primary time.
Right here’s all the pieces it’s essential to know concerning the MLS Cup:
How does the MLS season work?
The 29 MLS groups are divided into two conferences – jap and western – and play a sequence of residence and away matches in a league format, generally known as the common season.
The workforce on the prime of the league on the finish of the common season is awarded the Supporters’ Protect – gained by Messi’s Inter Miami in 2024 – and the league then strikes in the direction of the MLS Cup.
What’s the MLS Cup and what’s its format?
Referred to as the top of the North American soccer season, the MLS Cup crowns the MLS champion after a sequence of knockout video games – identified in North American sports activities as playoffs.
The highest seven groups from every convention routinely make it to the playoffs. The eighth membership in every convention is set by a wildcard playoff between the subsequent two sides in every convention, respectively.
How do the MLS Cup Playoffs work?
The playoffs are performed by convention and the jap and western winners then meet for the MLS Cup last on the finish of the season.
Within the quarterfinals of every convention, groups should win a best-of-three sequence of matches to advance. There are not any combination scores and no ties at that stage. The workforce that finishes larger within the league hosts the primary match. Within the case of a draw, the sport goes on to penalty kicks – no further time.
The convention semifinals, finals and MLS Cup last return to the single-game format with doable further time earlier than penalties. These video games will probably be hosted by the higher-seeded membership.
What’s the schedule of MLS Cup Playoffs?
First spherical (better of three sequence): Saturday, October 26 to Sunday, November 10
Convention semifinals: Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, November 24
Convention finals: Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1
Ultimate: Saturday, December 7
Which groups are within the MLS Cup Playoffs?
Jap Convention:
Inter Miami
Atlanta United
Orlando Metropolis
Charlotte FC
FC Cincinnati
New York Pink Bulls
NYCFC
Columbus Crew
Western Convention:
LA Galaxy
LAFC
Seattle Sounders
Houston Dynamos
Colorado Rapids
Actual Salt Lake
Minnesota United
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Who’re the 5 prime gamers to look at within the MLS Cup 2024?
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami): 20 targets, 16 assists
Luis Suarez (Inter Miami): 20 targets, 9 assists
Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati): 14 targets, 19 assists
Denis Bouanga (LA FC): 20 targets, 11 assists
Cucho Hernandez (Columbus Crew): 19 targets, 14 assists
How have the groups been drawn within the MLS Cup Playoffs bracket?
The draw for the eight best-of-three quarterfinal video games appears like this:
Jap bracket:
Inter Miami vs Atlanta United
Orlando Metropolis vs Charlotte FC
FC Cincinnati vs NYCFC
Columbus Crew vs New York Pink Bulls
Western bracket:
LAFC vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Seattle Sounders vs Houston Dynamos
Actual Salt Lake vs Minnesota United
LA Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids
Want a aim or help?
Messi led the way in which. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/EfIgIO94hM
— Main League Soccer (@MLS) October 22, 2024
‘Transformational’ second: Lionel Messi set for Inter Miami debut
What’s the venue of the 2024 MLS Cup last?
By successful the Supporters’ Protect, Inter Miami have gained the proper to host the ultimate so long as they continue to be in rivalry for the title-deciding match.
Ought to Miami get knocked out earlier than the ultimate, the workforce with the subsequent finest in-season [league] report that continues to be within the MLS Cup will host the ultimate.
Will Lionel Messi play for Inter Miami within the MLS Cup Playoffs?
The Argentinian famous person has been in scintillating goal-scoring type for Inter Miami since his return from damage and is anticipated to guide them within the best-of-three knockout video games in opposition to Atlanta United.
What’s ‘Messi Cam’ and the way I can watch it?
Whereas on the sector enjoying throughout Miami’s MLS Cup video games, the ahead will put on a particular digital camera on his shirt, which can relay his each transfer on a TikTok livestream on the MLS and Inter Miami channels.
