2024 MLS Cup Playoffs: LA Galaxy Secure Record Sixth Title
The 2024 MLS Cup playoffs, officially branded as the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, served as the thrilling conclusion to the Major League Soccer (MLS) season. Spanning from October 22 to December 7, this 29th edition of the postseason championship brought together the elite teams from the United States and Canada to compete for the league's highest honor.
The tournament was marked by significant upsets and historic performances. While the Columbus Crew entered as defending champions and Inter Miami CF arrived as the Supporters' Shield winners—the trophy awarded to the team with the best regular-season record—both were eliminated in the opening round. Ultimately, the LA Galaxy emerged victorious, claiming a record-extending sixth MLS Cup title after a hard-fought 2–1 victory over the New York Red Bulls.
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Key Facts
- Champions: LA Galaxy (6th title)
- Runners-up: New York Red Bulls
- Top Scorer: Dejan Joveljić (6 goals)
- Total Attendance: 697,543 spectators
- Total Goals: 74 goals scored across 29 matches
- Record Broken: LA Galaxy set a new record for the most goals in a single playoff campaign with 18.
Tournament Format and Structure
The 2024 playoffs featured 18 teams, consisting of the top nine teams from both the Eastern and Western Conferences. The path to the final was divided into several distinct stages:
Wild Card and Round One
The top seven teams in each conference received automatic entry into Round One. The eighth and ninth-placed teams competed in a single wild card match to determine who would face the top seed. Round One utilized a best-of-three series format. In this stage, aggregate scores were not tracked; instead, tied matches were decided immediately via a penalty shoot-out.
The Knockout Stages
Following Round One, the tournament transitioned to a single-elimination format for the conference semifinals, conference finals, and the MLS Cup. These matches included extra time and penalty shoot-outs to resolve ties. Hosting rights were generally awarded to the team with the superior regular-season record.
All matches were streamed globally via MLS Season Pass on Apple.
Conference Performance and Standings
The regular season set the stage for the postseason, with Inter Miami CF dominating the East and Los Angeles FC leading the West in points.
| Conference | Team | Points | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern | Inter Miami CF | 74 | 1 |
| Eastern | Columbus Crew | 66 | 2 |
| Western | Los Angeles FC | 64 | 1 |
| Western | LA Galaxy | 64 | 2 |
The Road to the Final
The LA Galaxy's journey to the trophy was characterized by offensive dominance. After sweeping the Colorado Rapids 2–0 in the opening series, they delivered a crushing 6–2 victory over Minnesota United FC in the conference semifinals. They then edged out the Seattle Sounders FC 1–0 in the conference final to secure their spot in the championship match.
In the East, the New York Red Bulls proved to be the dark horse. They eliminated the defending champion Columbus Crew in Round One and overcame both New York City FC and Orlando City SC to reach the final.
The MLS Cup final took place on December 7, hosted by the LA Galaxy. Goals from Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljić secured the 2–1 win, cementing the Galaxy's place as the most successful club in MLS history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2024 MLS Cup?
The LA Galaxy won the 2024 MLS Cup, defeating the New York Red Bulls 2–1 to earn their sixth title.
Who was the top goal scorer of the tournament?
Dejan Joveljić of the LA Galaxy was the top scorer, netting 6 goals during the playoffs.
How many teams participated in the 2024 playoffs?
A total of 18 teams participated, with the top nine teams from the Eastern and Western Conferences qualifying.
What was unique about the Round One format?
Round One used a best-of-three series format where tied matches went directly to penalty shoot-outs without using an aggregate score.
Which teams were the biggest surprises in the tournament?
The New York Red Bulls were a major surprise, reaching the final after eliminating the defending champions, Columbus Crew, in the first round.