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MLS Cup 2024

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MLS Cup 2024
Dignity Health Sports Park, the host venue of MLS Cup 2024
EventMLS Cup
LA Galaxy New York Red Bulls
DateDecember 7, 2024 (2024-12-07)
VenueDignity Health Sports Park
Carson, California
RefereeGuido Gonzales Jr.[1]
← 2023
2025 →

MLS Cup 2024 is the upcoming 29th edition of the MLS Cup, the championship match of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top-flight soccer league in the United States and Canada. The match is scheduled to be played on December 7, 2024, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, United States. The soccer match will be played between the Western Conference champions LA Galaxy and the Eastern Conference champions New York Red Bulls. It will determine the champions of the 2024 season and marks the conclusion of the MLS Cup playoffs, which was contested by the top 18 teams based on their regular season records.

Road to the final

Further information: 2024 MLS Cup playoffs

The MLS Cup is the post-season championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top-flight club soccer league in the United States and Canada. The 2024 season was the 29th in MLS history, and was contested by 29 teams organized into the eastern and western conferences.[2][3] Each team played 34 matches during the regular season, which runs from February to October, twice against each intra-conference opponent and six to seven times for inter-conference opposition in an unbalanced schedule. The regular season included a month-long break for the Leagues Cup, which comprised all MLS and Liga MX teams.[4] The nine clubs in each conference with the most points qualified for the MLS Cup playoffs, which was played over four rounds from October to December. Most rounds were a single-elimination match hosted by the higher-seeded team; the exception was Round One, which was a best-of-three series with the first and third (if necessary) match hosted by the higher-seeded team.[5][6]

Both of the finalists, the LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls, were among the ten original teams that joined the league for the inaugural season in 1996. The 2024 final is the first MLS Cup to not feature an expansion team since MLS Cup 2014, which was contested by the Galaxy and New England Revolution.[7] It is also the first championship match between teams from New York City and Los Angeles—the two largest metropolitan areas in the United States, which both have two MLS teams.[8] The Galaxy and Red Bulls last played each other during the 2021 regular season, which ended in a 3–2 victory for the Galaxy.[9][10]

LA Galaxy

Main article: 2024 LA Galaxy season

The LA Galaxy are the most successful team in MLS Cup history, having won five titles in nine appearances in the final; their most recent was in 2014 against the New England Revolution, who they previously defeated in 2002 and 2005.[11] The team had won three MLS Cup championships in a four-year span under head coach Bruce Arena, who left in 2016.[12] In the following seven seasons, the Galaxy qualified for the playoffs only twice and finished with the worst record in the league once despite making several star signings.[13] During the 2023 season, where they finished in 26th place, the team fired longtime club president Chris Klein and technical director Jovan Kirovski in response to a boycott from fans.[14][15]

Under new general manager Will Kuntz, the Galaxy acquired 20 players over a 16-month period to overhaul its roster while it retained star midfielder Riqui Puig to lead the team's attack.[16][17] The club remained under transfer sanctions during the 2023 season that limited their early rebuild to free agent signings and trades.[18][19] Starting goalkeeper Jonathan Bond was replaced by free agent John McCarthy, who had won MLS Cup 2022 with cross-town rivals Los Angeles FC.[20] Two of the Galaxy's Designated Players, Javier "Chicharito" Hernández and Douglas Costa, left during the winter transfer window and were replaced by young Brazilian left winger Gabriel Pec and Ghanaian right winger Joseph Paintsil at a reported combined cost of $19 million in transfer fees.[21][22] The moves marked a change from the club's traditional Designated Player signings, which had included veteran European stars, but aligned with other MLS teams who pursued younger talent.[20]

The team were undefeated in their first six matches of the regular season, including two matches where they were trailing 2–0,[23] until they lost 2–1 to Los Angeles FC in the El Tráfico derby.[24] The Galaxy's schedule included nine away matches in the first fourteen weeks of the season, which was followed by a home stand of four matches during a five-week stretch.[25] Prior to the home stand, the team had a five-match winless streak in May that included four consecutive draws that dropped them to fourth place in the Western Conference.[25] The Galaxy won six of their next seven matches through the end of June despite injuries to midfielders Riqui Puig and Gastón Brugman.[26]

New York Red Bulls

Main article: 2024 New York Red Bulls season

The New York Red Bulls are also one of the 10 teams from the inaugural MLS season and have previously appeared in one MLS Cup, when they lost in 2008.[citation needed] They finished seventh in the Eastern Conference during the regular season and are the lowest-ever seed to play in an MLS Cup final.[11]

Summary of results

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).
LA Galaxy Round New York Red Bulls
2nd place in Western Conference

MLS Western Conference table (2024)
Pos Team
 Pld Pts
1 Los Angeles FC 34 64
2 LA Galaxy 34 64
3 Real Salt Lake 34 59
4 Seattle Sounders FC 34 57
5 Houston Dynamo FC 34 54
6 Minnesota United FC 34 52
7 Colorado Rapids 34 50
Source: MLS

     Qualified for playoffs
     Qualified for CONCACAF Champions Cup

Regular season 7th place in Eastern Conference

MLS Eastern Conference table (2024)
Pos Team
 Pld Pts
4 Orlando City SC 34 52
5 Charlotte FC 34 51
6 New York City FC 34 50
7 New York Red Bulls 34 47
8 CF Montréal 34 43
9 Atlanta United FC 34 40
10 D.C. United 34 40
Source: MLS

     Qualified for playoffs
     Qualified for CONCACAF Champions Cup

Opponent (Games) 1st leg 2nd leg 3rd leg MLS Cup Playoffs Opponent (Games) 1st leg 2nd leg 3rd leg
Colorado Rapids (2–0) 5–0 (H) 4–1 (A) — Round One Columbus Crew (2–0) 1–0 (A) 2–2 (5–4 (p)) (H) —
Opponent Score Opponent Score
Minnesota United FC 6–2 (H) Conference Semifinals New York City FC 2–0 (A)
Seattle Sounders FC 1–0 (H) Conference Finals Orlando City SC 1–0 (A)

Venue

MLS Cup 2024 will be hosted by the LA Galaxy at their home stadium Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, near Los Angeles. The Galaxy won the right to host the match due to their higher finish during the 2024 regular season.[27] Dignity Health Sports Park has 27,000 seats and is part of a multi-use sports complex on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills.[28] It opened in 2003 for the Galaxy and was also home to Chivas USA, another MLS franchise, from 2005 to 2014 and the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League from 2017 to 2019.[29][30] MLS Cup 2024 is the seventh MLS Cup final to be played at Dignity Health Sports Park; it had been selected as a neutral venue in 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2011, and the MLS Cup was hosted by the Galaxy in 2012 and 2014.[31][32] It is also the ninth MLS Cup final to be played in the Los Angeles area; the Rose Bowl in Pasadena hosted MLS Cup 1998 and Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles hosted MLS Cup 2022.[31][33]

Broadcasting

The MLS Cup final will be broadcast worldwide for free in English and Spanish on MLS Season Pass, a subscription streaming service operated by Apple under their Apple TV+ brand. The match will also be broadcast on U.S. terrestrial television by Fox Sports in English and Fox Deportes in Spanish. The Canadian broadcast will be carried by TSN in English and Réseau des sports (RDS) in French.[34] The match will also be shown live in Times Square in New York City on a large digital display.[34]

Match

Details

LA GalaxyvNew York Red Bulls
Report
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.[1]

MLS Cup MVP: TBD

Assistant referees:[1]
Kyle Atkins
Logan Brown
Fourth official:
Ismir Pekmic
Reserve assistant referee:
Joe Dickerson
Video assistant referee:
Younes Marrakchi
Assistant video assistant referee:
TJ Zablocki
Reserve video assistant referee:
Jose Da Silva

Match rules[35]

  • 90 minutes of regulation time
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary
  • Penalty shootout if scores still level
  • Maximum of nine named substitutes
  • Maximum of five substitutions, with a sixth allowed in extra time. Each team is only given three opportunities to make substitutions, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time, and at half-time in extra time. Two additional substitutions are available for players with concussion symptoms.

References

  1. ^ a b c "2024 MLS Cup crew confirmed" (Press release). Professional Referee Organization. December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  2. ^ Bonagura, Kyle (December 22, 2023). "As MLS 2024 schedule releases, all eyes turn to Messi". ESPN. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  3. ^ Nalton, James (February 20, 2024). "MLS 2024 season: What to look out for, including Lionel Messi & Luis Suarez at Inter Miami". BBC Sport. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  4. ^ Silverman, Alex (December 20, 2023). "MLS announces 2024 schedule, Leagues Cup return". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  5. ^ Vertelney, Seth (October 23, 2024). "2024 MLS Cup playoffs format". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  6. ^ Baxter, Kevin (October 29, 2024). "Confusing MLS playoff format a source of frustration for LAFC and Galaxy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  7. ^ Deen, Safid; Reineking, Jim (November 30, 2024). "LA Galaxy to face New York Red Bulls in MLS Cup 2024: Highlights from conference finals". USA Today. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  8. ^ Boehm, Charles (December 1, 2024). "MLS Cup 2024: LA Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls at long last". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  9. ^ Calhoun, Damian (December 1, 2024). "First look at Galaxy's MLS Cup Final against New York Red Bulls". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  10. ^ "Chicharito's hat trick propels Galaxy past Red Bulls 3-2". ESPN. Associated Press. April 25, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Ruderman, Justin (November 30, 2024). "LA Galaxy return to MLS Cup "hungry" for another title". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  12. ^ "LA Galaxy aim for return to MLS glory days in Conference final". Yahoo Sports. Agence France-Presse. November 28, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  13. ^ Burke, Elias (June 4, 2023). "LA Galaxy discord explained: Fan protests, Chris Klein's departure, club sanctions and more". The Athletic. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  14. ^ Tenorio, Paul (November 30, 2024). "LA Galaxy outlast Seattle Sounders to earn first MLS Cup berth since 2014". The Athletic. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  15. ^ Baxter, Kevin (October 24, 2023). "Commentary: 'This can't happen again.' Greg Vanney faces pressure to finally fix the Galaxy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  16. ^ Baxter, Kevin (November 26, 2024). "Commentary: Galaxy's new direction has them on target to host MLS Cup with one more win". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  17. ^ Arnold, Jon (November 20, 2024). "Killa P's: How Puig, Pec & Paintsil drive LA Galaxy". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  18. ^ Boehm, Charles (December 3, 2024). "LA Galaxy: How the storied club got their swagger back". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  19. ^ Calhoun, Damian (December 3, 2024). "How the Galaxy reached the MLS Cup final after last year's 'perfect storm'". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Baxter, Kevin (February 23, 2024). "Galaxy are out of excuses. After spending spree, they aim to rejoin MLS elite". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  21. ^ Anderson, Jason (February 23, 2024). "MLS 2024 preview: The top newcomers you need to know". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  22. ^ Calhoun, Damian (February 23, 2024). "6 questions facing the Galaxy before the 2024 MLS season". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  23. ^ Calhoun, Damian (April 5, 2024). "Galaxy enters first El Trafico meeting riding confident wave". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  24. ^ Gross, Josh (April 6, 2024). "Tillman, Bouanga lead LAFC past Galaxy in El Tráfico rivalry game". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  25. ^ a b Calhoun, Damian (May 24, 2024). "Galaxy looks to start compiling points at home". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  26. ^ Calhoun, Damian (June 18, 2024). "Galaxy adapting smoothly so far to spate of injuries". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  27. ^ "MLS Cup 2024 hosting scenarios: Where will the final be held?". MLSsoccer.com. November 24, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  28. ^ Baxter, Kevin (March 4, 2013). "Home Depot Center to become StubHub Center". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  29. ^ Markazi, Arash (December 21, 2019). "For Carson Mayor Albert Robles, Chargers' final game in the city is bittersweet". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  30. ^ Maurer, Pablo; Stejskal, Sam (October 27, 2020). "The short life and long death of Chivas USA". The Athletic. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  31. ^ a b Anderson, Jason (December 1, 2024). "MLS Cup 2024: LA Galaxy to face New York Red Bulls". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  32. ^ Botta, Christopher (November 26, 2012). "MLS gets home-field advantage". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  33. ^ Lewis, Michael (October 31, 2022). "A Quick Look Ahead: To MLS Cup match-up between LAFC and Philadelphia". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  34. ^ a b "LA Galaxy to Host New York Red Bulls in 2024 MLS Cup Presented by Audi" (Press release). Major League Soccer. November 30, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  35. ^ "2024 MLS Competition Guidelines". Major League Soccer. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
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