The final four teams have landed in the semifinals of Leagues Cup 2024, with the reigning MLS Cup presented by Audi champion Columbus Crew taking on the Philadelphia Union (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV) and LAFC hosting the Colorado Rapids (10 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV) this Wednesday, August 21.
The winners of each semifinal match will earn an opportunity to compete for the Leagues Cup 2024 title and qualify directly into the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup (CCC), while the losing sides will compete in a third-place match to decide who will join the finalists in next year’s CCC.
Colorado Rapids: The lowest seeded team remaining in this year’s tournament has dramatically progressed during Leagues Cup 2024. The Rapids defeated four LIGA MX opponents en route to the semifinals, including the top-seeded LIGA MX team in Club América, and goalkeeper Zack Steffen has stepped up in two penalty shootouts to keep the Rapids’ trophy hopes alive for the first time since 2010.
Columbus Crew: The Crew are on the verge of competing in a third final in nine months and hosting yet another major soccer match at Lower.com Field. After assisting Cucho Hernández’s goal in the MLS All-Star Game presented by Audi in Columbus last month, Diego Rossi has scored four goals in three games in the Knockout Stage as the club’s star player during their run to the semifinals.
LAFC: The dynamic duo of Denis Bouanga (five) and Cristian Olivera (four) has produced nine goals in five games as the club aims to make their third final in the last three seasons after having been an MLS Cup presented by Audi finalist in 2022 and 2023, as well as a Concacaf Champions Cup finalist in 2023.
Philadelphia Union: The Union are the only returning club from last year’s semifinal, and head coach Jim Curtin will look to one-up last year’s third-place finish by earning a spot in the final. Club icon Andre Blake was the hero in the penalty shootout victory in the quarterfinals, and the Union will lean on Blake and their sturdy defense to deny a free-scoring Columbus on Wednesday.
MLS action returns on Saturday as the push to the end of the season begins with a marquee matchup between Inter Miami CF and FC Cincinnati at Chase Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV). Miami leads the Supporters’ Shield standings and has a five-point advantage over Cincinnati, the current Shield holders.
A win would go a long way for Miami in their quest for the Shield as their remaining eight games only feature one opponent in the top-four in either conference (Columbus Crew on October 2). Additionally, the Herons will have multiple scenarios in play on Saturday to become the first team to clinch a spot in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs through a variety of result combinations.
In the way of Miami’s trophy hunt is a Cincinnati team that bolstered their squad in the Secondary Transfer Window through Nicholas Gioacchini (Designated Player forward) and Chidozie Awaziem (Nigerian international defender) ahead of their Audi MLS Cup Playoffs push. The Orange and Blue also have confidence against Miami after inflicting the worst loss in their club history on July 6 when they beat the Herons, 6-1, at TQL Stadium.
Saturday’s heavyweight matchup could mark the Supporters’ Shield race tightening up to a thrilling finish or the marquee win in Miami’s season-long trophy hunt.
- LAFC teammates played beach volleyball at the AVP Manhattan Beach Open. Instagram
Teams that had surprise runs in Leagues Cup 2024 will look to extend that play with the return to action in the MLS regular season this weekend. The San Jose Earthquakes (4-19-2, 14th in Western Conference) behind the play of forward Jeremy Ebobisse (4 goals) found its stride during the in-season tournament and used a renewed confidence to tally eight goals in four matches, including a decisive 5-0 win against LIGA MX’s Necaxa as they advanced tothe Round of 16.
Seattle Sounders FC (10-8-7, 7th in Western Conference) allowed only one goal in the Round of 32 and 16, before falling in the quarterfinals to LAFC. The Sounders, led by a committee including Jordan Morris (3 goals, 1 assist) and Paul Rothrock (2 goals, 1 assist), revived their attack during Leagues Cup and hope that will translate well in the second half of the season as they look to make their patented late-season surge.
Santiago Rodríguez scored three goals in four games for New York City FC (11-9-5, 5th in Eastern Conference) during Leagues Cup 2024. New York City took down LIGA MX giants Tigres in the Round of 16, which should instill confidence as they chase a coveted top-four seed in the Eastern Conference.
The return to MLS regular season play after the 2024 All-Star Game and Leagues Cup 2024 break also shepherds in the countdown to Decision Day 2024. The final matchday of the season will take place on Saturday, October 19 with 28 of the league’s 29 teams in action.
Heading into Decision Day 2023, five teams in the Eastern Conference were vying for two playoff berths, while five teams in the Western Conference were competing for three positions to qualify for the playoffs.
Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Wildcard Matches
The Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Wild Card matches will feature a single-game elimination game in each conference between the No. 8 and No. 9 seed, which the higher seed will host. The winner of each Wild Card match will advance to the Round One Best-of-3 Series to face their respective conferences’ top seeds.
Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 Series
The top seven teams from each conference will automatically qualify for the Round One Best-of-3 Series, followed by the respective winners of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Wildcard matches. All 16 teams participating in Round One will earn at least one home playoff game in the series.
Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Semifinals and Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Finals
Following the excitement of the Best-of-3 Series, the single-elimination win-or-go-home Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals matches will take place on back-to-back weekends.
MLS Cup 2024 presented by Audi
The postseason culminates with MLS Cup 2024 presented by Audi on Saturday, December 7. Hosting rights will be awarded to the finalist with the better regular-season record.
Schedules and Information
- Leagues Cup 2024 Match Schedule | CLICK HERE
- Official Press Conferences Zoom and Download | CLICK HERE
- Leagues Cup 2024 Game Notes | CLICK HERE
- Leagues Cup 2024 Press Releases | CLICK HERE
- Leagues Cup 2024 Tournament Policy and Media Policies| CLICK HERE
- Tournament Media Contacts | CLICK HERE
- To register and access the Leagues Cup 2024 Content Hub | CLICK HERE
Media Accreditation
- The online media credential applications for each match is accepting requests here.
- Media wishing to attend a match should apply by 7 p.m. EST, five days prior to Group Stage matches. No late applications or changes will be accepted after those dates.
- For further media credential information, please contact Erika Mach, Accreditation Officer Erika.mach@leaguescup.com
- For Rights Holders information, please contact Johanna.rojas@mlssoccer.com.
Media Assets
- Leagues Cup 2024 Anthem | CLICK HERE
- Manifesto Leagues Cup 2024 | CLICK HERE
- For TV networks and affiliates interested in highlights for use during news windows only, please sign up here in advance of the tournament: https://mls.imagencloud.com/
For any media interested in Leagues Cup highlights outside the news window, please contact Juliana Rodriguez (Juliana.Rodriguez@MLSsoccer.com ).
