Western Conference winners LA Galaxy (No. 2) host Eastern Conference winners New York Red Bulls (No. 7) on Saturday afternoon, crowning the league champion in MLS Cup 2024 presented by Audi.
How to watch & stream
- Apple TV - Free
- US: FOX, FOX Deportes
- Canada: TSN, RDS
When
- Saturday, Dec. 7 | 4 pm ET/1 pm PT
Where
- Dignity Health Sports Park | Carson, California
LA have won a league-record five MLS Cup titles, while New York have never lifted the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy. Both clubs are MLS originals, starting play during the inaugural 1996 season.
If the game is tied after regulation time, two 15-minute extra-time periods will be played in their entirety. Should the match remain tied after extra time, penalty kicks will determine the winner.
- Round One: 2-0 series win vs. Colorado Rapids
- Western Conference Semifinal: 6-2 win vs. Minnesota United FC
- Western Conference Final: 1-0 win vs. Seattle Sounders FC
LA are in MLS Cup for the first time since 2014, outscoring their opponents 16-3 during the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. Only Toronto FC's 2016 squad has scored more goals (17) during a postseason run.
However, the Galaxy's attack will look different in MLS Cup after Riqui Puig suffered a torn ACL in their Western Conference Final victory over Seattle. The superstar No. 10 played over 30 minutes with the injury and supplied the game-winning assist on Dejan Joveljić's 85th-minute goal.
The good news for LA? They still boast serious firepower via DP wingers Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil, Joveljić, German star Marco Reus and Diego Fagúndez. The team's 85 combined goals scored (regular season and playoffs) are also the third-highest all-time in a single season.
Further, LA are unbeaten through 20 matches at Dignity Health Sports Park during the 2024 campaign, going 16W-0L-4D with a +29 goal differential. Even with Puig's long-term injury, head coach Greg Vanney's side will fully expect to continue that streak and bring home LA's record sixth MLS Cup title.
- Round One: 2-0 series win vs. Columbus Crew
- Eastern Conference Semifinal: 2-0 win at New York City FC
- Eastern Conference Final: 1-0 win at Orlando City SC
From the Eastern Conference, most expected Supporters' Shield champions Inter Miami CF or 2023 MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew to make MLS Cup. Yet here are the Red Bulls, embracing the underdog role and 90 minutes away from their first-ever league title.
New York, the lowest-ever seed (No. 7) to reach MLS Cup in the league's 29-year history, have rattled off three straight upsets. In order: They swept Columbus, won the first-ever postseason Hudson River Derby against NYCFC, and shocked Orlando via Andrés Reyes' 47th-minute header.
This turnaround (New York won two of their last 14 regular-season games) coincides with DP No. 10 and club captain Emil Forsberg returning from injury. Additionally, Paraguayan international goalkeeper Carlos Coronel has pitched three playoff shutouts and DPs Dante Vanzeir and Felipe Carballo have scored clutch goals.
Add it up and RBNY, against the odds, are making their second-ever MLS Cup appearance and first since 2008 (3-1 defeat to Columbus). Can they fully climb the mountaintop in head coach Sandro Schwarz's first season in charge?
