Playoff picture, decisive scenarios for MLS matchday 35

Multiple MLS playoff spots are at stake this weekend, and more Concacaf Champions Cup spots were secured this week.

Let’s get down to business. Here’s a look at the teams that can clinch a spot in the MLS postseason on Saturday:

➤ Charlotte FC

Easiest way: There is no easy way…all scenarios call for Charlotte FC to win at league leaders Inter Miami
The most complicated route: Win, and Atlanta United lose or draw, and CF Montréal lose or draw, and DC United lose or draw, and Nashville SC lose or draw

➤ Houston Dynamo FC

Easiest way: Win
The most complicated route: FC Dallas lose or draw

➤ Los Angeles FC

Easiest way: Win or draw
The most complicated route: FC Dallas lose or draw

➤ New York City F.C

Easiest way: Win, and Toronto FC loses or draw, and DC United loses or draw, and Nashville SC loses or draw
The most complicated route: Win, and Atlanta United lose or draw, and CF Montréal lose or draw, and DC United lose or draw, and Nashville SC lose or draw

➤ New York Red Bulls

Easiest way: Win
The most complicated route: Nashville SC lose or draw and Atlanta United lose or draw and DC United lose or draw and CF Montréal lose

➤ Orlando City SC

Easiest way: Win
The most complicated route: Draw and Nashville SC loss or draw, and Atlanta United loss or draw, and DC United loss or draw and CF Montréal loss or draw

➤ Portland Timbers

Easiest way: Win and FC Dallas lose and Austin FC lose or draw
The most complicated route: N/A (there is only one scenario)

➤ Seattle Sounders FC

Easiest way: Win
The most complicated route: FC Dallas loss and loss or draw and Austin FC loss or draw

➤ Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Easiest way: Win and FC Dallas lose or draw
The most complicated route: Draw and FC Dallas loss and Austin FC loss or draw

In addition to these scenarios, LA Galaxy can secure home-field advantage in the Western Conference playoffs this weekend.

MORE: For 23 Make-A-Wish families, meeting Messi is a dream come true

MLS Matchday 35: Which games will take place on Saturday?

(All games are available in MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.)

FC Cincinnati vs. Los Angeles FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
DC United vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. ET
Inter Miami CF vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
CF Montreal vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 7:30 p.m. ET
New England Revolution vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m. ET
New York Red Bulls vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Philadelphia Union vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m. ET
Austin FC vs. Real Salt Lake, 8:30 p.m. ET
Chicago Fire FC vs. Toronto FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
FC Dallas vs. Orlando City SC, 8:30 p.m. ET
Minnesota United FC vs. Colorado Rapids, 8:30 p.m. ET
St. Louis City SC vs. Sporting Kansas City, 8:30 p.m. ET
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Houston Dynamo FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Portland Timbers, 10:30 p.m. ET

What is the format for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs?

A total of 18 teams will qualify for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs – the top nine teams in each conference.

The eighth and ninth teams from each conference play in wild card games. The top seven finishers qualify for the best-of-three series in the first round.

When do the MLS playoffs start?

Here is the playoff schedule:

Oct. 3: Wildcard games (single elimination games)
Oct 26 – Nov 10: Round 1 (Best-of-Three Series)
23-24 November: Conference semifinals (single-elimination games)
Nov 30 – Dec 1: Conference finals (single-elimination games)
Dec 7: MLS Cup (single winner-only game)

MLS CUP: Ranking of all Major League Soccer championship games

MLS playoff picture: If the season ended today…

Before MLS matchday 35, these would be the first round MLS playoff games…

EASTERN CONFERENCE

➤ Secure playoff spot: Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami CF

Wildcard Match:

Toronto FC (No. 8 seed) vs. Philadelphia Union (9)

Round 1 (Best-of-Three Series):

Inter Miami CF (1) vs. Toronto FC-Philadelphia Union winner
FC Cincinnati (2) vs. New York City FC (7)
Columbus Crew (3) vs. Charlotte FC (6)
New York Red Bulls (4) vs. Orlando City SC (5)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

➤ Secure playoff spot: Colorado Rapids, LA Galaxy, real salt lake

Wildcard Match:

Portland Timbers (No. 8 seed) vs. Minnesota United FC (9)

Round 1 (Best-of-Three Series):

LA Galaxy (1) vs. Portland Timbers-Minnesota United FC winner
Real Salt Lake (2) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7)
Colorado Rapids (3) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (6)
Los Angeles FC (4) vs. Houston Dynamo FC (5)

MORE: 2024 MLS Rankings

MLS betting odds: Who is the favorite to win the championship?

According to BetMGM, Inter Miami CF (+150) is the current favorite to win the 2024 championship, followed by LA Galaxy (+600), Columbus Crew (+700), Los Angeles FC (+900) and FC Cincinnati (+). 1200).

Concacaf Champions Cup 2025: MLS teams that qualified

So far, six MLS clubs have qualified for next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup competition:

➤ Colorado Rapids: By winning the game for third place in the League Cup

➤ Columbus crew: By winning the League Cup

➤ Inter Miami CF: By being one of the two second-best clubs in the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings

➤ Los Angeles FC: By finishing second in the Leagues Cup (also winner of the US Open Cup)

➤ Sporting Kansas City: By being a US Open Cup finalist (if the US Open Cup winner also holds another Concacaf Champions Cup qualifying spot, the tournament runner-up will earn a spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup).

➤ Vancouver Whitecaps FC: By winning the Canadian championship

We may occasionally recommend products and services that may be of interest to you. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may receive an affiliate fee. USA TODAY operates independently and this has no influence on our reporting.