The MLS Cup Playoffs kick off today, with a Southeast representative in Orlando City SC going on the road in the wild card round to face the Chicago Fire. Beforehand, our MLS staff writers look for better success than their regular season predictions (which we will review at the end of the playoffs) and lay out (in differing formats and some with reasoning) their playoff predictions and eventual MLS Cup Champion.
Calum Ewing (Atlanta United Writer) -
Wild Card:
Chicago Fire defeats Orlando City
Portland Timbers defeat Real Salt Lake
Round One (Best of 3):
West -
San Diego FC defeats Portland Timbers (2 Games)
Seattle Sounders defeat Minnesota United (3 Games)
LAFC defeats Austin FC (2 Games)
Vancouver Whitecaps defeat FC Dallas (2 Games)
East -
Philadelphia Union defeats Chicago Fire (3 Games)
Charlotte FC defeats NYCFC (3 Games)
Columbus Crew defeats FC Cincinnati (3 Games)
Inter Miami defeats Nashville SC (3 Games)
Round Two:
West -
Seattle Sounders defeat San Diego FC
LAFC defeats Vancouver Whitecaps
East -
Philadelphia Union defeats Charlotte FC
Inter Miami defeats Columbus Crew
Conference Finals:
West -
LAFC defeats Seattle Sounders
East -
Philadelphia Union defeat Inter Miami
MLS Cup (2022 Rematch) -
LAFC defeats Philadelphia Union
Ronan Briscoe (Nashville SC) -
Wild Card Round
Eastern Conference: Orlando City defeats Chicago Fire
Western Conference: Portland Timbers defeat Real Salt Lake
First Round
Eastern Conference:
Philadelphia Union defeats Orlando City (2 games)
Charlotte FC defeats NYCFC (3 games)
FC Cincinnati defeats Columbus Crew (3 games)
Inter Miami defeats Nashville SC (3 games)
Western Conference:
San Diego FC defeats Portland Timbers (2 games)
Vancouver Whitecaps defeat FC Dallas (2 games)
Minnesota United defeats Seattle Sounders (3 games)
LAFC defeats Austin FC (2 games)
Conference Semifinals
Eastern Conference:
Inter Miami defeats FC Cincinnati
Philadelphia Union defeats Charlotte FC
Western Conference:
LAFC defeats Vancouver Whitecaps
Minnesota United defeats San Diego FC
Conference Finals
Eastern Conference:
Inter Miami defeats Philadelphia Union
Western Conference:
LAFC defeats Minnesota United
MLS Cup
LAFC defeats Inter Miami (imagine the cinema)
Ken Garner (Inter Miami) -
Wild Card Round
Eastern Conference: Orlando City defeats Chicago Fire
Western Conference: Real Salt Lake defeat Portland Timbers
First Round
Eastern Conference:
Philadelphia Union defeats Orlando City (2 games)
Charlotte FC defeats NYCFC (3 games)
FC Cincinnati defeats Columbus Crew (3 games)
Inter Miami defeats Nashville SC (3 games)
Western Conference:
San Diego FC defeats Real Salt Lake (3 games)
Vancouver Whitecaps defeat FC Dallas (2 games)
Seattle Sounders defeat Minnesota United (3 games)
LAFC defeats Austin FC (2 games)
Conference Semifinals
Eastern Conference:
Inter Miami defeats FC Cincinnati
Philadelphia Union defeats Charlotte FC
Western Conference:
LAFC defeats Vancouver Whitecaps
Seattle Sounders defeat San Diego FC
Conference Finals
Eastern Conference:
Inter Miami defeats Philadelphia Union
Western Conference:
Seattle Sounders defeat LAFC
MLS Cup
Inter Miami defeats Seattle Sounders
I’m looking forward to a high-profile rematch of the 2025 Leagues Cup final, a 4-0 Sounders’ beat-down of Messi & Co. My prognostication is faithful to my preseason prediction, but I’m less confident than I was in February. At their best, the Herons can beat anyone in MLS and be competitive against the region’s powerhouse clubs. At their worst, they can be embarrassed by middling sides like Chicago Fire. Likewise, Seattle has been less than dominant throughout the season but I expect Brian Schmetzer’s Rave Green to find another level for this tournament.
Alex McCaskey (Charlotte FC) -
Wild Card Round
Eastern Conference: Chicago Fire defeats Orlando City
Western Conference: Portland Timbers defeat Real Salt Lake
First Round
Eastern Conference:
Philadelphia Union defeats Chicago Fire (2 games)
Charlotte FC defeats NYCFC (3 games)
Inter Miami defeats Nashville SC (2 games)
Columbus Crew defeats FC Cincinnati (2 games)
Western Conference:
San Diego FC defeats Portland Timbers (3 games)
Seattle Sounders defeat Minnesota United (2 games)
LAFC defeats Austin FC (3 games)
Vancouver Whitecaps defeat FC Dallas (2 games)
Conference Semifinals
Eastern Conference:
Charlotte FC defeats Philadelphia Union
Inter Miami defeats Columbus Crew
Western Conference:
Vancouver Whitecaps defeat LAFC
Seattle Sounders defeat San Diego FC
Conference Finals
Eastern Conference: Charlotte FC defeats Inter Miami
Western Conference: Vancouver Whitecaps defeat Seattle Sounders
MLS Cup:
Vancouver Whitecaps defeat Charlotte FC
The magic can only last for so long. Charlotte FC struggles against a tough Vancouver side, and a lack of Pep Biel in the midfield allows Vancouver to shut down any creativity from Charlotte.
