The 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs have ended and the LA Galaxy are now six-time champions of the Major League Soccer postseason following a 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls in Carson, California.
[ MORE: Inter Miami schedule, Messi’s stats | MLS all-time winners ]
Eighteen teams qualified for the playoffs, but red-hot favorites and Supporters’ Shield winners Inter Miami were dumped out in shock fashion and East No. 7 seed New York Red Bulls continued the surprises by reaching the final.
How did Inter Miami, Lionel Messi get knocked out in the MLS playoffs?
The Herons lost to wild card round winner Atlanta United in a best-of-three series, losing 3-2 at home in Game 3 on Saturday in a huge shock. Atlanta equalized and then took the lead with three goals scored in a wild first 21 minutes, then Messi had made it 2-2 with a towering header with 25 minutes to go. But Atlanta’s Bartosz Slisz scored a superb header of his own to make it 3-2 and heroics from Brad Guzan meant Atlanta held on to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
There were fiery scenes throughout this game as Guzan was pushed into the net and berate by Luis Suarez when Messi made it 2-2, but it was the veteran American goalkeeper who had the last laugh.
Amid wild scenes of celebration from Guzan and Atlanta at the final whistle, and long beyond it, Messi and Co. were utterly stunned as nobody expected this huge upset. The shock win for Atlanta meant all three of the top seeds in the Eastern Conference were quickly knocked out of the playoffs.
2024 MLS Cup Playoffs: Format, dates
A whopping 18 of Major League Soccer’s 29 franchises make the postseason, but the field was trimmed to 16 quickly before the first round gives the favorites some leeway.
Wild card round, October 23: 8th vs 9th place in each conference, single-elimination
Round one, begins October 25-November 10: Best-of-three series. 1st place team in each conference plays wild card winner while second meets seventh, third meets sixth, and fourth meets fifth. The top seed in each pairing gets the first and, if necessary, third matches at home.
Conference semifinals, November 23-24: Single-elimination at better regular season side
Conference finals, November 30-December 1: Single-elimination at better regular season side
MLS Cup Final, December 7: One leg.
2024 MLS Cup Playoffs: Qualified teams
Eastern Conference: Inter Miami (1), Columbus Crew (2), FC Cincinnati (3), Orlando City, New York City FC, Charlotte FC, New York Red Bulls. CF Montreal, Atlanta United
Western Conference: LA Galaxy (1), LAFC (2), Seattle Sounders (4), Real Salt Lake, Houston Dynamo, Colorado Rapids, Minnesota United, Vancouver Whitecaps, Portland Timbers
2024 MLS Cup Playoffs results
Wild card round (Single elimination)
Montreal 2-2 (4-5 pens) Atlanta
Vancouver 5-0 Portland
Round one (Best of three)
First legs
Inter Miami 2-1 Atlanta United
LA Galaxy 5-0 Colorado
Orlando City 2-0 Charlotte
LAFC 2-1 Vancouver
FC Cincinnati 1-0 NYCFC
Seattle 0-0 (pens 5-4) Houston
Columbus 0-1 New York Red Bulls
Real Salt Lake 0-0 (4-5 pens) Minnesota United
Second legs
Charlotte 0-0 (pens 3-1) Orlando City — Series tied 1-1
Colorado 1-4 LA Galaxy — Galaxy win series 2-0
NYCFC 3-1 FC Cincinnati — Series tied 1-1
Atlanta United 2-1 Inter Miami — Series tied 1-1
Minnesota United 1-1 (3-1 pens) Real Salt Lake — Minnesota United win series 2-0
New York Red Bulls 2-2 (5-4 pens) Columbus Crew — RBNY win series 2-0
Houston 1-1 (6-7 pens) Seattle Sounders — Seattle win series 2-0
Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 LAFC — Series tied 1-1
Third legs
LAFC 1-0 Vancouver Whitecaps — LAFC win series 2-1
FC Cincinnati 0-0 (5-6 pens) NYCFC — NYCFC win series 2-1
Orlando City 1-1 (4-1 pens) Charlotte — Orlando win series 2-1
Inter Miami 2-3 Atlanta United — Atlanta win series 2-1
Conference semifinals
Saturday, November 23
New York City FC 0-2 New York Red Bulls
LAFC 1-2 Seattle Sounders
Sunday, November 24
Orlando City SC 1-0 Atlanta United
LA Galaxy 6-2 Minnesota United
Conference finals
November 30-December 1
East final
Orlando City 0-1 New York Red Bulls
West final
LA Galaxy 1-0 Seattle Sounders
Saturday, December 7
LA Galaxy 2-1 New York Red Bulls — Recap
