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It’s the most wonderful time of the year for MLS fans: the 2024 postseason is officially here. The Wildcard matches begin midweek before the Round One best-of-3 series begin Friday night.
The first team to two wins advances, and the other goes home. It’s do-or-die, and these are moments in which players can make a name for themselves.
The stars are out in full-force, too. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez will take the pitch for Inter Miami, while Olivier Giroud will run out with LAFC, and Marco Reus with the LA Galaxy. That’s not to mention reigning league MVP Lucho Acosta and FC Cincinnati, among others.
In 2023, the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed St. Louis CITY SC were stunned in the opening round by Sporting Kansas City – which show no team is ever safe when it comes to playoff soccer.
Now, the biggest questions are on the table ahead of the 2024 edition of the postseason. Who advances, and who falls short? Which players are X-factors, and what are they keys to success?
GOAL examines and offers predictions on each MLS opening round playoff matchup.
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Getty ImagesLAFC vs Western Conference Wildcard winner
LAFC’s Keys to success: Feed Denis Bouanga, and let Giroud do his thing in front of net. Don’t overcomplicate it; treat it like any other match and just play the same style fluid soccer displayed during the regular season.
Player to watch: Giroud – France’s all-time leading scorer has yet to have his big moment in MLS this season. The playoffs present him with that opportunity, moments in which he’s often thrived.
Vancouver Whitecaps or Portland Timbers: Winner of the Western Conference Wildcard match.
GOAL’s series prediction: LAFC should come out on top here, simply due to talent. However, Vancouver have been in fine form of late, and the Timbers are a goal-scoring machine. LAFC will take it in three games.
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gettyInter Miami vs Atlanta United
Inter Miami’s keys to success: Lock in defensively. Their weakest link is their back-line, and the entire league knows it. They won’t have to worry about their attack, they know that group can get the job done. They genuinely just need to avoid silly mistakes, slow the game down and trust in their defense.
Player to watch: Messi – He’s coming into the postseason with back-to-back hat-tricks, one for the Herons, and the other Argentina. Need we say more?
Atlanta United’s keys to success: Take advantage of the counter-attack. Look at Decision Day, for example. New England’s two goals came from pacey individuals who exposed the back-line. If they can free up Saba Lobzhanidze or Tyler Wolff in those moments, they can threaten – and all of MLS knows that is the area to exploit.
Player to watch: Alexey Miranchuk – you don’t just casually spent $10+m on a player to make him fit your roster; he is thee guy, and needs to show up in moments like the postseason as a result. As a 2024 Europa League Winner with Atlanta in Italy, he needs to be their x-factor in the attack, and not shy away from the challenge ahead.
GOAL’s prediction: Miami will cruise to two-straight victories, but they won’t keep a clean sheet in either match. No need for a game three.
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Getty Images SportReal Salt Lake vs Minnesota United
Real Salt Lake’s keys to success: Hope that Chicho Arango finds his shooting boots, and that the Loons cave under pressure. In two meetings this season, they left things at a 1-1 and 0-0 draw, so RSL will be prepared for a heavy defensive presence. If they can break it, and find an early goal or two, they’re in good shape.
Player to watch: Diego Luna – The U.S. youth international is crafty, creative and RSL have nobody else like him on the roster. If he’s feeling himself, he’ll attack Minnesota back line across 90 minutes.
Minnesota’s keys to success: The Loons were an excellent away team in 2024, and they’ll need to replicate that in Sandy, Utah. Riding a five-match unbeaten streak into the tie, they need to play with confidence and composure, while hoping that new manager Eric Ramsay can live up to the big moment on the touchline.
Player to watch: Bongokuhle Hlongwane – The South Africa international leads the team in scoring this year and is someone who can play across the attack wherever commanded. A threat on the counter, his blistering pace will test an experienced RSL back line.
GOAL’s prediction: The Loons will take this series in three games. RSL will begin things with a dominant victory in game one, but the Loons will return with one of their own before game three is settled in penalties, and Minnesota pulls out the upset.
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USA Today ImagesLA Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids
LA’s keys to success: Let Riqui Puig run the show in the midfield. Give him the ball, let him control the tempo, and let him feed Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Jovelic; just give him your complete and utter trust.
Player to watch: Marco Reus – He has yet to have his big moment in the league. Will the postseason provide him with that opportunity?
Colorado’s keys to success: Hope that Cole Bassett can own the midfield, and that their attack can catch the Galaxy off-guard in big moments. They need to take advantage of set-pieces, the counter and any errors that LA commit; capitalizing in those situations is the biggest way to make them stumble.
Player to watch: Rafael Navarro – The Brazilian is clinical if the opportunity is handed to him. Put him in successful scoring positions, and your odds are instantly improved.
GOAL’s prediction: With the recent injury to Djordje Mihailovic, the Galaxy will be too much to overcome for the Rapids, who are heavily reliant on the U.S. international. LA will settle this in two matches, with a home victory followed by a road win.
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USA TodayColumbus Crew vs New York Red Bulls
Columbus’s keys to success: Play out of the back with a high-tempo, fluid passing, communication. Make RBNY run and earn the ball, while allowing Darlington Nagbe to control the pace of the game.
Player to watch: Cucho Hernandez – The star forward for the Crew, Cucho is capable of scoring from any threatening situation. Give him a chance, and he’ll likely put it on frame.
RBNY’s keys to success: Give Emil Forsberg the ball and hope he can pull a rabbit out of the hat. RBNY have done very little of late to give anyone confidence that they can take down the Crew, but if there’s one person on their roster that can, it’s Forsberg.
Player to watch: Forsberg – The Swede scored twice against the Crew on Decision Day, so what’s stopping him from doing it again?
GOAL’s prediction: Columbus with two-straight shutout victories to knock RBNY out.
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USA Today ImagesFC Cincinnati vs New York City FC
FC Cincinnati’s keys to success: Don’t focus on the late-season slump. Trust in the fact that their roster is built for moments like these, and they have pieces that can carry them in the postseason. Let their wingbacks operate in transition, and play on the counter against a rather unexperienced NYCFC side.
Player to watch: Lucho Acosta – The reigning MLS MVP is a magician on the pitch, capable of creating something out of nothing.
NYCFC’s keys to success: Trust in each other, and have no fear on the road. With just four away wins during the regular season, they have to dig deep and pull out a remarkable result in game one or three, while securing victory in front of their home fans in game two.
Player to watch: Alonso Martinez – The Costa Rican forward bagged 16 goals during the regular season, and is likely their best scoring outlet.
GOAL’s prediction: FCC should cruise past NYCFC in two games. Nick Cushing’s youthful roster just won’t be up to the task.
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ImagnOrlando City vs Charlotte FC
Orlando’s keys to success: Honestly? Do nothing different than how they finished the regular season. Know you’ve beaten and drawn CLT this season, meaning you’re capable of securing a result at home and on the road.
Player to watch: Facundo Torres – The Uruguayan star has been on a tear of late, and there’s no point in not riding his confidence. Give him the reins to the attack and trust in his ability.
Charlotte’s keys to success: Go to Orlando with the mentality that you’re going to take game one, and then finish things at home in front of your own fans. With one of the league’s best defenses, they should know they can do anything if they trust their youthful attack.
Player to watch: Patrick Agyemang – The 6-4 Ghanaian striker is a menace in the air and in the box. Let him wreak havoc on set-pieces, on the counter and in the box.
GOAL’s prediction: This series will be over in two matches, with Orlando just squeezing past Charlotte. However, these won’t be high-scoring matches – perhaps a 1-0 victory followed by a 1-1 draw and a penalty shootout victory.
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Getty Images SportSeattle Sounders vs Houston Dynamo
Seattle’s keys to success: Utilize home-field advantage to earn the first victory, and then go into Houston knowing it will be the most intense game they play this postseason. Allow Albert Rusnak to roam freely in the final-third and combine with Jordan Morris around the goal, while playing the counter-attack as frequently as possible.
Player to watch: Jordan Morris – The U.S. international tied his career best with 18 goal-contributions in 2024, and has flourished in the striker role. Just let him ride his confidence and hope it pays off.
Houston’s keys to success: Have no fear when going to Lumen Field. With eight road wins during the regular season, Ben Olsen knows his squad can earn a result in foreign environments. They just have to be up to the moment.
Player to watch: Ibrahim Aliyu – The Nigerian winger burst onto the scene for Dynamo in 2024, becoming a crafty player on their flank. Capable of beating defenders 1v1, he’s also a goal-scoring threat.
GOAL’s prediction: Seattle wins the series in three matches, with the third decided by Stefan Frei in penalties.
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