The MLS Cup Playoffs return this weekend following the international break, with the conference semi-finals about to begin.
Round One saw some giants exit, including combined five-time champions Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders, not to mention a Charlotte FC side that finished fourth in the Eastern Conference during the regular season.
From here, the three-game series format will be abandoned in favour of a straight knockout match, played at the home of the highest-seeded team, so there is no room for error.
What can we expect from each match, and who carries the edge ahead of kick-off?
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Vancouver Whitecaps vs LAFC
- Stadium: BC Place, Vancouver
- Kick-off: Sunday, 23rd November, 2:30am (UK time)
- Key stat: Both teams have scored a joint-Playoffs-high two goals in the last 15 minutes of matches.
Where will Vancouver Whitecaps vs LAFC be won and lost?
In the MLS Cup Playoffs, drama and jaw-dropping moments are a prerequisite. But this game, more than most, feels like one that could be decided right at the death.
Both sides have scored two goals in the last 15 minutes of matches during the Playoffs already, with the Whitecaps overcoming FC Dallas in Round One and LAFC beating Austin FC.
That’s a trend carried across from the regular season, when LAFC scored 19 goals in the final 15 minutes — only San Diego FC scored more (20) — and Vancouver scored 15.
Both sides have potent attacking weapons, bags of experience and an inability to accept defeat. The perfect recipe for a knockout match.
Players to watch
Vancouver Whitecaps: Thomas Muller
To boil the ‘Caps down to one player would be deeply unfair. Brian White has been lethal up front this season, Ali Ahmed has shown creative brilliance, and Sebastian Berhalter has dominated the midfield to the point he’s become a US National Team regular under Mauricio Pochettino.
But in reality, it’s Thomas Muller everybody will be looking at to make the difference in the heat of a knockout match.
The German veteran’s CV with Bayern Munich and Die Mannschaft needs absolutely no introduction, but even 36 years old, he’s adjusted superbly to Major League Soccer.
Muller registered eight goals and three assists in just nine regular-season appearances after his summer arrival, adding a further goal and assist to help the Whitecaps beat Vancouver FC in the Canadian Championship final before scoring against FC Dallas in the Round One three-game series.
LAFC: Son Heung-min
Similarly, LAFC have a multitude of big names to call upon; not least Denis Bouanga, who notched 26 goals and eight assists during the regular season. But like Vancouver, it’s the big name who arrived mid-season from Europe who could decide this match for the Black and Gold.
So good and immediate was Son Heung-min’s acclimatisation to MLS that he came second in the Newcomer of the Year award.
The former Tottenham man bagged 10 goals and three assists in 12 regular-season matches, including a hat-trick in a 4-1 away win at Real Salt Lake.
That’s been followed up by a goal and assist in the second Round One match against Austin FC, helping crush the Texas side 4-1 to seal a 2-0 series win.
Squawka says: Vancouver Whitecaps 2-2 LAFC AET, Vancouver to win on penalties
As mentioned, this game feels certain to feature a late goal, though we feel it’s more likely to be one that keeps the tie alive than settles it. If extra time comes, you can see both sides going into their shell, unwilling to make a costly mistake, ultimately forcing a penalty shootout.
The Whitecaps scored more penalties than any other team during the regular season (9) and have already had their shootout credentials tested in the second match against Dallas, winning 4-2 without a single miss. Muller will lead the way in a ruthless show of composure in front of the home crowd.
FC Cincinnati vs Inter Miami
- Stadium: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
- Kick-off: Sunday, 23rd November, 10pm (UK time)
- Key stat: Lionel Messi has failed to score in three career appearances against FC Cincinnati and has never beaten them in MLS play.
Where will FC Cincinnati vs Inter Miami be won and lost?
This one is highly likely to come down to who can keep the other’s star man quiet.
Evander and Lionel Messi have posted very similar creative numbers this season, with both on 82 chances created, while the latter just edges out on assists (17-14) and big chances created (30-24).
Of course, Messi stormed to the Golden Boot with 34 goals, which is just under double the respectable total Evander managed. However, the Brazilian is still very much capable of deciding a game on his own. In fact, he does it regularly.
Messi has a very poor record against FC Cincinnati so far, and if the Orange and Blue can shut him down, they have a great chance of dismantling Inter Miami. Equally, Javier Mascherano will believe that cutting off Evander will starve Kevin Denkey and Brenner of the service they need.
Players to watch
FC Cincinnati: Evander
We’ve already touched on them, but Evander and Messi’s seasons need some further recognition.
Evander’s 32 direct goal involvements during the regular season leave him fourth in the regular season, behind only Messi (51), Anders Dreyer (39) and Denis Bouanga (34).
The Brazilian extended that form into Leagues Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup action, with a further four goals and three assists, and it’s little wonder he was nominated for the MVP award.
Evander has the very tough task of operating in the spaces defended by Sergio Busquets and Rodrigo De Paul on his hands. However, he’ll feel his superior mobility will give him the edge in this battle, and if he gets a run at Miami’s backline, he could cause chaos.
Inter Miami: Lionel Messi
It’s Lionel Messi. Do we really need to say anything else? We’ll indulge a little.
Most goals scored in the regular season? Messi.
Most assists in the regular season? Messi.
Most big chances created in the regular season? Messi.
Most take-ons completed in the regular season? Messi.
He’s just a freak of nature. One that FC Cincinnati need to shut down immediately if they’re to win here.
Squawka says: FC Cincinnati 3-1 Inter Miami
For all of Messi’s brilliance, he’s not really done it against FC Cincinnati yet. They’ve found ways to keep a lid on the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
What’s more, Cincinnati have won their last four home MLS matches against the Herons by a 13-2 combined scoreline, including a 3-0 victory this season and a 6-1 thrashing in 2024.
A battling goalless draw in Florida in July proved just how much Cincinnati have Miami’s number right now, and in such a closely-matched game — both sides accrued 65 regular-season points — the confidence that brings could prove the difference.
Philadelphia Union vs NYCFC
- Stadium: Subaru Park, Chester
- Kick-off: Monday, 24th November, 12:30am (UK time)
- Key stat: Philadelphia Union have beaten NYCFC in seven of their last nine meetings, including the most recent one in October and the most recent Playoffs clash (3-1, October 2022).
Where will Philadelphia Union vs NYCFC be won and lost?
NYCFC’s biggest worry in this match is whether or not they’ll be able to generate the openings required to down the Union.
Philadelphia boasted MLS’s best defensive record during the regular season with just 35 goals conceded, with only 19 of them coming from open play, while they kept the most clean sheets (15). All of this is despite an inexplicable 7-0 loss away at Vancouver in mid-September.
As he has done for years now, Jakob Glesnes anchored a superb defensive unit, backed by one of the greatest goalkeepers in MLS history in Andre Blake.
NYCFC certainly have the attacking pieces, but it all needs to click on the day, while you feel they’ll still need to catch Bradley Carnell’s backline on an off day.
Players to watch
Philadelphia Union: Kai Wagner
The Union are very much a sum of their parts, with Tai Baribo their top scorer on 18 goals — a total bettered by eight players throughout the league.
One player, however, who has delivered to a consistently high level now is Kai Wagner.
The German is often seen as the best left-back in the league, and has proven it this season with 10 assists (the second-highest among defenders) from 98 chances created (the most among defenders and fourth overall).
Wagner has also posted very healthy defensive numbers, including 2.90 tackles, 1.34 interceptions and 5.34 possession recoveries per 90 minutes.
NYCFC: Alonso Martinez
Alonso Martinez is pretty much the reason why NYCFC made the Playoffs and finished as high as they did in the Eastern Conference.
10 of the Costa Rican’s 17 regular-season goals were game winners, which is a league-high in 2025. And he only went and did it again in the first of NYCFC’s three-game series against Charlotte, while also putting them 2-0 up in an eventual 3-1 win in the third match.
Martinez has come up clutch time and again since becoming an NYCFC player, so what better stage on which to do it again than away at the Supporters’ Shield winners in the Playoffs?
Squawka says: Philadelphia Union 2-0 NYCFC
While the Union were superb defensively, they were good-to-firm in the final third, averaging a strong but not outstanding 1.7 goals per match. NYCFC were just behind on 1.5.
With that in mind, this could be a case of death by a thousand cuts rather than the Union smashing NYCFC out of the way.
They’ll suffocate the visitors, with Wagner and Baribo providing just the right amount of star quality for the Supporters’ Shield champions.
San Diego FC vs Minnesota United
- Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
- Kick-off: Tuesday, 25 November, 3am (UK time)
- Key stat: San Diego FC broke the records for most points (63) and most wins (19) from an MLS expansion team during the 2025 regular season.
Where will San Diego FC vs Minnesota United be won and lost?
This clash couldn’t be more contrasting in terms of style. San Diego averaged a league-high 61.5% possession during the regular season, with Minnesota United right at the opposite end of the spectrum, bottom with just 39.1%.
One side plays full-throttle football based on complete control, intensity and high tempo. The other is happy to concede possession on territory, picking off the opposition on the break and from set-pieces — Minnesota sitting top of ‘goals for’ in the latter category with 22. The Loons’ 39 goals conceded through the regular season was bettered only by the Philadelphia Union (35).
The biggest question is whether or not Eric Ramsay’s side have enough defensive resolve and discipline to keep out such a relentless force, armed with lethal difference-makers in the final third.
Players to watch
San Diego FC: Anders Dreyer
At the start of the season, everybody expected Hirving Lozano to be the jewel in San Diego’s crown. And while he’s not been terrible by any means (10g/9a in 32 games across all competitions), he’s been completely outshone by Anders Dreyer.
The Denmark international has hit 22 goals and 18 assists across all competitions, firing himself into the MVP shortlist and to a Newcomer of the Year award — not to mention helping San Diego finish top of the West and just three points adrift of the Supporters’ Shield title.
Dreyer scored three goals during the three-game series against the Portland Timbers, off the back of two goals and an assist in the final regular-season match against the same opponent, a brace for Denmark against Belarus, and another against the Houston Dynamo in October. He goes into this game on fire and full of confidence.
Minnesota United: Dayne St. Clair
As mentioned, MNUFC are all about defence, but you get the feeling their goalkeeper might prove important in this one.
Dayne St. Clair boasts a league-high 76.7% save percentage this season, averaging 3.6 saves per 90 with 5.7 goals prevented — only three goalkeepers have performed better in the latter.
Even the very best defensive units would struggle to keep this San Diego side out for a full match, so it’ll come down to the duel between St. Clair and SDFC’s forwards.
Squawka says: San Diego FC 1-0 Minnesota United
San Diego will dominate almost all facets of this match, but they’re going to need to be incredibly patient against this resolute Minnesota side. Not to mention careful to keep the back door closed.
But the longer the game goes on, the more pressure San Diego will apply, and the more tired Minnesota will become.
In the end, it’ll prove just a little too much for the brave Loons.