The regular season is over and the MLS Cup Playoffs are finally upon us.
The Philadelphia Union won the Supporters’ Shield for the second time in the last six seasons, but while that’s a prestigious trophy in its own right, it’s MLS Cup that everybody wants to get their hands on.
18 teams will embark on their post-season push for glory, but only one can take the title. Naturally, with such a deep playoff pool, some teams have a better chance than others.
So, who are the top five contenders right now as far as the odds are concerned?
Dabble sign-up offer: Bet £10+ & Receive £10 In Free Bets
Not signed up to Dabble yet? Here's how to claim the Bet £10+ & Receive £10 In Free Bets welcome offer:
- Sign up to Dabble through this link
- Register your account with accurate personal details
- Place your first bet of £10 or more
- Receive your £10 in free bets when your qualifying bet has setted
- Use your Free Bet on any eligible sportsbook market within 7 days
#AD 18+ 7-day free bet expiry. Stake not returned. Promotional Terms Apply. GambleAware.org
5. FC Cincinnati
- Bet365 odds: 8/1
- Regular season finish: 2nd in the East
After years of struggling to adapt to Major League Soccer, FC Cincinnati are now a true force to behold.
The Orange and Blue won the Supporters’ Shield two years ago and finished third in the East last season. Now, they’ve gone one better by finishing second, ahead of Inter Miami on games won and just a point behind Shield winners Philly.
Cincinnati have been outscored by quite a few teams this season, but have made up for that with a solid defence. What’s more, while their attacking unit may not be quite as cohesive as others, they arguably have some of the most highly concentrated individual talent anywhere in the league.
Evander and Kevin Denkey registered 18 and 15 regular-season goals, respectively, while the former also put up 14 assists (per Opta’s definition). The returning Brenner also hit four goals in just six matches at the end of the campaign.
Any one of these three could decide multiple playoff matches, meaning there’s no sleep against Cincinnati.
4. Philadelphia Union
- Bet365 odds: 13/2
- Regular season finish: 1st in the East & Supporters’ Shield winners
As Shield winners, the Union have about as legitimate a claim as anyone for MLS Cup on paper.
Of course, the playoffs aren’t won on paper, and the Shield has proven something of a poisoned chalice over the years, with LAFC in 2022 the only side out of the last 14 winners since 2012 to also take MLS Cup.
But this Union team is good. Very, very good. They conceded a league-low 35 goals during the regular season, while doing a great job of spreading the attacking output throughout the entire team. But even then, Tai Baribo and Milan Iloski chipped in with 16 and 12 goals, respectively. Both impressive individual tallies.
There have been a couple of inexplicable results that point to gaps in the armour — most notably the 7-0 loss away to the Vancouver Whitecaps in mid-September. But they have been very few and far between.
MLS stats and standings:
- MLS outright winner odds 2025: Favourites to win MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield
- MLS Golden Boot standings 2025: Who is the favourite to finish as top goalscorer?
- MLS most assists 2025: Best playmakers in Major League Soccer
- MLS most clean sheets 2025: Which goalkeeper has the most shutouts?
3. Vancouver Whitecaps
- Bet365 odds: 6/1
- Regular season finish: 2nd in the West
After years in the doldrums of MLS, the Vancouver Whitecaps are finally a team to be feared.
They’ve won the last four Canadian Championships, while this is now their fourth time in the playoffs out of the last five — as many as they’d managed in their previous 10 seasons in the league.
The Whitecaps finished second in the West, equalling their best return from way back in 2015, doing so with a brutal attack that scored 66 goals. Only Inter Miami (81) scored more, with Brian White carrying the larger part of the burden with 16 goals, while Sebastian Berhalter provided 10 assists.
Of course, the Canadian side can also defend, with only the Union conceding fewer than their 38 goals.
Oh, and there’s also the small matter of Thomas Muller, who has seven goals and three assists in seven MLS matches so far since arriving from Bayern Munich. He has the quality and vast experience to carry the Whitecaps on a deep run.
2. San Diego FC
- Bet365 odds: 6/1
- Regular season finish: 1st in the West
63 points and 19 wins. Both are MLS records for an expansion team, and a testament to the incredible job done in California but Mikey Varas and his players.
Danish winger Anders Dreyer has been a force of nature, with his 19 goals and 17 assists making him almost certain to win the Newcomer of the Year award. Alongside him, Hirving Lozano has offered steady attacking output and has enough big moments in him to make magic happen in a knockout scenario.
Beyond individual brilliance, Varas has built the most possession-dominant side in MLS, with San Diego the only team in the league to average more than 60% (61.1%). It’s not idle possession, either, with SDFC luring teams in with their measured play, before flicking a switch and cutting you open before you even know what’s happened.
No expansion team has ever won MLS Cup, but San Diego feel more likely to do so than anyone who has gone before.
1. Inter Miami
- Bet365 odds: 5/1
- Regular season finish: 3rd in the East
And finally, we come to the elephant in the room. Or the Heron in the room, to be more precise.
Inter Miami have been anything but perfect this season, falling to some heavy defeats — including in the Leagues Cup final, where the Seattle Sounders slapped them around in a convincing 3-0.
Their defence has let them down at times, and they enter the playoffs to the backdrop of a terrible post-season record, having never gone beyond the first round.
But they have Lionel Messi. The eight-time Ballon d’Or-winning Lionel Messi, who just scooped the MLS Golden Boot with 29 regular-season goals (the most since Carlos Vela’s 34 in 2019), alongside 16 assists, which is the second-best in the league.
This team is built around Messi, with Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba all there to provide for and get the ball to him.
The Argentine has scored some outrageous goals this season, and you don’t need us to tell you just how capable he is of going on a tear in the playoffs, destroying every single team and defender in his path. Even at 38 years old.
If someone other than Inter Miami is going to win MLS Cup, they’re going to need a very good plan to stop Messi.
Inter Miami’s case for MLS Cup is dripping in narrative, with so many Messi fans wanting him to go all the way, and an equal amount of long-time MLS viewers wanting it all to come crashing down.
Which teams have qualified for the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs?
Eastern Conference
- Philadelphia Union
- FC Cincinnati
- Inter Miami
- Charlotte FC
- NYCFC
- Nashville SC
- Columbus Crew
- Chicago Fire
- Orlando City
Western Conference
- San Diego FC
- Vancouver Whitecaps
- LAFC
- Minnesota United
- Seattle Sounders
- Austin FC
- FC Dallas
- Portland Timbers
- Real Salt Lake