Best vs. Best: No. 1 seeds LAFC and Philadelphia to face off in 2022 MLS Cup
2022 MLS Cup kicks off this Saturday, Nov. 5 on FOX / UniMás / TSN4 / TVA Sports (4 p.m. ET)
Philadelphia Union defeat reigning MLS Cup champion NYCFC 3-1, rattling off 3 goals in 11 minutes
NEW YORK (Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022) – It’s best versus best as the top two teams from the MLS regular season have conquered the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs and are headed to the 2022 MLS Cup.
With a 3-1 win over New York City Football Club in the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Final, the Eastern Conference No. 1 seed Philadelphia Union secured their spot in MLS Cup for the first time in club history. After a scoreless first half, NYCFC opened scoring in the 57th minute, but the Union responded by rattling off three second-half goals in an 11-minute span for the win.
Philadelphia will travel to face fellow MLS Cup debutant, Western Conference champion Los Angeles Football Club, at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, CA, this Saturday, Nov. 5 at 4 p.m. ET (FOX and UniMás in the U.S and on TSN4 and TVA Sports in Canada).
2022 MLS Cup will be a matchup of the top two teams of the 2022 season as both finalists were not only No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences, but also boasted the best two records in the regular season, sitting No. 1 (LAFC) and No. 2 (Philadelphia Union) in the Supporters’ Shield standings.
In addition, MLS will crown a new champion for the second consecutive season and 15th time overall, as 14th other MLS teams have previously been crowned champion.
A Look Ahead to the MLS Cup Matchup:
- LAFC and Philadelphia faced off once in the 2022 MLS regular season, a 2-2 tie on May 7 at Banc of California Stadium.
- The top two teams from the MLS regular season, have faced each other in MLS Cup three times in league history:
- 2003 – Chicago Fire (No. 1) vs. San Jose Earthquakes (No. 2)
- 2000 – Kansas City (No. 1) vs. Chicago Fire (No. 2)
- 1999 – D.C. United (No. 1) vs. LA Galaxy (No. 2)
2022 MLS Cup will be just the fourth time that both competing teams are playing in their first MLS Cup:
Season |
Teams |
|---|---|
2022 |
Los Angeles Football Club vs. Philadelphia Union |
2016 |
Toronto FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC |
2008 |
New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew |
1996 |
LA Galaxy vs. D.C. United (inaugural season) |
- LAFC advance to MLS Cup after winning the 2022 Supporters’ Shield, awarded by the fans to the team with the best regular season record. LAFC are the only team in the past five years to win the Supporters’ Shield and advance to MLS Cup in the same season, and only the fourth team to have accomplished that feat since 2005: LAFC (2022), Toronto FC (2017), LA Galaxy (2011), Columbus Crew (2008).
- While LAFC will be hosting the team’s first MLS Cup, the league’s championship game has been played in Los Angeles seven times previously (The Rose Bowl - 1998, and Dignity Health Sports Park - 2003, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014).
Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs
Round One (Six Games)
(The No. 1 Eastern Conference seed and the No. 1 Western Conference seed had a Round One bye. The No. 2 seed hosted the No. 7 seed, the No. 3 seed hosted the No. 6 seed, and the No. 4 seed hosted the No. 5 seed.)
Saturday, Oct 15
New York Red Bulls 1:2 FC Cincinnati
LA Galaxy 1:0 Nashville SC
Sunday, Oct. 16
Austin FC 2(3):2(1) Real Salt Lake
CF Montréal 2:0 Orlando City SC
Monday, Oct. 17
New York City FC 3:0 Inter Miami CF
FC Dallas 1(5):1(4) Minnesota United
Conference Semifinals (Four Games)
(The No. 1 seed played the winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5. The winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 played the winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6, with the higher-seeded club hosting)
Thursday, Oct. 20
Philadelphia Union 1:0 FC Cincinnati
LAFC 3:2 LA Galaxy
Sunday, Oct. 23
CF Montréal 1:3 New York City FC
Austin FC 2:1 FC Dallas
Conference Finals (Two Games)
(The advancing two Eastern Conference teams played in the Eastern Conference Final and the two advancing Western Conference teams played in the Western Conference Final, with the higher-seeded club hosting)
Sunday, Oct. 30
LAFC 3:0 Austin FC
Philadelphia Union 3:1 New York City FC
MLS Cup (One Game)
(Eastern Conference Final winner vs. Western Conference Final winner, hosted by the team with the most regular season points)
Saturday, Nov. 5
4 p.m. ET
LAFC vs. Philadelphia Union
(FOX / UniMás / TSN4 / TVA Sports)
