Who wins MLS Cup 2020? Your early projections from FiveThirtyEight

Harrison Afful defends Raul Ruidiaz

There will be plenty of banter in the coming days about who the favorite and who the underdog is for MLS Cup 2020.


And it’s a good debate.


Columbus Crew SC are the home team and they’re 12W-1L-0D at MAPFRE Stadium this season, including Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs wins over the New York Red Bulls, Nashville SC and the New England Revolution.


The Seattle Sounders, meanwhile, are the defending champions and are looking to join D.C. United, the Houston Dynamo and the LA Galaxy as the only teams in league history to win back-to-back titles. It’s also a veteran group that is making its fourth appearance in MLS Cup in the last five years.


So while the debate will rage on likely right up until kickoff Saturday (8:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info), FiveThirtyEight has already weighed in.


Their pick? A toss up, with both sides given a 50 percent chance to lift the Philip F. Anschutz trophy.


Let the debate rage on!