After eight months of regular-season action and a couple of dramatic weeks of Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs action, Major League Soccer will soon crown a champion. On Sunday, November 10, the last ball will be kicked in the 2019 season, with one team on the podium as the last remaining side after 34 regular season matches and four playoff rounds.
Below, you'll find everything you need to know ahead of the big game, as Seattle Sounders host Toronto FC in MLS Cup. Most importantly, you'll get reminders on how the routes Seattle and Toronto navigated to the biggest game of the year and how you can watch the match.
What is MLS Cup?
MLS Cup decides the Major League Soccer champion.
While LAFC won the Supporters' Shield as a reward for their regular-season supremacy and Atlanta United won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, with a magical run through the knockout tournament, MLS Cup is the big fish all clubs aspire to catch. It's the goal all 24 clubs (and counting) worked towards in 2019.
What is the matchup and how'd they get here?
It's Seattle Sounders vs. Toronto FC
Seattle
The Sounders flew below the radar thanks to LAFC's historic regular season, the drama around Zlatan Ibrahimovic's LA Galaxy and the defending champions' struggles, and trophies, with a new coach. As they have for the whole decade, it was sustained excellence all season long. Before you knew it, they were second in the Western Conference.
In the playoffs, they skirted a possible upset in an instant-classic against FC Dallas that ended 4-3 after extra time. The Sounders sprinted out to a 2-0 lead before twice allowing Dallas to come back, But in the end, Stefan Frei's heroics in the extra period gave Jordan Morris the chance to grab a winner, completing his hat trick. Brian Schmetzer's men then knocked off Real Salt Lake in a less hectic matter, a professional 2-0 win at CenturyLink Field, before going to LAFC and stunning the Supporters' Shield champs behind Raul Ruidiaz, Nico Lodeiro and a well-executed tactical plan.
Toronto
Tied 1-1 at home to D.C. United, Toronto exploded into life in extratime, scoring four goals to romp to a 5-1 win. Next up Greg Vanney's side went to New York City FC, the top seed in the East, and put on a superb first-half performance en route to a 2-1 win at Citi Field courtesy of two goals from Alejandro Pozuelo, including a late, late penalty. Toronto upset the odds once more in the Eastern Conference Final, beating defending MLS Cup champs Atlanta United 2-1, again with the help of a late goal, this time from Nick DeLeon. Making Toronto's run to MLS Cup all the more impressive, they were without star striker Jozy Altidore and USMNT defender Omar Gonzalez throughout the playoffs.
What is the format?
Winner takes all: One game for glory. Either Seattle or Toronto will lift the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy under a shower of confetti.
If the game is tied after 90 minutes, they'll play 30 more; If it's still deadlocked, then the winner will be decided by penalties, as it was in 2016 when the Sounders triumphed over Toronto FC.
How can I watch MLS Cup?
Tune in on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 3 pm ET. In the United States, you can watch the game on ABC, TUDN, Univision, and stream on Watch ESPN. In Canada, catch it on TSN and TVAS.
If you live outside the United States or Canada, please check the international listings page to learn where you can watch in your country.
