2022 MLS Cup is Set: LAFC to host Philadelphia Union this Saturday

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:

• 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)