The Pitch: Postseason Push Heats Up with Rivalry Games on the Horizon

MLS Communications

Leading the way with a history-making pace at the top of the Supporters’ Shield table is Inter Miami CF (59 points, 18-4-5), who, with seven games to play in the regular season, is on pace to break the single-season points record currently held by the 2021 New England Revolution (73 points). The Herons can move a step closer to clinching its first domestic title with a win over the Philadelphia Union (30 points, 7-11-9) this Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).

The race for a spot in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs continues to be a heated battle across the table with New York City FC (39 points, 11-10-6) going into the weekend with a game in hand and just four points behind the New York Red Bulls (43 points, 10-5-13) for a top-four seed for home-field advantage. Meanwhile, Atlanta United (31 points, 8-12-7) and the Union are hot on the trails of Toronto FC (33 points, 10-15-3) and D.C. United (32 points, 8-12-8) for an Audi MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Wild Card game spot.

An El Tráfico showdown between the Western Conference-leading LA Galaxy (52 points, 15-6-7) and second-place LAFC (48 points, 14-6-6) could push the Galaxy closer to securing the top seed or help LAFC close the gap for first. Fourth-place Colorado Rapids (44 points, 13-9-5) and eighth-place Portland Timbers (40 points, 11-9-7) are separated by four points in a five-horse race for home-field advantage, automatic qualification to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 Series or an Audi MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Wild Card game spot.

Modern Galaxy Inspired by Its Star-Studded Roots

The LA Galaxy and LAFC face off as the top two teams in the Western Conference on Saturday night (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV) in one of the most highly-anticipated editions of El Tráfico to date. Bragging rights are officially on the line, but, for the Galaxy, a win in Saturday’s match means more as it would put them one step closer to a first-place finish in the Western Conference for the first time since 2011.

Led by club great Greg Vanney, the new-look Galaxy has been formidable in front of the Dignity Health Sports Park crowd, with a league-high 10 home wins this season. The star-studded roster during Vanney’s final year as a player with the Galaxy in 2008 – a lineup that featured David Beckham, Landon Donovan, and Cobi Jones, among others – may be challenged by the current crop of young standouts in Joseph Paintsil, club-record singing Gabriel Pec, and MLS All-Star Riqui Puig, in addition to newcomer Marco Reus. This young core has propelled one of the league’s top offenses (53 goals in 28 games) and has the club back on the path towards the glory days of old.

LAFC has dominated the West since arriving in MLS in 2018, though, and have captured both previous meetings between the two LA clubs in 2024, with MLS All-Star and reigning MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi winner Denis Bouanga scoring in each match. A series sweep in the City of Angels could be the spark that ignites LAFC’s run for a top spot in the conference and a third consecutive appearance in MLS Cup.

Entering Saturday, the all-time regular-season series between the two clubs is tied with seven wins and five draws apiece. Look for the fireworks to continue with much on the line in Los Angeles.

Inter Miami CF announced that Miami Freedom Park, their new home stadium, will open in 2026. Instagram

MLS clubs work towards zero-waste initiatives as Austin FC's Q2 Stadium is working towards a zero-waste certification and St Louis CITY SC hit 11 of 14 zero-waste home games. Sports Business Journal, St Louis Post-Dispatch

San Diego FC sporting director Tyler Heaps posed for a photo with musician Peso Pluma, while the club’s first-ever Designated Player signing and Mexico international Hirving “Chucky” Lozano welcomed the artist to San Diego. Instagram

Push to Playoffs Heats Up in Hell is Real Derby

Opportunities to clinch a spot in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs could be on the line as Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati face off at TQL Stadium this Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV) in the second edition of the Hell is Real Derby this season.

A win by the Crew, the Leagues Cup 2024 champion and defending MLS Cup presented by Audi champion, would move Columbus ahead of their in-state rivals in the Supporters’ Shield standings as the clock ticks down in the final weeks of the MLS regular season. Led by the collective 44 goal contributions of Landon Donovan MLS MVP candidates Cucho Hernández and Diego Rossi, the Crew come into this rivalry match firing in attack, looking to avenge their loss to Cincinnati at Lower.com Field earlier this season, and trying to cement homefield advantage in the postseason.

Having already won at Lower.com Field this season, the 2023 Supporters’ Shield winners, behind the play of the reigning MLS MVP Luciano Acosta (11 goals, 18 assists) and break-out star Luca Orellano (seven goals, six assists) are primed to step up in one of the Blue and Orange’s most significant games of the season. A series sweep will aid in their hunt to maintain a top four spot in the Eastern Conference and help silence the noise coming out of Columbus as they look to steal the Crew’s spotlight to close out 2024.

MLS Players Make Their Marks at the International Level

Boyhood Dreams Turned Reality

New England Revolution Homegrown midfielder Esmir Bajraktarevic grew up wearing Edin Dzeko’s name on the back of his Bosnia & Herzegovina jersey (**WATCH HERE**). On Saturday, the 19-year-old Wisconsin-native assisted his compatriot after coming on as a second-half substitute for his senior international debut in UEFA Nations League action against the Netherlands.

The Shaffelburg Show Continues

Two months removed from leading the Canadian Men’s National team to a historic fourth-place finish at the 2024 Copa América, Nashville SC midfielder Jacob Shaffelburg scored the game-winning goal for his nation (**WATCH HERE**) in Canada’s first win over the United States in the U.S. since 1957.

Emotional Debuts Across the Globe

FC Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes, CF Montréal Homegrown midfielder Nathan Saliba, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Ryan Gauld made their international debuts for Indonesia, Canada, and Scotland, respectively. Paes, who chose to represent Indonesia in honor of his late grandmother, saved a penalty kick against Saudi Arabia in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Gauld came on for his Scotland debut against Poland 10 years after his first senior call-up as an 18-year-old, and Saliba came on as a second-half substitute in a historic victory over the U.S. for Canada.

Kick Childhood Cancer Month Inspires Plays On and Off the Field

A touching moment stole the show at Gilette Stadium on Matchday 31, with 2021 Landon Donovan MLS MVP and New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil dedicating his goal celebration to 16-year-old Matteo Padilla, a patient battling Leukemia at Boston Children’s Hospital (**WATCH HERE**).

At a hospital visit Wednesday, August 28, Gil and some of his teammates visited Matteo, a big Revs fan, and his family has been season ticket holders since 2015. During their visit, Matteo requested a special goal celebration from Carles. On May 6, 2024, Matteo was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and has since been at Boston Children’s hospital receiving chemotherapy.

You can download the video file here. More photos & interview sound with Carles from his visit with Matteo are available here.

To assist in your coverage of the 2024 MLS season, the MLS Communications staff has provided the following media resources, all of which are available on MLSsoccer.com/Media-Resources.