The MLS 2024 regular season comes to a close on Saturday evening when Decision Day is played out across two halves of action on a night where we will confirm the playoff places for the postseason which gets underway next week.
There are 14 matches in total on Saturday night with plenty at stake in a number of them. The MLS Season Pass on Apple TV will show all of them in full but you can stream the games with the bookmaker live streams too.
Saturday’s fixtures are as follows: (Red = 23.00 Blue = 02.00)
CF Montréal v New York City FC
Chicago Fire v Nashville SC
D.C. United v Charlotte FC
Inter Miami CF v New England Revolution
New York Red Bulls v Columbus Crew
Orlando City SC v Atlanta United FC
Philadelphia Union v FC Cincinnati
Austin FC v Colorado Rapids
FC Dallas v Sporting Kansas City
Houston Dynamo v Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Football Club v San Jose Earthquakes
Minnesota United FC v St. Louis City SC
Real Salt Lake v Vancouver Whitecaps
Seattle Sounders FC v Portland Timbers
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Big Matches
There are a few things still to be determined in the Eastern Conference on Saturday night. The first of those is whether Inter Miami breaks the point record for a single season. They will do that if they can see off New England Revolution at home, ironically taking the record off of the Revs. The other thing to determine is who gets the final two playoff spots. DC United and CF Montreal are in control of their own destiny and if they can beat Charlotte FC and New York City FC respectively, or avoid defeat, they will be in the playoffs. If they don’t the door will be open for Philadelphia Union and Atlanta United. They host FC Cincinnati and head to Orlando City respectively. In the Western Conference the top seed is at stake with LA Galaxy needing a point to claim it when they head to the Houston Dynamo while if they lose Los Angeles FC could snatch top spot when they host San Jose Earthquakes.
Best of the Rest
The home advantage in the first round of the playoffs is also on the line. In the Eastern Conference, Orlando City hold control of their destiny with New York City FC looking to snatch four spot but in the Western Conference we need to determine who skips the wildcard match. Minnesota United will be straight in if they can win at home to St Louis City but if they slip up when the Vancouver Whitecaps could be in automatically if they win at Real Salt Lake. Portland Timbers will be in the wildcard match but they could host it if they win at Seattle Sounders and Vancouver lose. The other match of note sees the champions Columbus Crew going to the New York Red Bulls.
Betting
I’ll go with three bets over the course of the night with the first of them coming in the form of Inter Miami to cover a 1.5 goal Asian handicap against New England Revolution. I’m not a massive fan of betting big handicaps but the Revolution look to have packed it in for the season. Columbus Crew cruised past them 4-0 last weekend without their best player and now Inter Miami will be looking to secure the points record for the regular season with Lionel Messi in great form and the support cast as good as we all know it is. New England head to Miami without their best player in Carles Gil and with one win in their last nine matches. This should be a simple Miami win.
Speaking of simple wins, I expect one for Los Angeles FC too as they chase top spot in the Western Conference. They host a San Jose Earthquakes side who have been to BMO Field and lost 6-2 and 4-1 already this season and the Earthquakes are certainly no better now. Los Angeles FC are and after that late Ilie Sanchez goal last week they can still finish top of their Conference and if they can go ahead early doors in this match and extend their advantage then they could put pressure on LA Galaxy and see if they crack. San Jose have been poor all season, especially on the road, and against a motivated LAFC side I expect nothing but a comfortable home win here.
Minnesota United are another team who are flying home at the end of the regular season. They are 5-1-1 for their last seven matches and go into this one knowing that a win will ensure they get midweek off and they can prepare for the first round of the playoffs. St Louis City SC are their opponents and although they have won three of their last four, they aren’t playing for anything and only have one win to their name all season on their travels, that being at a terrible San Jose side. Minnesota went to Missouri and won 3-1 last month and there is nothing I’ve seen since then to suggest that they can’t win this and win it just as comfortably.
Tips
Back Inter Miami (-1.5AH) to beat New England Revolution for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
Back Los Angeles FC (-1.75AH) to beat San Jose Earthquakes for a 3/10 stake at 1.86 with Unibet
Back Minnesota United (-1AH) to beat St Louis City SC for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with Unibet
