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FC Cincinnati defender Joey Akpunonu (3) celebrates with teammates Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

MLS playoffs: What to know about conference semifinals

By Alyssa Clang | Last updated 11/13/23

The first round of the Major League Soccer playoffs is over, with the field of 18 teams pared to eight for the conference semifinals. The winner of the Easterns and Western conferences will meet in the MLS Cup Final in December.

Here's what to look for as the playoffs roll on:

Eastern Conference

FC Cincinnati vs Philadephia Union — Nov. 25. This one should be spicy. FC Cincinnati is the best team in MLS, but the Union could be spoilers. These teams met three times in 2023, with each winning once and drawing once. That draw featured two red cards, so this one might get chippy.

It's hard to bet against Cincinnati given the storybook feel the team has carried throughout this MLS season. Matt Miazga recently earned MLS Defender of the Year Award despite fiesty protests after Cincinnati's match against the Red Bulls. Cincinnati's Lucho Acosta recently won MLS's coveted Goal of the Year award for this belter against Charlotte.

Lucho Acosta's ridiculous solo goal for FC Cincinnati is the MLS Goal of the Year

(via @MLS) pic.twitter.com/dMBrL23KAB
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 9, 2023

Orlando City vs Columbus Crew — Nov. 25. Expect goals — lots of them. These teams scored a whopping 11 across their two meetings during the regular season.

Keep an eye on Orlando's Uruguayan wunderkind Facundo Torres — he's one of the most underrated players in MLS, delivering goals, assists and pitch-perfect passes with ease. He'll be matched against fellow Uruguayan Diego Rossi, who is much less creative but far more solid in the center of the park. The two know each other well and relish the opportunity to battle one another on a playoff stage.

Western Conference

Houston Dynamo vs Sporting Kansas City — Nov. 26. Houston is the sleeper hit of the season. It finished the season in fourth after beating Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in the final of the U.S. Open Cup. All signs point to the Dynamo challenging fiercely for the MLS Cup, too — and this matchup is tilted clearly in its favor.

Early in the season, Sporting KC languished in last, but head coach Peter Vermes' side finally found its groove, especially in the playoffs. If this one tilts toward penalties it will become Sporting KC's to lose.

Seattle Sounders vs. Los Angeles FC — Nov. 26. Arguably the marquee matchup of the conference semifinals, this one features the second and third-best teams in the West. They played to a 0-0 draw in their first meeting, and LAFC won the second match, 1-0.

Seattle has one of the league's best defenses, but LAFC has one of the league's best attacks, lending this match the balanced feel of a final. While either team could take it — Seattle has more appearances and wins in the playoffs overall — LAFC has a slight edge thanks to its magical striker, Denis Bouanga. The Gabonese international won the Golden Boot as the league's top regular-season scorer this season and was MLS's most discussed player until Messi signed with Inter Miami during the summer.