The 2024 MLS Cup final matchup highlights just how fluky the playoffs can be in this sport (or, truthfully, any American sport) when the in-form teams take flight.
The LA Galaxy, who led the Western Conference standings for most of the year before capitulating on the final regular season matchday, take on the Eastern Conference Cinderella story, the New York Red Bulls on Saturday to determine the 2024 league title winner.
Unfortunately for the Galaxy, who host the match as the definitively higher seed, they will be without instrumental attacking force Riqui Puig, who shockingly tore his ACL in the conference final last weekend despite playing the entire match. They will lean even more on explosive new signings Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec to deliver the once-dominant MLS side back to their former mantle.
The Red Bulls, meanwhile, hope to become the lowest seed ever to win an MLS Cup title, having already become the lowest seed to even reach the Cup final. They barely squeaked into the playoffs as the Eastern Conference's No. 7 seed, only narrowly dodging a spot in the Wild Card round.
After knocking off defending champions Columbus Crew in Round One, the Red Bulls took down cross-town rivals NYCFC plus Orlando City en route to the final.
The Sporting News details how you can view the 2024 title match, with the game available to stream for free on MLS Season Pass.
LIVE BLOG: Follow along with minute-by-minute updates, highlights, and more of LA Galaxy vs. NY Red Bulls
2024 MLS Cup final live stream, TV channel
- Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
- Time: 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT
- TV channel: FOX
- Streaming: MLS Season Pass, Fubo
The 2024 MLS Cup final between the LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls will be available to stream for free on MLS Season Pass from Apple TV. Major League Soccer has made the match accessible for all individuals regardless of subscription status.
The MLS Season Pass coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 a.m. PT with the pregame show "MLS Countdown" live from Dignity Health Sports Park, with Kevin Egan, Kaylyn Kyle, Sacha Kljestan, Bradley Wright-Phillips, and Andrew Wiebe all part of the analysis crew.
A post-game recap show, "MLS Wrap-Up" will also be available, live from Dignity Health Sports Park following the match. There is also Spanish-language coverage for both pre-match and post-match on MLS Season Pass.
The match will also be televised on the main FOX network channel, which is available to stream on Fubo. The match is also televised in Spanish on Fox Deportes, which can also be found on Fubo.
For a limited time, you can get your first month of Fubo for as low as $49.99, a $30 savings. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 200+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
What time is 2024 MLS Cup final kickoff?
The 2024 MLS championship match match kicks off from Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, December 7 at 1 p.m. local time in Carson, CA.
Here's how that time translates across the time zones in North America:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Sat, Dec. 7 | 4 p.m. |
| Central Time | Sat, Dec. 7 | 3 p.m. |
| Mountain Time | Sat, Dec. 7 | 2 p.m. |
| Pacific Time | Sat, Dec. 7 | 1 p.m. |
2024 MLS Cup final lineups & team news
The LA Galaxy suffered gut-wrenching news just before the title match when it was revealed that brilliant playmaker Riqui Puig had suffered a torn ACL in the Western Conference final. It came as a shock as he played the entire 90 minutes of the match, even assisting the game-winner in the 89th minute. The Galaxy would reveal that Puig, incredibly, played the final 30 minutes of the game on the injury, which will keep him out for this game and a large portion of the 2025 season.
It seemed to mean Marco Reus would likely take on a larger playmaking role in this game and into next season. Reus was substituted at halftime of the Western Conference final with a groin injury, and while he said he's likely ok to play ahead of the match, started on the bench. Instead, Marco Delgado and Gaston Brugman come into the starting lineup.
Uruguayan defender Martin Caceres is the only other Galaxy player suffering with an injury, set to miss the game as he continues his recovery from a torn Achilles.
LA Galaxy starting lineup (4-3-3): 77. McCarthy (GK) — 2. Yamane, 25. Garces, 4. Yoshida, 14. Nelson — 20. Cerrillo, 5. Brugman, 8. Delgado — 11. Pec, 9. Joveljic, 28. Paintsil.
The Red Bulls are nearly at full strength thanks to the long layoff before the semifinals. Kyle Duncan had knee surgery in early September and is almost certainly out, while former Wake Forest product Roald Mitchell is in the same boat.
Head coach Sandro Schwarz has rotated through center-backs this season, but Andre Reyes retains his spot along the back line rather than being replaced for Noah Elie. However, just before kickoff, Reyes took ill and was replaced minutes before the match began by Elie.
The other decision for Schwarz to make is in midfield, as he rotated Peter Stroud into the XI in place of an injured Felipe Carballo. The latter was listed as questionable for the Western Conference final with a foot injury, so his availability for this game is up in the air.
NY Red Bulls starting lineup (3-5-2): 31. Coronel (GK) — 12. D. Nealis, 3. Elie, 15. S. Nealis — 17. Harper, 75. Edelman, 10. Forsberg, 5. Stroud, 47. Tolkin — 13. Vanzeir, 9. Morgan.
2024 MLS Cup final prediction, betting odds & lines
- Score prediction: LA Galaxy 2-1 NY Red Bulls
While the LA Galaxy will sorely miss Riqui Puig, they should still manage to overcome his absence in what can only be considered a dream matchup for the Western Conference regular season runners-up.
New York had a great run, but a trip across the country to California coupled with a meeting against a strong unfamiliar opponent should prove to be too much for the underdogs here.
The Red Bulls have been out-shot in every single playoff match thus far, including somehow surviving a 25-goal onslaught against NYCFC in the conference semifinal to emerge with a clean sheet. That's just not a sustainable run, and the Galaxy will be the first team to punish the Red Bulls for their defensive frailties.
| BetMGM (USA) | |
| LA Galaxy win (90 mins) | -125 |
| Draw (90 mins) | +275 |
| NY Red Bulls win (90 mins) | +300 |
| Both teams to score | Y: -165 N: +120 |
| Over / Under 2.5 goals | O: -165 U: +115 |
| LA Galaxy to win the Cup | -250 |
| NY Red Bulls to win the Cup | +165 |
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