Ahead of the start of the MLS Cup playoffs, we take a look at the respective strength of the Western and Eastern Conferences.
William GittinsWillGittUpdate: Oct 24th, 2023 13:52 EDT
Twitter @LAFC/@PhilaUnion
After eight months of regular season action the MLS Cup playoffs begin on Wednesday with the newly-introduced Wild Card fixtures.
After those one-off games we will be left with eight teams from each conference, each fighting to make it to the MLS Cup final. The Eastern Conference Champion will take on the Western Conference Champion to be crowned MLS Cup winner.
Over the past ten years the two conferences have been fairly evenly matched, with five winners from each. However this time around there is reason to believe that the balance of power is leaning towards the Atlantic, rather than the Pacific.
We take a look at the state of play ahead of the 2023 MLS Cup playoffs…
Rising power in the East
The pre-tournament favourites are FC Cincinnati, the Supporters’ Shield winners and the team of Luciano Acosta, the expected MVP.
Cincinnati topped a strong Eastern Conference, finishing ahead of the impressive Orlando City; free-scoring Columbus Crew; and last year’s MLS Cup finalists Philadelphia Union. In fact, many predictions suggest that the teams from the East who look best-placed to clinch the MLS Cup this season.
VAMOS, CINCY! Playoffs start Sunday 😤 pic.twitter.com/kiw8pu9Ogq
— S – FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) October 24, 2023
MLS.com has released the final set of Power Rankings for the 2023 season, in which 15 analysts rank the 29 teams from the strongest to the weakest. At the end of the regular season the top three sides in the Power Rankings are all from the East: Cincinnati, Orlando and Cincinnati.
Add in the fact that Inter Miami, who failed to make the playoffs in the East, won the Leagues Cup and made it to the final of the US Open Cup, and it’s clear to see that this is shaping up to be a good season for the Eastern teams.
The best from the West
Last year LAFC dominated MLS, winning the Supporters Shield and going on the lift the MLS Cup with an extraordinary victory over Philadelphia. The Western Conference champions were tipped for more swash-buckling success in 2023 but Steve Cherundolo’s team have stagnated, as have a number of teams in the Western Conference.
The Western Conference was won, fairly comfortably, by expansion side St. Louis City SC, who became the first team to top their conference in their debut season.
We stand together. We stick together.See you next week, STL!#PaintTheCITYRed x #AllForCITY pic.twitter.com/y4BMlWfQUs
— y – St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) October 23, 2023
