An upset-riddled Eastern Conference side of the MLS playoff bracket has presented a scenario in which MLS Cup will have an unexpected contestant.
Orlando City SC — born in expansion in 2015 — is enjoying the deepest MLS playoff run in team history. The New York Red Bulls — an original MLS club from 1996 — has made just one MLS Cup appearance in 28 previous seasons.
Both clubs likely will be an underdog in MLS Cup against whichever squad — the Los Angeles Galaxy or Seattle Sounders FC — wins the Western Conference final.
Orlando City has enjoyed a steady rise to prominence under coach Óscar Pareja. Orlando has made the playoffs in each of Pareja’s five seasons at the helm after not making the postseason field in its first five MLS seasons. Orlando City SC collected the club’s first trophy after winning the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, and is now two wins away from adding to the trophy case.
The New York Red Bulls have won three Supporters’ Shields, but the playoffs have been a real bugaboo. The Red Bulls own the longest active postseason appearance streak among North America’s major men’s professional sports leagues at 15 consecutive seasons — more than MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers (12), NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs (10) and NBA’s Boston Celtics (10). However, the team has not turned regular playoff appearances into MLS Cup berths. The New York Red Bulls’ only MLS Cup appearance (in 2008) predates the playoff streak. This year’s club looks to reverse its history of playoff disappointment. After upsetting the defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew in Round 1, the Red Bulls took out their Hudson River Derby rival, New York City FC, in the conference semifinals.
Here’s everything you need to know for the MLS Eastern Conference final:
When is the Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls playoff game?
Orlando City SC will host the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, Nov. 23.
How to stream the Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls playoff game
The Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls game will stream on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: MLS Cup Playoffs time, streaming
Date: Saturday, Nov. 30
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: None
Stream: Apple TV
Location: Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls betting odds
According to BetMGM, here are the odds after regulation: Orlando City (-120), New York Red Bulls (+310), tie (+260). The over/under is set at 2.5 goals.
MLS league winner odds
According to BetMGM, here are the odds for winning the league championship: Los Angeles Galaxy (+135), Orlando City SC (+175), Seattle Sounders FC (+400) and New York Red Bulls (+500).
When is MLS Cup 2024?
The winners of this weekend’s conference final games will play in MLS Cup on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. ET (on FOX and Apple TV).
The host team for MLS Cup is the highest-ranked team in the Supporters’ Shield standings. That priority order for 2024 goes: LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders, Orlando City, New York Red Bulls. Therefore, the winner of the Western Conference final will host MLS Cup. The home team has won seven of the last 10 MLS Cups.
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