MLS’ salary cap rules are a staple of the league, but Messi says it limits the ability of the league to attract top talent.

The higher seed are home for the first and — if necessary — third games of the series.The winners advance to the conference semifinals, with that round joining the conference final and MLS Cup Final as single-elimination matches at the home of the higher seed.

Minnesota United vs Seattle Sounders will kick off at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT in the United States. The match will kick off at 8 p.m. local time in Saint Paul, Minnesota, at Allianz Field. The match will be available to watch on TV channels and through streaming services in the U.S.

The Union seek to become the first team since 2022 to win the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup in the same season.

Two very strong Major League Soccer squads open up their first-round series on Monday night, as Minnesota United plays host to the Seattle Sounders in Game 1 of the MLS Cup Playoffs. These two clubs finished very close to each other in the Western Conference standings, and it could lead to a thrilling best-of-three series.

Jesús Bueno scored the decisive goal in a penalty-kick shootout after Philadelphia blew a two-goal lead late and the top-seeded Union beat the Chicago Fire in a best-of-three first-round opener of the MLS Cup playoffs.

Hirving “Chucky” Lozano was left out of the San Diego FC squad due to an internal matter as the Californian expansion side picked up its first playoff win. San Diego picked up a 2–1 victory in front of 32,500 fans at Snapdragon Stadium against the Portland Timbers, putting them within a game of the Western Conference semifinals.