GOAL lays out the four major storylines for MLS' regular season finale – including yet another record Lionel Messi can help break
Decision Day2024 is nearly here. The regular season finale of the MLS campaign, and a chance for a few teams to try and extend their time on the pitch.
Two playoff spots, both wildcard roles, are up for grabs in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta United, CF Montreal, the Philadelphia Union and D.C. United are all fighting for a chance to compete in the play-in game for a berth in the Round One best-of-three series spot in the postseason.
Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, the title itself is going to be determined Saturday evening with the victor being either Los Angeles FC or the LA Galaxy. In the East, LiMessi and Inter Miami are looking to make history, securing the regular season points record.
Individually, the league's finest strikers will also be looking to secure the 2024 Golden Boot, but a clear frontrunner stands in their way in Christian Benteke.
GOAL looks at some of the biggest storylines Saturday evening.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowUSA Today ImagesWestern Conference title up for grabs
The La Galaxy sit in an advantageous spot to claim the division title. They head on the road to take on the Houston Dynamo, where a win or a draw secures them the no. 1 seed in the postseason and the regular season conference title.
LAFC, meanwhile, are not far behind.
The host the San Jose Earthquakes Saturday evening, a match where they are the heavy favorites. However, in the league standings, they trail the Galaxy by three points. For them to clinch the Western Conference title, they would need a Galaxy loss, and they would need to be ahead of their arch-rivals in criteria points as well.
As things stand heading into the regular season finale, the Galaxy have a +2 higher goal-differential then LAFC. Steve Cherundolo's men would need to defeat the Earthquakes, while making up that gap, and hoping the Galaxy fall on the road.
AdvertisementUSA Today ImagesWho will claim the Golden Boot?
It's looking like D.C. United's Benteke will lift the 2024 trophy, but there are a handful of contenders still in the hunt.
The ex-Liverpool forward has scored 23 goals for D.C. this season, with two separate hat-tricks being a part of his scoring run, and only three of the goals being penalty kicks, as well.
Both LAFC's Denis Bouanga and Columbus Crew's Cucho Hernandez are not far behind, though. They both sit on 19 goals, while Inter Miami's Luis Suarez sits on 18. It's not unrealistic to say that either of the three could go on a scoring spree in their regular season finale, but it's far-fetched, for sure.
If Benteke wins the award Saturday evening, he will be the first D.C. player since Dwayne De Rosario in 2011 to claim the award.
Getty Images SportWill Inter Miami break the points record?
are looking to make more history this weekend, as Lionel Messi searches for yet another record to break. The South Beach club host the New England Revolution on Decision Dayand with a with they'll become the MLS side to record the most regular season points in one single campaign, ending the season with 74-total points.
The Revolution themselves set the record during the 2021 season, accumulating an impressive 71 points during that run. However, their record is now in jeopardy, and in storybook fashion, they're the only ones who can do anything about it in the regular season finale.
Can Caleb Porter's side hold off the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield winners, or will Messi and Co. make more history?
USA Today ImagesWho will claim the final Eastern Conference playoff spots?
Four teams, two spots. It's as intense as it gets heading into the regular season finale for the Philadelphia Union, Atlanta United, CF Montreal and D.C.
The final two wildcard playoff spots are up for grabs, with the No. 8 and 9 seeds still available. At the conclusion of Decision Day, the two teams in those spots will then meet midweek in a play-in game to qualify for the Round One best-of-three series against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.
D.C. and Montreal are in pole-position for those spots, as they both sit on 40 points, while both the Union and Atlanta trail at 37 points alike. However, if one of D.C. or Montreal loses, it opens opportunity for Philadelphia and Atlanta, who could sneak into a playoff spot if they secure three points.
GOAL lays out the scenarios below:
Montreal: Win or draw and you are in the playoffs
D.C. United: Win or draw and you are in the playoffs
Philadelphia: Three points AND a Montreal or D.C. United loss AND they need to have a higher goal-differential than the losing team between Montreal and D.C.
Atlanta: Three points AND a CF MTL or DC United loss AND they need to have a higher goal-differential than the losing team between MTL & DC
Note: The first three criteria points for tiebreaker scenarios are No. 1. wins, No. 2. goal differential, No. 3. goals scored. The entire list of tiebreakers can be found here.
