Columbus Crew, from the Eastern Conference, face Western Conference challengers LAFC in the 2023 MLS Cup final on Saturday, December 9.
The Crew's superior points tally means they are the hosts and the favourites, while their opponents are the defending champions after a penalty-shootout triumph a year ago. LAFC are hoping to become the first side to defend the trophy since their city rivals Los Angeles Galaxy did so in 2012.
LAFC secured an impressive win over Houston Dynamo and Columbus upset Supporters' Shield winners FC Cincinnati in the conference finals to reach the showpiece.
The match will be held at Lower.com Field on Saturday as part of a celebratory end to the top-flight season in the USA. It should make for an entertaining spectacle between two of the league's most impressive sides in 2023.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including kickoff time, broadcast information and team news.
MORE: Live stream and TV details for MLS Cup final 2023
What time is the MLS Cup final 2023?
The 2023 MLS Cup final between Columbus Crew and LAFC at Lower.com Field kicks off on Saturday, December 9 at 4 p.m. local time in Columbus, OH.
Here's how that time translates to all the time zones in North America:
| Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | 4 p.m. |
| Central Time | 3 p.m. |
| Mountain Time | 2 p.m. |
| Pacific Time | 1 p.m. |
MLS Cup final live stream, TV channel
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | FOX, FOX Deportes (Spanish) | Fubo USA, Apple TV (MLS Season Pass), Fox Sports app/website |
| Canada | TSN3, TSN4, RDS 2 (French) | Fubo Canada, Apple TV (MLS Season Pass) |
The 2023 MLS Cup final will be shown in the United States on the FOX main network channel, while a Spanish-language broadcast is available on Fox Deportes. Both channels are available to stream on Fubo.
In Canada, the match will be shown on both TSN3 and TSN4, which can be streamed on Fubo Canada. A broadcast in French is also available on RDS 2.
MLS Cup final lineups, team news
The only injury concern for Columbus head coach Wilfried Nancy is the ACL tear suffered by Will Sands back in April. Otherwise, the Crew squad is entirely fit for duty.
It's possible that Julian Gressel comes into the starting lineup to replace Mohamed Farsi, but otherwise it should look as it did in the dramatic Eastern Conference Final win over FC Cincinnati.
Diego Rossi will take on his former club LAFC, who he left two years ago for a move to Turkish side Fenerbahce. He has five goals and six assists since returning to MLS this summer.
Columbus Crew projected starting lineup (3-4-3): Schulte (GK) — Moreira, Camacho, Amundsen — Gressel, Nagbe, Morris, Yeboah — Matan, C. Hernandez, Rossi.
LAFC, amazingly, are at essentially full health for the MLS Cup final, which is quite a luxury to have on the road.
Maxime Crepeau has reestablished himself as the first-choice goalkeeper since returning from his serious leg fracture, supplanting John McCarthy back in mid-September. Crepeau has kept three clean sheets in the playoffs, on a stretch of seven straight halves of play without conceding a goal.
Despite starting for much of the season in midfield, Mateusz Bogusz has been dropped to the bench for the playoffs, with Timothy Tillman and Kellyn Acosta preferred.
LAFC projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Crepeau (GK) — Hollingshead, Murillo, Chiellini, Palacios — Tillman, I. Sanchez, Acosta — Olivera, Vela, Bouanga.
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