LAFC will go for their second-straight MLS title as they travel to Columbus, OH to take on 2020 champions Columbus Crew in the 2023 MLS Cup final.
The west-coast side won the championship last season as the reigning Supporters' Shield winners, but this year their journey to the ultimate destination has been far more rocky. They finished third in the Western Conference, well back of many of their foes to the East.
The Columbus Crew, meanwhile, have also recently won an MLS title, and will be hoping to put their stamp on the latest season thanks to a late charge. The Crew advanced past both the Western Conference semifinals and finals on extra-time goals, learning to win in dramatic fashion.
The Sporting News has all the information you need to be ready for Saturday's big match.
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When is the 2023 MLS Cup final?
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023
- Time: 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT (local) / 1 p.m. PT
- TV channel: FOX
- Streaming: Fubo, Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)
This will be the 28th edition of the MLS Cup final, with the defending champions LAFC looking to win back-to-back titles. Nobody has won consecutive MLS Cup titles since the LA Galaxy in 2011 and 2012.
Two straight MLS Cup finals have gone to a penalty shootout, already the first time consecutive finals have reached that far. Thus, never before in MLS Cup final history have three title matches in a row reached a penalty shootout.
Who is in the 2023 MLS Cup final?
The Columbus Crew will host LAFC in the 2023 MLS Cup final at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio.
Both teams emerged from their respective conferences as the No. 3 seed, but Columbus collected more points through the regular season, and thus they will host the match.
Below is a snapshot of each team playing in the 2023 MLS Cup final.
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Columbus Crew
- MLS titles (last): 2 (2020)
- 2023 season finish: 57 points (16W, 9D, 9L)
- Standing: 3rd — Eastern Conference (3rd overall)
- Goals scored: 67 (1st in MLS)
- Goals conceded: 46 (13th in MLS)
- Top scorer: Cucho Hernandez — 16 goals (4th, MLS)
- Most assists: Cucho Hernandez — 11 assists (T-10th, MLS)
Columbus Crew path to the MLS Cup final:
- Round 1 (best-of-three series): Columbus Crew 2-1 Atlanta United (2-0, 2-4, 4-2)
- Conference Semifinals (single match): Orlando City 0-2 Columbus Crew (a.e.t.)
- Conference Finals (single match): FC Cincinnati 2-3 Columbus Crew (a.e.t.)
LAFC
- MLS titles (last): 1 (2022)
- 2023 season finish: 52 points (14W, 10D, 10L)
- Standing: 3rd — Western Conference (8th overall)
- Goals scored: 54 (9th in MLS)
- Goals conceded: 39 (T-5th in MLS)
- Top scorer: Denis Bouanga — 20 goals (1st, MLS)
- Most assists: Carlos Vela — 12 assists (T-7th, MLS)
LAFC path to the MLS Cup final:
- Round 1 (best-of-three series): LAFC 2-0 Vancouver Whitecaps (5-2, 1-0)
- Conference Semifinals (single match): Seattle Sounders 0-1 LAFC
- Conference Finals (single match): LAFC 2-0 Houston Dynamo
Why are Columbus Crew hosting the 2023 MLS Cup final?
The Columbus Crew ranked higher than LAFC in the overall seeding table thanks to their better points total in the regular season, and thus have hosting rights for this match.
Below is where each team ranked in the overall seeding table based on regular season finish, when combining the tables of each conference. The Eastern Conference dominated the combined table, with six of the top 10 teams, including five of the top six.
| Pos | Club | GP | Pts | W-D-L | GD |
| 1. | FC Cincinnati | 34 | 69 | 20-9-5 | +18 |
| 2. | Orlando City | 34 | 63 | 18-9-7 | +16 |
| 3. | Columbus Crew | 34 | 57 | 16-9-9 | +21 |
| 4. | St. Louis City | 34 | 56 | 17-5-12 | +17 |
| 5. | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 55 | 15-10-9 | +16 |
| 6. | New England Revolution | 34 | 55 | 15-10-9 | +12 |
| 7. | Seattle Sounders | 34 | 53 | 14-11-9 | +9 |
| 8. | LAFC | 34 | 52 | 14-10-10 | +15 |
| 9. | Houston Dynamo | 34 | 51 | 14-9-11 | +13 |
| 10. | Atlanta United | 34 | 51 | 13-12-9 | +13 |
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