Final Four Face off in Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Finals

This Sunday, Oct. 30, a berth to MLS Cup 2022 is on the line, when the four teams remaining in the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs face off in the Eastern and Western Conference Finals.

In the Western Conference, No. 1 overall seed and Supporters’ Shield winner, the Los Angeles Football Club, will host No. 2 seed Austin FC at Banc of California Stadium (3 p.m. ET, ABC / ESPN3 / TSN / TVA Sports).

In the nightcap, the top-seeded Philadelphia Union will welcome defending MLS Cup champion New York City FC to Subaru Park (8 p.m. ET, FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports) in a rematch of the 2021 Eastern Conference Final, which saw NYCFC emerge victorious, 2-1.

No. 1 Seeds LAFC and Philadelphia Union Look to Overturn Historic Trend

For the first time since 2018, the top seeds in both conferences have advanced to the Conference Finals, as the Philadelphia Union in the East and LAFC in the West both will look to make history come Sunday. Both top seeds, along with Western Conference finalist Austin FC, are searching for the first MLS Cup berth in their respective club histories. However, to do so, they will need to buck a recent trend that has proved challenging for top-seeded clubs.

The last time that the No. 1 seeds in both conferences met in MLS Cup was 2003, when the San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Chicago Fire, 4-2, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Home Sweet Home in the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs

Home has been sweet throughout the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs, as host teams have won eight of the 10 matches through the first two rounds of the postseason.

The Union, who were unbeaten at home during the regular season with a 12-0-5 record, will look to continue their blemish-free home slate. However, they will need to defeat the defending MLS Cup champions, New York City FC, which was also the last team to win an MLS match at Philadelphia’s Subaru Park, a 2-1 victory in the 2021 Eastern Conference Final.

Winners of 10 of their last 11 matches (including the postseason) played at Banc of California Stadium, LAFC will look to continue their home cooking against Austin FC on Sunday and secure home-field advantage in MLS Cup. Austin FC dealt LAFC one of their two home losses on the year, a 2-1 victory on May 18, 2022.

New York City FC Has Eyes Set on Repeat

With their 3-1 victory at CF Montréal in the Conference Semifinals last week, New York City FC became just the third team since 2010 to reach the…