MLS Cup: Which side will ‘clinch success’ in historic season?

After much buildup in the off-season, Major League Soccer finally gets underway today.

The 2020 MLS campaign will be celebrating its 25th season, and will run from February until October. The all-important playoffs will then take over, with the season ending with the MLS Cup in November.

The Seattle Sounders will be out to defend their title, having beaten Toronto FC in the 2019 final. But there will be two new teams looking to get in on the action.

Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC have been added to the roster, taking the total number of clubs to an historic 26. The competition will, as always, be split into the Eastern and Western Conferences. And this time it will be split evenly, with 13 teams competing in each section.

The opening fixture sees Wayne Rooney’s former outfit D.C. United host Colorado, with New England Revolution then travelling to Montreal Impact. Houston Dynamo host LA Galaxy, with Toronto FC visiting San Jose Earthquakes.

Also in action on opening day are FC Dallas and Orlando City, who host Philadelphia Union and Real Salt Lake respectively.

Nashville play Atlanta United in their very first MLS game, with Vancouver Whitecaps meeting Sporting Kansas City. Columbus Crew play New York City FC while New York Red Bulls host FC Cincinnati. 

Seattle Sounders play Chicago Fire, while David Beckham’s Inter Miami have been handed a tough meeting away to Los Angeles FC. Portland Timbers versus Minnesota United completes the action.

LAFC are currently favourites to clinch MLS Cup success this season. They can be backed at 9/2, with Atlanta available at 7/1. 

NYC FC have been given odds of 10/1 to secure the country’s top prize in 2020.

Seattle and Toronto are also available at 10/1, while LA Galaxy are currently 16/1 to lift the trophy.

New York Red Bulls are 22/1, with Minnesota and Montreal currently 25/1. Real Salt Lake are 30/1, with the trio of Philadelphia, New England and Portland available at 33/1.

It’s 40/1 for Dallas, D.C. United, San Jose or Columbus to come out on top.

And Beckham’s new Miami outfit are 50/1 to clinch success at their first attempt. They are joined by Chicago Fire and Sporting KC at 50/1. Both Orlando and Cincinnati are available at 80/1 to lift the MLS Cup later this year.

LA Galaxy lead the way with five titles, with D.C. United sitting second in the standings with four. Houston Dynamo, Seattle, Sporting KC and San Jose then follow with two each.