The two best teams in Major League Soccer will go head-to-head for the title when the best in the West LAFC host Eastern Conference champions Philadelphia Union in the MLS Cup 2022 on Saturday.
The two teams finished the regular season atop their respective conferences, earning the same number of points. But LAFC claimed the first points tiebreaker (total wins), giving them the right to host the final. It’s the first time since 2003 that the first-place team in each conference are facing off for the trophy.
Both clubs are in their first MLS Cup final, and both are relatively recent expansion teams, with LAFC launching in 2018 and the Union playing their first season in 2010.
LAFC will look to league superstar Carlos Vela and 18-goal scorer Cristian Arango to be difference makers, while Philadelphia will be relying on Goalkeeper of the Year Andre Blake and Defender of the Year Jakob Glesnes to help them hold strong in front of those attacking threats.
Sporting News is following the MLS Cup final live and providing live score updates, commentary.
MORE: Every result from the MLS Cup 2022 playoffs: How LAFC, Philly reached the final
LAFC vs Philadelphia Union live score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| LAFC | — | — | — |
| Philadelphia | — | — | — |
Goals:
None
LAFC vs Philadelphia Union live updates, highlights from MLS Cup
5 mins from kickoff: Meanwhile. Union supporters back at Subaru Park are getting ready to watch the final in their home stadium.
IT’S ALMOST TIME TO #DOOP IN #MLSCup! #LAFCvPHI | #DOOP | #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/uvI6R5O1AW
— DOOP By The River (@DoopByRiverPod) November 5, 2022
10 mins from kickoff: The teams are out on the field.
Players on the field. It’s go time. #MLSCup pic.twitter.com/VqPPbMqyt4
— Larry Henry Jr (@lhenry019) November 5, 2022
15 mins from kickoff: Carlos Vela speaking to Fox pregame.
“What would it mean today to win MLS Cup?”@Kyndrasports speaks with LAFC’s @11carlosV ahead of today’s exciting MLS Cup at Banc of California Stadium! pic.twitter.com/0D6kQKsVSb
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 5, 2022
20 mins from kickoff: LAFC owner Magic Johnson is at the Banc and he’s in his club’s jersey.
Sports royalty in the building. 👋@MagicJohnson x #MLSCup pic.twitter.com/3XUMpjwrlA
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 5, 2022
30 mins from kickoff: The LAFC supporters welcome their own as they take the field for warmups:
.@LAFC3252 welcoming their team to the pitch ahead of #MLSCup #LAFC pic.twitter.com/vdB1rJ4mlG
— Justin Ruderman (@JSRFootball) November 5, 2022
45 mins from kickoff: Lineups are out. No Bedoya (Philadelphia), Bale (LAFC), or Chiellini (LAFC) to start:
The #LAFC Starting XI vs. @PhilaUnion.
Today’s lineup is presented by @Delta. #MLSCup | #ForLosAngeles pic.twitter.com/e1fEH73uZD
— LAFC (@LAFC) November 5, 2022
The Dream Final 🏆
📝👉 https://t.co/Azobqg9Vwc#StartingXI | #LAFCvPHI | #DOOP | @MLS pic.twitter.com/HSxzb3yRld
— x – PhilaUnion (@PhilaUnion) November 5, 2022
60 mins from kickoff: Here’s the disparity in the money spent on each of the two squads, according to data supplied by the MLS Players Association. LAFC have the sixth-most expensive payroll. Philadelphia the 27th of 28.
My MLS Wages charts show you payrolls across the league & salary disparities within each roster.
Thanks @MLSPA for the data.
Check out the interactive @tableaupublic to see previous seasons: https://t.co/F2CMPrE6Dz pic.twitter.com/LYPybdAPyf— Steve Fenn (@StatHunting) October 17, 2022
60 mins from kickoff: Not even Justin Bieber would miss out on the MLS Cup:
Just announced in the press box:
Justin Bieber and Rob McElhenny are supposedly going to be at #MLSCup today.
I wonder which team McElhenny will root for.#LAFC #doop
— Jonathan Tannenwald (@thegoalkeeper) November 5, 2022
60 mins from kickoff: The flood of LAFC supporters is making its way toward Banc of California Stadium. It’s a sample of what you can expect at the stadium.
#MLSCup @LAFC3252 in full voice already. #LAFC pic.twitter.com/2Ezgu0uunl
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) November 5, 2022
LAFC vs. Philadelphia Union lineups
At 38 years old, former Italy international Giorgio Chiellini will start on the bench with Sebastian Ibeagha replacing him in central defense. Chiellini, who came off at halftime of the Western Conference final, will have a seat next to the other summer star signing Gareth Bale who has not been a starter for LAFC.
LAFC starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): 16-Crepeau (GK) — 12-Palacios, 25-Ibeagha, 3-Murillo, 24-Hollingshead — 23-Acosta, 6-Sanchez, 20-Cifuentes — 99-Bouanga, 9-Arango, 10-Vela.
Philadelphia Union captain Alejandro Bedoya will start on the bench after the hip injury forced him off at halftime of the Eastern Conference final. His replacement in that game, Jack McGlynn, is his replacement.
Philadelphia Union starting lineup (4-3-1-2, left to right): 18-Blake (GK) — 27-Wagner, 3-Elliott, 50-Glesnes, 15-Mbazio — 31-Flach, 8-Martinez, 16-McGlynn — 6-Gazdag — 7-Uhre, 9-Carranza.
MORE: A breakdown of the projected USMNT roster for the 2022 World Cup
MLS Cup final live stream, TV channel
The MLS Cup final will be played at 1 p.m. local time at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.
| USA | Canada | |
| Date | Saturday, November 5 | |
| Time | 4 p.m. ET | |
| TV channel (English) |
FOX | TSN 4 |
| TV channel (Spanish) |
TUDN, Univision | — |
| Streaming | fuboTV, Fox Sports app, TUDN app | TSN Go, TSN Direct |
USA: Saturday’s MLS Cup final between LAFC and Philadelphia Union from Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles will be broadcast in English in the United States on FOX’s network channel. A Spanish-language broadcast can be found on both TUDN and Univision.
All three channels are available to stream via a fuboTV subscription, with a free trial available for new users.
Canada: The 2022 MLS Cup final will be broadcast on TSN 4 in Canada, which can be streamed on TSN GO and TSN Direct.
