play2:11Messi & Suarez vs. Son & Bouanga – Who is the best duo in MLS?Herculez Gomez and Shaka Hislop debate the best duo in Major League Soccer.
Does the MLS play-off structure make sense? (2:41)The ‘Futbol Americas’ crew debate if the MLS play-off structure should be changed. (2:41)
Messi & Suarez vs. Son & Bouanga – Who is the best duo in MLS?Herculez Gomez and Shaka Hislop debate the best duo in Major League Soccer.
Finally, it’s over. With the November international break in the rearview mirror, MLS can conclude its 13-day pause to observe the FIFA window and resume its postseason — and not a moment too soon.
For each of these teams, the wait has actually been longer. FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami CF, the Philadelphia Union, San Diego FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps have been idle for 15 days; for Minnesota United FC and New York City FC, it’s 16 days; and LAFC haven’t played a competitive game in 20 days.
So ESPN asked Lizzy Becherano and Jon Arnold to jog our collective memories on how these eight teams made their way to the conference semifinals, and asked them — along with the rest of our U.S. soccer staff — to predict who will move on to the final four.
Throughout Messi’s career, teams have adapted tactics, adjusted defenses and used man marking in an effort to slow him down, but he has proven that even without scoring, he can set up his teammates in the final third instead, making any team of his more clinical. Cincinnati has been successful against Miami before, winning 3-0 in July, but all players must be on high alert to stop Messi in playoff form.
X-factor: Inter may have Messi, but spectators cannot forget that Cincy boasts a dangerous attack featuring Evander, Brenner and Kévin Denkey. Although the three players have each taken turns throughout the season to shine individually, together they work even better.
Evander was able to establish a quick connection with the team after joining from the Portland Timbers in the offseason, propelling the midfielder to register 18 goals and 15 assists in the regular season, and earn a spot alongside Messi on the list of MVP finalists. Denkey also scored 15 goals this season, while Brenner recorded four in six games since he rejoined the club from Udinese.
FCC don’t have a star attraction like Miami, but instead three hugely impactful players on the attack who are poised to do some damage.
Cincy head coach Pat Noonan found a way to manipulate his opponents’ backline to create the space needed for Evander to find the back of the net. Even more impressive, FCC managed to win without Brenner and Denkey on the pitch. — Becherano
It’ll be an extremely close match between the two attack-minded teams, but ultimately Inter Miami will come out on top by a single goal from one of the Fantastic Four: Messi, Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suárez. Miami also finally enters a knockout match with a healthy roster, boasting depth on the bench head coach Javier Mascherano couldn’t benefit from in the regular season. — Becherano
Both teams will need to stop the No. 10, and while Evander has been superb this season (and now has the luxury of combining with Brenner), Messi looks like a man on a mission to send off Busquets and Alba with the MLS Cup that has so far escaped them — and also add it to his own impressive trophy case. — Arnold
Cincinnati did well to prevail in the Hell is Real playoff derby, but is it enough to overcome Miami? This time of year is when Messi is at his best, and while there are defensive questions surrounding the Herons, Inter look to have a bit too much firepower given their ability to ruthlessly punish mistakes, and will advance. — Jeff Carlisle
Any MLS side like Cincy with Evander, Denkey and Brenner should have the capability to make a run toward a title — that is, if a certain Argentine World Cup winner wasn’t standing in their way. Coupled with the return of Suárez, Miami is taking this one and continuing its Messi-led momentum after the recent 4-0, Round 1-clinching victory over Nashville. — Cesar Hernandez
With an MVP-worthy performance against the Herons, Evander has the opportunity to write his name in the sports history books of Southwest Ohio. I think we’ll see goals from both sides and potentially extra-time, but Cincinnati pulls it off — by a slim margin. — Megan Swanick
While Cincinnati got the better of Miami in the regular season, Messi and friends looked incredibly motivated vs. Nashville. If the visitors bring similar defensive intensity with them on their trip to Ohio, Inter will be in the Eastern Conference final. — Joseph Lowery
Star attraction: A club’s defensive efforts rarely get enough credit to be a star attraction, but this backline stands out. The Union’s defense, led by Jakob Glesnes and Kai Wagner, is the best in MLS after allowing just 35 goals in a regular season in which the club lifted the Supporters’ Shield. Beyond just the defensive work, Wagner, in particular, managed 11 assists to record the second most by a defender in MLS this season.
One player alone did not carry this team to the best record in MLS, nor can an individual propel the Union to MLS Cup, but a strong defense can certainly be the determining factor in a 90-minute match.
X-factor: Tai Baribo really took off in the 2025 MLS campaign to become a genuine difference maker. The forward recorded 16 goals and three assists, contributing more to the club this year than in 2023 and 2024 combined. Baribo also scored twice in the second game against the Chicago Fire in Round 1, connecting with Wagner and Milan Iloski. He fits well within the starting XI and knows how to move around in the final third to receive a necessary assist.
NYCFC would have an opportunity to compete against Philadelphia with a healthy roster, but the Martínez injury tips the scale in the Union’s favor. Philly boasts a well-rounded team with few weaknesses for NYCFC to exploit, giving Carnell’s side the ticket to the conference finals. — Becherano
After dominant showings against Chicago, Philadelphia will have to lean a bit more on its vaunted defense this time around, but it will withstand the test — especially with NYCFC unable to call on Martínez after his injury with Costa Rica. — Arnold
This matchup has a good bit of lure behind it, with both teams ending the other’s playoff run in the past. It’ll be testy, and the Union haven’t played a game since Nov. 1 (NYCFC’s last was Nov. 7). But NYCFC are missing a spate of players while facing one of the most cohesive lineups in the league. I think the Union win this comfortably. — Swanick
There isn’t a more lopsided conference semifinal clash than this one between a Philadelphia team that ripped right through the Chicago Fire to open their postseason campaign and a New York City team missing a slew of key starters. Light in central midfield after injuries and a suspension in Round 1 and missing their game-changing striker in Martínez, NYCFC won’t have the legs to deal with the Union’s aggression. — Lowery
Messi & Suarez vs. Son & Bouanga – Who is the best duo in MLS?
Herculez Gomez and Shaka Hislop debate the best duo in Major League Soccer.
X-factor: Perhaps the MLS Defender of the Year should merit inclusion in the star attraction category, but when he’s facing Son and Bouanga and playing with Thomas Müller and Ryan Gauld, Tristan Blackmon doesn’t draw the headlines. Yet, perhaps no player will be as important for the Caps when it comes to taking on the unenviable task MLS defenders have been attempting since Son’s arrival in the league this summer.
LAFC will have moments when they are rocketing forward in transition, and there will be times when Bouanga and Son link. As Blackmon returns from an MCL sprain, will he be sharp enough to show the instincts he did all season and at least slow the attacks, giving goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka a better chance at making a stop? Vancouver manager Jesper Sørensen certainly would rather have Blackmon on the field than not.
The real key is Ryan Hollingshead, who takes joy in getting forward no matter if he’s playing as a fullback or a wingback and assisted one of LAFC’s four goals in the deciding game against Austin while playing in a back four. He will get forward and look to get the ball to Son and Bouanga in dangerous areas. — Arnold
Vancouver boasts a solid team with Müller and Sebastian Berhalter in good form, but their recent run cannot trump the experience and momentum of LAFC. Bouanga alone stands as a clear threat against any opponent, but the addition of Son makes for an incredibly challenging match for anyone in their path. — Becherano
Counting the numbers since Son’s arrival in MLS — and not counting the superhuman tallies put up in Miami — no duo in the league provided more goal contributions in the regular season than LAFC’s South Korea superstar and Bouanga. It won’t be easy away at a sold-out BC Place, but Cherundolo will get at least one more game with the California club before he steps down after the season. — Hernandez
This matchup is so even, with plenty of star power, but LAFC have a little bit more of the latter with Son and Bouanga, especially when they get out in the open field. I look for LAFC to prevail. — Carlisle
Vancouver has been one of the most formidable teams throughout the season, and Müller has been a menace since joining, with nine goals and four assists in ten games. But the Bouanga-Son combo is too dangerous to wager against; I think we’ll see LAFC in the next round. — Swanick
Star attraction: Goalkeepers are star attractions, too! That’s especially true in the MLS playoffs, where Minnesota United advanced from their three-game series with the Seattle Sounders without winning a match in regulation. Dayne St. Clair helped the team win both penalty shootouts, denying Osaze De Rosario in the third game to bail out his teammates’ misses and converting a shot of his own.
Now, he heads to San Diego, a field where earlier this season he made a dozen saves, allowing only a late goal in a 3-1 win for the Loons. The MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, who had the league’s best save percentage this season with a .779 number in the regular season, will hope it doesn’t take late heroics to once again help Minnesota move on, but he’ll look to keep a clean sheet — and be there if he’s needed for a shootout.