Following a historic regular season that culminated in a league-record 74 points, Messi and his teammates are set to face the winner of Tuesday’s single-elimination wildcard match between CF Montreal and Atlanta United. The playoffs will unfold with high-stakes matchups, including the start of the best-of-three Round 1 series on October 25.
Messi’s impressive performance—highlighted by an 11-minute hat trick in the season finale against the New England Revolution—has propelled Miami to new heights, earning them the Supporters Shield and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. This triumph also qualifies them for the 2025 Club World Cup, an announcement made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Saturday. However, the decision to feature Miami in the prestigious tournament has sparked debate, as the MLS Cup is traditionally regarded as the league’s ultimate prize.
Despite their dominance in the regular season, history suggests that securing the Supporters Shield does not guarantee playoff success. In the 29-year history of MLS, only eight teams have managed to win both the Shield and the Cup, and just five have done so this century. Miami will face tough competition as they aim to become the sixth team to achieve this feat, with potential matchups against formidable opponents like the defending champion Columbus Crew looming in the East.
The playoffs also feature a range of intriguing matchups across both conferences. In the Eastern Conference, Orlando City will face Charlotte FC, while FC Cincinnati battles NYCFC. In the West, last year’s runner-up LAFC opens against either the Portland Timbers or Vancouver Whitecaps. As the playoff action begins, fans are eagerly anticipating whether Messi and Miami can defy historical odds and bring home the MLS Cup.
