No. 7 seed New York Red Bulls (NYRB) face No. 2 seed Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS Cup Final after defeating No. 4 seed Orlando City SC 1-0 in the Eastern Conference. The NYRB is the lowest seeded team to reach the MLS Cup Final in league history.
In its second-ever bid for the MLS Cup, the NYRB will travel to LA’s Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California for the 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT) game on Saturday, Dec. 7. The Red Bulls defeated higher seeds in three consecutive games during the playoffs.
The Galaxy won five of nine MLS appearances and beat No. 4 seed Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference. It will be a record-making 10th MLS Cup Final game for the club when it faces the NYRB.
The Eastern Conference
In the Eastern Conference against Orlando City SC, three-year NYRB Andrés Reyes scored his first goal in his ninth MLS postseason appearance. In about 47 minutes into the game, he scored with a header off a free kick by John Tolkin. It turned out to be the game-winning goal for NYRB, with Tolkin’s assist being his third in nine playoffs.
See also: Red Bulls Head to Orlando for Eastern Conference Final
Winning the Eastern Conference was a big deal for both the team and new NYRB head coach Sandro Schwarz — the team’s 20th head coach in 30 years. Schwarz left Germany’s Hertha BSC for New York and is just one of 12 first-season coaches in MLS history to make it to the MLS Cup Final. Schwarz replaced Troy Lesesne, who took over the Red Bulls from Gerhard Struber.
MLS and Red Bulls
The Red Bulls, New York’s oldest MLS team, formed in 1996 as the New York/New Jersey Metrostars and has made it to the playoffs every season since 2010. The team’s only MLS Cup Final appearance was in 2008 when it fell to the Columbus Crew 3-1. The MLS formed in 1995 and began gameplay in 1996 with 10 teams.
MLS was founded after the U.S. hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup (Giants Stadium Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey was one of seven host stadiums). The league now has 29 teams — 26 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada. A 30th team, San Diego FC, will join the league in 2025.
The Meadowlands will once again be among the host stadiums for the FIFA World Cup 26™ Final and seven other matches throughout the tournament.
Read More: Meadowlands MetLife Wins Bid to Stage World Cup 2026 Final
Where to Watch The MLS Cup Final
The final can be seen on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, Fox, Fox Deportes, and will also be broadcast live in Times Square in Manhattan on a 78-foot by 330-foot HD “Mega-Zilla” screen by Silvercast Media. The screen spans an entire city block and is located on Broadway between 45th and 46th streets.
A 15-foot replica of the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy will be displayed in Times Square for fan photo ops. (The actual trophy is 24-inches tall.)
The winning team keeps the trophy during the offseason and is later awarded a duplicate after returning the original to MLS headquarters in New York City.
