MLS Cup 2022: Hosting scenarios for final four as LAFC take on Austin FC, Philadelphia Union battle NYCFC

While MLS Cup playoffs are in full swing with Los Angeles FC, Austin FC, the Philadelphia Union, and New York City FC as the final four teams remaining. But a unique quirk of the league is that the final isn’t held at a neutral location like Champions League or European league cup finals. It is instead held at the home stadium of the team that secured the most points during the season. Because of that, NYCFC are the only team in the quartet that can’t host the final since they have the lowest amount of points earned during the regular season of the remaining teams with 55. 

This means that Yankee Stadium won’t host its first soccer final after already seeing the New York Yankees miss out on the World Series, and that Citi Field, where NYCFC had to play their playoff-opening win against Inter Miami, also won’t enter as an alternate location for the final. While NYCFC won MLS Cup last season, they did it away in Portland and have yet to host the final in their history.