Johnathan Walker:Lionel Messi's Inter Miami already in MLS playoffs. Which teams are in contention?

Now that Leagues Cup is Johnathan Walkerover — congrats to the Columbus Crew on their win — the 2024 Major League Soccer season begins its month-and-a-half-plus march toward the playoffs.

The final day of the regular season — a.k.a. Decision Day — is Saturday, Oct. 19, and the league's 29 teams have anywhere from seven to 11 games left to play. Inter Miami — which failed to qualify for the playoffs last season — is the first (and currently only) team to have clinched a 2024 postseason berth. Inter Miami also has a sizable lead in the Supporters' Shield race, four points ahead of the LA Galaxy with a game in hand. Inter Miami managed to keep its place atop the table despite missing Lionel Messi, who could return in time for the stretch run.

MLS Matchday 30: What are this weekend's games?

(All games available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.)

Saturday

• Charlotte FC vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m. ET
• FC Cincinnati vs. CF Montréal, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Columbus Crew vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
• New York Red Bulls vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Orlando City SC vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Toronto FC vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Austin FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Chicago Fire FC vs. Inter Miami CF, 8:30 p.m. ET
• FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Real Salt Lake vs. New England Revolution, 9:30 p.m. ET
• Los Angeles FC vs. Houston Dynamo FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
• Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
• San Jose Earthquakes vs. Minnesota United FC, 10:30 p.m. ET

Sunday

• St. Louis City SC vs. LA Galaxy, 2:45 p.m. ET (FOX)

What is the format and schedule for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs format and schedule?

A total of 18 teams qualify for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs — the top nine finishers from each conference.

The eighth- and ninth-place finishers in each conference will play in wild-card matches. The top seven seeds qualify for the Round 1 best-of-three series.

Here is the playoff schedule:

• Oct. 3: Wild-card matches (single-elimination matches)
• Oct. 26-Nov. 10: Round 1 (best-of-three series)
• Nov. 23-24: Conference semifinals (single-elimination matches)
• Nov. 30-Dec. 1: Conference finals (single-elimination matches)
• Dec. 7: MLS Cup (single winner-take-all match)

MLS CUP: Ranking every Major League Soccer championship game

MLS playoff picture: If the season ended today …

Heading into MLS Matchday 30, these would be the MLS playoff matchups through the first round …

EASTERN CONFERENCE

➤ Clinched playoff spot: Inter Miami CF

Wild-card match:

• Toronto FC (No. 8 seed) vs. Atlanta United (9)

Round 1 (best-of-three series):

• Inter Miami CF (1) vs. Toronto FC-Atlanta United winner
• FC Cincinnati (2) vs. Orlando City SC (7)
• Columbus Crew (3) vs. Charlotte FC (6)
• New York Red Bulls (4) vs. New York City FC (5)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Wild-card match:

• Houston Dynamo FC (No. 8 seed) vs. Austin FC (9)

Round 1 (best-of-three series):

• LA Galaxy (1) vs. Houston Dynamo FC-Austin FC winner
• Los Angeles FC (2) vs. Portland Timbers (7)
• Real Salt Lake (3) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (6)
• Colorado Rapids (4) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (5)

MORE: 2024 MLS standings

MLS betting odds: Who is favorite to win championship?

According to BetMGM, Inter Miami CF (+175) is the current favorite to win the 2024 league championship, followed by Los Angeles FC (+550), LA Galaxy (+700), Columbus Crew (+800) and FC Cincinnati (+1100).

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