Major League Soccer's defending champion (Columbus Crew) and reigning Supporters' Shield winners (FC Cincinnati) renew acquaintances with the Hell is Real Derby — one of the league's best rivalries* — on Saturday (7:45 p.m. ET on FS1 and Apple TV).
When last they met, Columbus and Cincinnati were engaged in a 120-minute battle royale in the Eastern Conference final. The Crew rallied from two goals down to force stoppage time, and that is when — in the 115th minute — Christian Ramirez scored the winner.
On Sunday (4:45 p.m. ET on FOX), the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders revisit their decidedly unfriendly Cascadia Cup rivalry. This is a rivalry that dates back nearly five decades and includes iterations of the two teams in four different leagues (NASL → A-League → USL First Division → MLS). Both clubs have been on the struggle bus so far this season, but perhaps a scintillating rivalry win can reverse the 2024 fortunes of the victor.
Elsewhere in non-rivalry related matchups, two-time defending MLS player of the week Lionel Messi goes to Canada as high-flying Inter Miami CF takes aim at humbling another foe, CF Montréal. Miami has won four straight, including a 6-2 destruction of the New York Red Bulls, during which Messi broke a league record.
PHILLY PHENOM: 14-year-old Cavan Sullivan signs with Philadelphia Union
WATCH: Messi and Inter Miami travel to take on CF Montreal on Apple TV
TICKETS: Experience Messi and Inter Miami in person on the road in Montreal
SHOP: Get the latest Messi and Inter Miami team gear from the MLS store
(All games available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.)
Saturday
Sunday
This isn't just the "game of the week." This is quite possibly the game of the season so far. FC Cincinnati is pushing Inter Miami at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. The Columbus Crew are riding high after a riveting Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal win over Liga MX powerhouse Monterrey. That triumph has thrust the Crew into the top spot of the latest Concacaf Club Rankings.
There's plenty to keep an eye on with these two teams when it comes to the U.S. in international competitions this summer. While FC Cincinnati defenders Miles Robinson and DeAndre Yedlin could play roles for the USMNT in the upcoming Copa America, Crew midfielder Aidan Morris and goalkeeper Patrick Schulte might be representing the U.S. in Paris for the Summer Olympics.
Here are the odds for this weekend 's MLS games, according to BetMGM odds.
Atlanta United vs. D.C. United
Charlotte FC vs. Nashville SC
CF Montréal vs. Inter Miami CF
New York Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution
Philadelphia Union vs. Orlando City SC
Toronto FC vs. New York City FC
Columbus Crew vs. FC Cincinnati
FC Dallas vs. Austin FC
Sporting Kansas City vs. Houston Dynamo FC
St. Louis City SC vs. Chicago Fire FC
Colorado Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes
LA Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake
Los Angeles FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC
According to BetMGM, Inter Miami CF (+185) is the current favorite to win the 2024 league championship, followed by Los Angeles FC (+1000), FC Cincinnati (+1000), LA Galaxy (+1400), Columbus Crew (+1400), Real Salt Lake (+1600), New York Red Bulls (+1600) and Philadelphia Union (+1600).
All Major League Soccer games air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Some select games are available for free on Apple TV and viewers only need an Apple ID to watch.
FOX Sports will air select games on linear television.
You didn't ask, but here's just one humble writer's ranking of the top five MLS rivalries (note: these rankings can be fluid based on factors such as stakes and star power, and will be updated accordingly) …
Honorable mention: Nicest Rivalry In Sports: Minnesota United FC vs. Sporting Kansas City — Midwesterners are known for their general kindness, hence the name (plus, these two teams have scant history between each other outside of a Minnesota United 2020 playoff win over SKC). This rivalry might be too nice to make the power rankings, but the name is just plain fun.
1The Cascadia Cup is an actual trophy that is awarded to the team that has the best record in the season series, which also includes the Vancouver Whitecaps, whose rivalry with Portland and Seattle is heated but not quite as brewing with animosity as Portland-Seattle. This three-team rivalry dates back to the old NASL.
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