Who are the favorites For This Year's MLS Cup?
The new season of Major League Soccer gets underway at the end of February, and the upcoming campaign is one of the most highly anticipated in recent memory. That is in no doubt thanks to last year's epic MLS Cup final between Los Angeles FC and Philadelphia Union. The side from California eventually came out on top after two hours of blistering action, but their victory didn’t come easy.
LAFC thought that they had their first MLS Cup wrapped up when Jesús David Murillo netted in the 84th minute. However, the Union equalized just two minutes later through Englishman Jack Elliott, taking the tie to extra time. There, Elliott would net again in the fourth minute of injury time, all but locking up a victory that would have meant taking the trophy back to Subaru Park for the first time in the team's history.
Los Angeles was down, but they weren’t out, however. Welsh superstar Gareth Bale would net in the 128th minute to take the tie to penalties, and it was his side who would keep their cool to seal a maiden MLS Cup triumph.
The Favorites
LAFC have been made the favorites to retain their crown by OddsChecker, which compares Soccer odds and free offers. If they are to win the title again however, they will need to do so without starman Bale, who announced his retirement from the game after the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Steve Cherundolo still has a wealth of talent at his disposal, especially in the likes of Carlos Vela, Giorgio Chiellini, and Sergi Palencia, and his side will take some stopping this term.
Last season's beaten finalists are the second favorites in the betting. They are closely followed by 2021 champions New York City FC and city rivals New York Red Bulls. All three sides have a number of stars playing for them, and they will be there or thereabouts at the end of the 2023 season.
What of FC Dallas?
FC Dallas hasn’t been given too much hope for the upcoming campaign. They are currently in the lower half of the betting odds, suggesting that a season of consolidation could be on the cards at Toyota Stadium.
Last season, Nico Estévez’s side finished third in the Western Conference and qualified for the postseason playoffs. There, they made it to the conference semifinals, where they were beaten by Texan rivals Austin FC. If FC Dallas can make it just as far this season, they will consider their campaign a successful one.
