The championship of Major League Soccer will be at stake as the Los Angeles Galaxy face the New York Red Bulls in the MLS Cup final this Saturday.

The Galaxy aim to secure their sixth MLS Cup, marking a decade since their last victory in 2014. With a total of five MLS Cup titles, they are the franchise with the most championships in league history.

On the other hand, the Red Bulls are still on the hunt for their first MLS Cup title. This marks their second finals appearance, having previously lost to the Columbus Crew in 2008.

Here’s what you should know about the MLS Cup final and five key points before the match:

When is the MLS Cup final happening in 2024?

The match between the L.A. Galaxy and New York Red Bulls will occur on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT) at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

How to watch the MLS Cup final: LA Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls

Additionally, viewers in the U.S. can watch on FOX and FOX Deportes, while those in Canada can tune in on TSN and RDS.

The English-language broadcast will feature Jake Zivin (play-by-play), Taylor Twellman (analyst), and Jillian Sakovits (sideline reporter). For the Spanish-language broadcast, the team will consist of Sammy Sadovnik (play-by-play), Diego Valeri (analyst), and Antonella Gonzalez (sideline reporter).

Pre-game coverage on Apple TV will start at 2:30 p.m. ET with shows like “MLS Countdown” and “MLS La Previa,” live from Dignity Health Sports Park.

Catch the MLS Cup final on Apple TV

Betting odds for LA Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls

As per BetMGM, the betting odds after regulation are: LA Galaxy (-125), New York Red Bulls (+300), and a tie (+275). The over/under is set at 2.5 goals.

1. LA Galaxy’s challenge without Riqui Puig

One former FC Barcelona star made it to the MLS Cup final, but he won’t be playing. Galaxy star Riqui Puig suffered a torn ACL in the Western Conference final, right after he assisted Dejan Jovelić for the game-winning goal last week.

This season, Puig contributed 13 goals and 15 assists, and he added four goals and three assists during the playoffs. His creativity in midfield will be a significant loss for the Galaxy.

2. LA Galaxy can still perform without Puig

While Puig has been vital to the Galaxy’s success, the team possesses several top-tier players.

Gabriel Pec, the MLS Newcomer of the Year, is a Brazilian talent who has scored 19 goals and provided 16 assists across the regular season and playoffs. Jovelić, a Serbian player, leads the Galaxy with five playoff goals and has a total of 20 goals across all competitions. Ghana’s Joseph Paintsil brings three goals in the playoffs and had 10 goals and 10 assists during the regular season.

3. Red Bulls’ surprising playoff journey

The Red Bulls’ march to the MLS Cup final might seem unlikely, and that’s because it is. They began as the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference, making them the lowest seed in league history to reach the final.

The Red Bulls kicked off the playoffs with a big upset, eliminating last year’s champions, Columbus Crew, in their two-game opening series. They also avoided facing either of the last two Supporters’ Shield winners, FC Cincinnati (2023) and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami (2024), defeating New York City FC in the semifinals and Orlando City in the conference finals.

4. Home-field advantage for Galaxy?

Will the location have an impact on the MLS Cup final? It very well might.

The Galaxy is invincible at home this season, going unbeaten in 20 matches (16 wins, 0 losses, and 4 draws) at Dignity Health Sports Park.

In contrast, New York achieved only four victories in 17 away games (with six losses and seven draws) during the regular season, although they have won three of their four playoff matches on the road.

5. A battle of defenses at the MLS Cup final

The Galaxy has netted 16 goals in four postseason matches, needing just one more to tie the MLS record for the most goals by a team in the playoffs.

Conversely, the Red Bulls have conceded only two goals in their playoff run—both against Columbus Crew in Game 2 of the first round. They have kept their opponents scoreless in three of their other playoff outings.

Goalkeeper Carlos Coronel has been vital for the Red Bulls, making 19 saves and contributing to three clean sheets during the playoffs.