Ricky Dimon
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The 2024 Major League Soccer season kicks off on Wednesday, February 21, when Lionel Messi and Inter Miami host Real Salt Lake. That will lead to a full 14-game lineup this weekend (11 on Saturday, 3 on Sunday). Just like that we’ll be off and running on the pitch as sports bettors look to whet their appetites following the conclusion of football season.
Let’s take a look at MLS in 2024, breaking down the odds and best bets to make. You can also check out our soccer picks for our game previews on the MLS, EPL and Champions League.
2024 MLS Cup odds
Despite missing the playoffs entirely in 2023, Inter Miami is favored to lift the MLS Cup. That’s no surprise, either, given that Lionel Messi is on the roster. The Herons are followed by defending champion Columbus, LAFC, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and the New York Red Bulls.
Here is the short list of favorites, with odds provided by BetMGM:
Inter Miami +300
Columbus Crew +800
LAFC +800
FC Cincinnati +1200
Philadelphia Union +1400
New York Red Bulls +1600
Seattle Sounders +1800
Orlando City +2200
Nashville SC +2500
LA Galaxy +2500
Houston Dynamo +2500
NYCFC +2800
Atlanta United +2800
Sporting KC +3000
What will Messi and Miami do in 2024?
Messi came to MLS during the summer of 2023; it was much too late for Inter Miami to recover from a disastrous start to the season. The Herons did turn things around, however. They won the Leagues Cup and advanced to the U.S. Open Cup final for the first time. So, despite finishing second-to-last in the MLS Eastern Conference standings, there is reason for optimism heading into 2024.
Messi wasn’t the only addition last year. Inter Miami brought in manager Tata Martino plus a pair of Messi’s former Barcelona teammates in Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets. This past offseason the club signed Luis Suarez. On paper, this is absolutely the most stacked roster in MLS. If the veterans can stay healthy, the MLS Cup is well within reach.
Read our full Inter Miami vs Real Salt Lake predictions for the MLS’ season opener
MLS Cup best bet: LAFC (+800)
The value is never going to be on Inter Miami. With Messi on the roster, sportsbooks know the betting public is going to throw its money on Miami without thinking twice. That is going to drive down the odds lower than they should be, and +300 is certainly too low – especially when no other club has better than +800 odds.
Instead, the smartest play is on LAFC at +800. Part of that is because the Black and Gold play in the Western Conference. To win the MLS Cup you obviously have to make it out of the conference first, and look no further than the above odds to know that the pathway is easiest through the West. An amazing 5 of the top 6 and 7 of the top 9 cup favorites hail from the East. Nobody in the West other than LAFC has odds better than +1800 (Seattle).
Since its expansion year in 2018, LAFC has posted the best record in the league twice and won the MLS Cup in 2022. Last season the Black and Gold captured the Western Conference title before losing to Columbus 2-1 in the final. Although more than a few players are now gone, LAFC signed World Cup-winning goalie Hugo Lloris (France) from Tottenham Hotspur and there is enough returning offensive firepower for this club to remain a major contender.
