Best MLS Cup Betting Offers

Above, we’ve designed a quick comparison tool to help you find the best MLS Cup betting site.

You can select up to three sites from the list above and click Add to Compare to compare their offers, features, payment methods, and more side-by-side.

If you’re unsure which online site suits you, this tool can help you quickly spot the right fit. Give it a try and see how the options stack up.

Note that betting offers vary based on your location.

How We Test & Rate MLS Cup Betting Sites & Offers

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Our team of industry-leading experts grades each of the betting sites they review on a scale of one to 10 across 10 different categories that we deem to be most important to sports bettors. To determine these scores, we don’t just sit behind a screen and rate sites—we test them, compare them, and really dig into the user experience to see how they stack up.

Our process ensures we only recommend betting sites that meet our high standards.

We are committed to promoting responsible gambling. That’s why we only review fully licensed operators and offer tools and resources that address responsible betting practices.

What is the MLS Cup?

The MLS Cup is the final of the Major League Soccer playoffs, with representatives from the Eastern and Western conferences playing against each other, and is the culmination of the MLS season.

Playoff Format: The MLS differs from some European leagues because of its playoff format. There is no final playoff in leagues like the Premier League, so betting is focused more on the regular season.
Participants: Given the format, the MLS Cup isn’t always contested between the two best teams by record because the two best could be in the same conference. So, betting on the final could be a reasonably straightforward affair.
Promotion & Relegation: There is no system of regulation and promotion, as there is in international club leagues, meaning teams at the bottom of the standings have less incentive to win.

How to Bet on the MLS Cup Playoffs

The MLS Cup Playoffs are more unpredictable than the MLS Cup Final. It’s common for a 4 or 5 seed to make the conference final or even the MLS Cup title game.

However, the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs introduced single-game elimination throughout the tournament. Previous tournaments saw two-leg games played during the conference semifinals and conference finals.

The one thing that can be reliable in the MLS playoffs is that the home team does well. The first round is a little unpredictable, but the conference semifinals and finals usually see the matches go the way of the home team.

Popular MLS Cup Betting Markets

When betting on the MLS Cup final, here are some of the most common markets you'll encounter:

Match Result (1X2): Predict which team will win, or if it ends in a draw after regular time.
Total Goals (Over/Under): Bet on how many total goals are scored.
To Win the Cup: Outright futures bet on the overall tournament winner.
Player Props: Wagers on goal scorers, assists, or cards.
Exact Score or Winning Margin: Higher-risk bets predicting scorelines or goal margins.

MLS Cup Betting Tips

Pay Attention to Top Goal Scorers

Big-time matches demand big-time players, and the star players of each final almost always make an impact. In 2018, it was Josef Martinez for Atlanta United. In 2017, it was Jozy Altidore for Toronto FC. In 2015, It was Diego Valeri for the Portland Timbers.

You can regularly bet on the star players of the favored team to make something happen in the MLS Cup. Unlike the European Leagues, where anything goes with scoring, the MLS style caters more to those star players/strikers, allowing them to shine in the big games.

Don’t Rely Too Much on Club History

Unlike European leagues like La Liga or Bundesliga, team quality in MLS changes more often from year to year, and there are a few reasons for this. The worst team in the league isn’t relegated as they are in European football leagues; instead, they get the best player available in the MLS SuperDraft. Also, a salary cap makes it difficult for teams to have an extended run of success.

So, it's common for different clubs to rise to the top over time, rather than a few teams staying dominant. The only team that’s consistently at the top is the LA Galaxy, and even then, they have only won two championships since 2012 (2014 and 2024). There hasn’t been a repeat champion since the Galaxy won back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012.

The team with the best record in the regular season usually doesn’t win the MLS Cup, either. Since the first MLS Cup in 1996, the team at the top of the standings at the end of the regular season has won the MLS Cup only seven times.

Favor the Favorites

While the best team in the regular season doesn’t often win the championship, one of the top teams usually does. In fact, the winner of the MLS Cup is rarely a surprise. Since 2010, most teams that have gone on to win the final were favored to win by the oddsmakers.

You’ll want to bet on a team near the top of the standings. Previous winners have consistently been among the top three teams in their conference, with the 2016 Seattle Sounders being the lone team outside the top three to win the MLS Cup since 2015.

Picking the favorite to walk away with the trophy is usually a good wager for bettors to take advantage of.

Bet on Extra Time

It’s common for the MLS Cup Final to go to extra time. Since 2010, five out of 15 MLS Cups have gone to extra time, and 10 of the 25 MLS Cups since 2000 have required extra time to decide the winner. Based on this history, you have a 40 percent shot of a regular time draw, for which the odds are always fairly long.

Recent MLS Cup Champions

Year	Winner
2024	LA Galaxy
2023	Columbus Crew
2022	Los Angeles FC
2021	Portland Timbers
2020	Columbus Crew
2019	Seattle Sounders FC
2018	Atlanta United
2017	Toronto FC
2016	Seattle Sounders FC
2015	Portland Timbers
2014	LA Galaxy
2013	Sporting Kansas City

Responsible Gambling with MLS Betting Sites

We at Gambling.com take responsible gambling very seriously. Our main goals are to connect you with reliable betting operators while maintaining a safe gambling environment for all users.

Soccer betting sites must follow strict protocols to spot, prevent, and reduce gambling-related harm. These measures aren't optional; they're legal requirements and essential safeguards that protect vulnerable players from developing problematic habits.

We always keep these requirements in mind whenever we review and rate a betting site, and we only partner with licensed operators that adhere to legal standards. Moreover, all betting sites that we review here have responsible gambling tools and resources to help you stay in control of your betting.