2023 MLS season predictions: Expert picks for MLS Cup, MVP award, Supporters' Shield
With the 2023 Major League Soccer season kicking off this weekend, we surveyed USA TODAY Network's team of soccer experts for their predictions on how the new season will shake out.
Can Los Angeles FC become the first repeat MLS Cup winner since the Los Angeles Galaxy did it more than a decade ago in 2011-12? Which teams are the top contenders for the league championship? Who will win league MVP honors? Which player will score the most goals and claim the Golden Boot?
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Here's how we see the 2023 MLS season unfolding (important note: an asterisk denotes which team is predicted to win the wild-card playoff games between eighth and ninth seeds):
Jason Anderson, Pro Soccer Wire
MLS Cup: Philadelphia Union over Seattle Sounders
Eastern Conference playoff teams:
Philadelphia Union
FC Cincinnati
Orlando City
New York City FC
New England Revolution
New York Red Bulls
Nashville SC
Atlanta United
Toronto FC*
Western Conference playoff teams:
Austin FC
Los Angeles FC
Seattle Sounders
Sporting Kansas City
Portland Timbers
FC Dallas
Los Angeles Galaxy
Colorado Rapids
Real Salt Lake*
Supporters' Shield winner: Philadelphia Union
MVP: Sebastián Driussi, Austin FC
Golden Boot: Hany Mukhtar, Nashville SC
Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer
MLS Cup: Philadelphia Union over Los Angeles FC
Eastern Conference playoff teams:
Philadelphia Union
Toronto FC
Nashville SC
FC Cincinnati
inter Miami CF
New York Red Bulls
New England Revolution
Columbus Crew*
New York City FC
Western Conference playoff teams:
Austin FC
Los Angeles FC
FC Dallas
Seattle Sounders
Minnesota United
Portland Timbers
Los Angeles Galaxy
Real Salt Lake*
Vancouver Whitecaps
Supporters’ Shield winner: Philadelphia Union
MVP: Andre Blake, Philadelphia Union
Golden Boot: Brandon Vazquez, FC Cincinnati
Drake Hills, The Tennessean
MLS Cup: Philadelphia Union over Seattle Sounders FC
Eastern Conference playoff teams:
New York City FC
Philadelphia Union
Toronto FC
Orlando City
Atlanta United
Nashville SC
FC Cincinnati
Columbus Crew*
Western Conference playoff teams:
Austin FC
Los Angeles FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Los Angeles Galaxy
FC Dallas
Sporting Kansas City
Portland Timbers
San Jose Earthquakes*
Supporters’ Shield winner: Philadelphia Union
MVP: Lorenzo Insigne, Toronto FC
Golden Boot: Sebastián Driussi, Austin FC
Bailey Johnson, The Columbus Dispatch
MLS Cup: Philadelphia Union over Los Angeles FC
Eastern Conference playoff teams:
Philadelphia Union
FC Cincinnati
Orlando City
New York Red Bulls
Toronto FC
Columbus Crew
Atlanta United
New England Revolution*
Nashville SC
Western Conference playoff teams:
Los Angeles FC
Austin FC
Seattle Sounders
Portland Timbers
FC Dallas
Los Angeles Galaxy
Sporting Kansas City
Real Salt Lake
Minnesota United*
Supporters' Shield winner: Philadelphia Union
MVP: Sebastián Driussi, Austin FC
Golden Boot: Cucho Hernández, Columbus Crew
Jim Reineking, USA TODAY Sports
MLS Cup: Los Angeles FC over FC Cincinnati
Eastern Conference playoff teams:
Philadelphia Union
FC Cincinnati
New York Red Bulls
Toronto FC
Atlanta United
Orlando City
New York City FC
Nashville SC*
Inter Miami CF
Western Conference playoff teams:
Los Angeles FC
Austin FC
Seattle Sounders
Los Angeles Galaxy
Portland Timbers
FC Dallas
Sporting Kansas City
Vancouver Whitecaps*
Real Salt Lake
Supporters’ Shield winner: Philadelphia Union
MVP: Dániel Gazdag, Philadelphia Union
Golden Boot: Sebastián Driussi, Austin FC
Seth Vertelney, Pro Soccer Wire
MLS Cup: Philadelphia Union over Seattle Sounders
Eastern Conference playoff teams:
Philadelphia Union
Orlando City
FC Cincinnati
Toronto FC
New York City FC
New York Red Bulls
Charlotte FC
Atlanta United*
Columbus Crew
Western Conference playoff teams:
Seattle Sounders
Los Angeles FC
Austin FC
Portland Timbers
FC Dallas
Sporting Kansas City
Colorado Rapids
Minnesota United
Vancouver Whitecaps*
Supporters' Shield winner: Philadelphia Union
MVP: Sebastián Driussi, Austin FC
Golden Boot: Sebastián Driussi, Austin FC
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: MLS 2023: MLS Cup, playoff teams, MVP, Golden Boot predictions