For the fourth consecutive season under Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni, Real Salt Lake has officially clinched a berth to the 2024 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs! Also remarkable is the Claret-and-Cobalt qualification for the sixth time in the last seven years, missing only the Covid-affected 2020 campaign, the seventh time in the last 10 seasons (2015 / 2017) and for the 14th occasion in the last 17 seasons, our perennial postseason dreams coming true more than just about any other MLS side of the last generation.
As of today, Thursday, September 26, 2024, RSL is the sole occupant of the second seed in the West; teams who finish in the top four seeds of the final Western Conference standings retain home-field advantage in the Round One Best-of-Three series, which could include a pair of home games (if game three is necessary).
2 – consecutive 50-point RSL seasons, RSL reaching the threshold in back-to-back years in 2023 and 2024 under HC Pablo Mastroeni, the first consecutive seasons at 50+ points since 2013/14
3 – the number of home goals needed to be scored in RSL’s final two home games in order to establish the highest-scoring home campaign in the Club’s 20-year history, breaking the previous mark of 38 scored at home in 2018
4 – consecutive seasons qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs by RSL, something no other Western Conference Club has accomplished from 2021 – present … Two perennial postseason obstacles for the Utah side – LAFC and Seattle – are expected to join the Claret-and-Cobalt with the 6-out-of-7 qualification distinction once they secure their 2024 postseason berths, while two East teams – Philadelphia and New York Red Bulls – have qualified for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in six consecutive years from 2018-23, likely making this year seven straight
5 – Real Salt Lake is one of just five MLS teams overall to have qualified for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in at least six of the last seven seasons (2018-24), overcoming both internal and external volatility in the last six years through three different ownership situations and three different head coaches, as well as four different MLS Cup Playoff formats during this period
6 – points needed by RSL in its final two away games this season, including Saturday in Austin and Oct. 5 at San Jose, to improve to 6-4-7 / 25 points this year and establish the Club’s second-best road point haul of all-time, breaking the 2014 mark of 6-7-4 (22 points)
7 – points needed by RSL in its final four games – two home, two away – to establish a NEW all-time Club record for regular-season performance, breaking the 57-point record accrued in the 2012 campaign
8 – the number of 50-point regular seasons in RSL’s 20-year history, with only three coming in the last decade
10 – home regular-season games already won this season by RSL, the eighth time in 20 years that RSL has reached double-digit home wins in a single year
11 – all-time MLS Cup Playoff series won by RSL out of its 23 played since 2008, across various stages and formats (NOTE: shootout wins/losses count as draws)
12 – should RSL earn the full three points in each of its two remaining home games, RSL would amass 12 home wins in a single season for the first time since the 2019 campaign … RSL’s 12-3-2 mark this year in that eventuality would give RSL
14 – years qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs by RSL in 17 seasons played since its first postseason back in 2008 … The perennial nature of RSL’s 14 postseason appearances in now 17 years is remarkable when considering the League’s growth and change dating back to 2008 … Since RSL’s first postseason appearance in 2008, the Utah side has advanced to 10 Conference Semifinal rounds and 5 Conference Finals – only SEA has reached more (12 Semis, 6 Finals) … LA Galaxy also with 5 Conference Final appearances to match RSL
17 – number of goals scored this year by RSL Captain Chicho Arango, matching the Club’s all-time reg. season record established in 2012 by Alvaro Saborio …
38 – the record number of home points earned in an MLS reg. season by RSL, should it take the full three points in both the Wed., Oct. 2 home match against Minnesota and the Sat., Oct. 19 “Decision Day” game against Damir Kreilach and former America First Field tenant, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, improving this year’s RSL home record to 12-3-2 / 38 points
