Despite the New York Red Bulls abandoning the competition about three weeks ago, MLS is persisting with its end-of-year tournament - imaginatively titled MLS Cup.
The first finalist has emerged: Seattle Sounders have completed their late-season resurrection to claim a spot in the league's showpiece match on December 10.
It is an impressive return to relevance for a team that lost 12 of its first 20 games of the 2016 MLS season. After that catastrophic beginning and middle of this year's campaign, it was clear Seattle would see out the rest of the year in rebuilding mode.