The Ties That Bind MLS Cup Finalists Portland, NYCFC

MLS is down to its final two: just a couple of No. 4 seeds fighting for the league championship.

The Portland Timbers and NYCFC booked their tickets to the title match over the weekend, with the Western Conference champions due to host at Providence Park by virtue of having the better regular-season finish (55 points to NYCFC's 51).

On the surface, these clubs have little to do with each other. Whereas Portland is playing for the MLS title for a third time in seven seasons, NYCFC is embarking on new territory, having reached the final for the first time in club history. The two didn't even play against each other in the 2021 regular season due to the league's scheduling imbalance, and they…