For the next several hours, as eight host sites brace themselves for all the action of the weekend, 32 teams are equal. 32 scorelines are 0-0, and 32 teams all have a chance to lift the highest trophy in the league on August 3rd.

Every one of those 32 teams has advantages and disadvantages compared to all the others. Why will your favorite team be the ones to claim victory at the final whistle of Match 31? Why will they falter before then? Read below to find out.

Ballard FC

Why they will: The defending champions return several players from last season’s league-winning team. Alex Mejia is back from injury, Christian Engmann is healthy, and the players there know how to win.

Why they won’t: Some of the departures they faced were critical – maybe a bridge too far. Losing Stas Korzeniowski and Bailey Letherman hurts more than anticipated, as Letherman especially was a thorn in their side in the division. They’re prone to conceding easy goals on the counter.

Project 51O

Why they will: The club trains everyone with the goal of getting them to Oakland Roots SC, and that lends itself to intricate play and high-level technical requirements by the time the postseason comes around.

Why they won’t: The other side of that coin is that they’re simply too young. It’s an incredible professional development setup – but when it comes to winning playoff games, players that have more experience and more physical development tend to get the better of them.

Almaden FC

Why they will: Adaptation. Any club that they failed to get a result against in the first half of the season, they paid back with a win in their second meeting. They finished top of the division in a fairly difficult Nor Cal, they are good enough.

Why they won’t: Almaden’s never been in these playoffs before, and they’ve had a recent difficult run when it comes to discipline. They had a player sent off in two of their last five games to close the season, and that’s not something they can afford in the playoffs.

United PDX

Why they will: Form. Since opening the season with some rocky results, they played as well as anyone in the country the rest of the way. They were a hair away from winning the division, but Ballard got the better of them in that fixture. They can get results in difficult situations.

Why they won’t: Control. They struggle to control possession or the chances against top level opponents, and while they’re good at dominating for about 10-minute spurts, they won’t be the ones dictating the pace.

FC Tucson

Why they will: They get the necessary results. On June 11, they were 2-2-2 and a playoff berth was far away in the distance. When wins were required, they showed up: 5-1 against Redlands FC, 2-1 against Ventura County Fusion, and 2-0 against AMSG over the last six weeks of the season.

Why they won’t: They cut it too close against inferior opposition. Coachella FC earned points in five matches this season, and two were against FC Tucson. Staying consistently sharp has been a struggle this season and could be their end in these playoffs.

Flatirons FC

Why they will: Flatirons score in bunches, and they’re already well-rested. The final game of their regular season was on July 11, so they’ll be on eight days of rest before playing FC Tucson.

Why they won’t: Few clubs will be as far away from home this season as Flatirons FC. The nature of the playoffs and optimizing travel times means it’s usually a long trip for Mountain Division clubs, and that can wear on a team.

Ventura County Fusion

Why they will: Marley Edwards, scorer of the winning goal in the 2022 Final, has developed into a real star for the club. Their options seem to develop endlessly, and they will always create a chance to score. In the playoffs, that’s all you need.

Why they won’t: This season may be one departure too far in attack. Nathan Opoku isn’t walking through that door. 2023 Player of the Year Logan Farrington isn’t walking through that door. Will the Fusion be able to put away the chances they create?

Albion SC Colorado

Why they will: Between June 24, 2023, and July 8, 2024, Albion SC Colorado didn’t lose a match. In tournament play, sometimes not losing is the best you can do, and it gets you across the line.

Why they won’t: It’s not often they overwhelm or dominate an opponent. They’ll struggle to cope with the talent of other clubs they may face, and don’t necessarily have the resources themselves to fire back.

Flint City Bucks

Why they will: The pedigree is always there. Quick trivia – since 2014, how many times have the Bucks failed to make the Conference Finals? The answer is three – the same number of times they’ve won the entire tournament in that time. They have talent in spades, an imposing home venue, and the savvy to get things done.

Why they won’t: Since the pandemic, the matches in which they get eliminated all generally go the same way. The Bucks usually find themselves struggling for a goal, chasing the game late, and not able to find the answer. It’s unclear where that kind of moment would come from on this current team.

Cleveland Force SC

Why they will: It’s impossible to keep them off the scoresheet. They were held goalless only twice in the 2024 season – and once was just about on purpose, when they only needed a draw to advance to the playoffs. The other was against division winner Fort Wayne FC.

Why they won’t: They really struggle to put teams away. They defeated opponents by more than one goal only twice – in a 5-3 win against FC Buffalo, and a 2-0 win vs. Dayton Dutch Lions. Being unable to create separation makes games more exhausting than they need to be, and to go the distance you need some kind of energy conservation. They are among the lowest playoff teams in goal difference.

Fort Wayne FC

Why they will: They’ve been through it now. Last season’s heartbreak against Flint City Bucks taught the side a lot about themselves and what they’re up against, and what the separation is between the regular season and the postseason.

Why they won’t: There are a few more cracks in the armor than last year. They got a difficult draw then, yes, but if that side couldn’t get it over the line, with the kind of domination they showed, it’s harder to see this team that had a tougher time in the regular season going all the way.

Midwest United FC

Why they will: They are extremely rested. They haven’t played a match since July 1 – they’ve been qualified for the playoffs for a long time. Midwest will have fresher legs than all of their opponents, in every round.

Why they won’t: A break that long can come with rust. Three weeks is a long time not to be playing soccer, and in moments when you need ultimate sharpness, that long break can work against them.

Peoria City SC

Why they will: They can go toe to toe with the best, and get to play their first two matches (at least) on their home pitch. Every time they were pushed to the brink, they learned something about themselves, and came through it in most cases. This is the best chance in club history.

Why they won’t: They’ll likely have to go through Des Moines Menace and/or Flint City Bucks on their way to a title. In this instance, it may be a really big ask for a relatively inexperienced side. Luke Persenico can only get you so far.

Thunder Bay Chill

Why they will: They have the experience and the explosiveness to get difficult results. This is a club that’s been here before, and showed themselves well last year, in their first playoff appearance since 2017.

Why they won’t: The club struggles to keep clean sheets. They kept one in July and two in June. Goals are often harder to come by in the playoffs, and it doesn’t bode well if they make them easier for their opponents. Among all divisional winners, they’re third lowest (14th) in goal difference.

Des Moines Menace

Why they will: Talent in spades and a pedigree to match, the Menace are one of the elder statesmen of the league and understand the assignment when it comes to the League Two Playoffs. It hasn’t been that long since they won the tournament in 2021.

Why they won’t: The talk surrounding the Menace before winning the tournament in 2021 all had the same tone to it – They can dominate the regular season, win their division, and absolutely crush the league season, but struggle to get all the way to the summit. Since 2009, the Menace have been to the Conference Final eight times, and won the tournament once. Will they be able to get over the hump again?

Bavarian United SC

Why they will: Bavarian took a year to get their feet under them in the league, but they’ve figured out how to win the games they’re supposed to win. It’ll be uphill sledding from here, but far stranger things have happened. They’ll always have the element of surprise on their side.

Why they won’t: Of their six wins this season, five came against Minneapolis City SC and Rochester FC – the bottom two clubs in the division. They were dominated by Thunder Bay Chill in both matches against the division winners – it’s hard to see them having enough to advance.

Ocean City Nor’Easters

Why they will: Hosting the first two rounds at the Beach House, where they’ve been extremely successful this year, the Nor’Easters have what is probably their best squad in quite some time. They raced away with a reasonably difficult division, and have the tools to cause problems after a great run in the postseason last year.

Why they won’t: The departure of Josh Jones back to Louisville is hard to overstate. He’ll be in the shortlist for Defender of the Year, and a favorite to win it. To go up against Seacoast United Phantoms to open the playoffs without that key piece may stop the train before it leaves the station.

Seacoast United Phantoms

Why they will: There was a lot of drama around the finish of the Northeast and Metro divisions. Qualifying round games, goal differences, no-contest games, the end of the season had everything. Seacoast United were a part of none of it. They squashed two extremely good sides in Vermont and Western Mass in the divisional table. The winner of the hardest division will be one of the favorites for the whole thing.

Why they won’t: While the Phantoms have been dominant, they haven’t been perfect. They were under a ton of pressure in Vermont, where a bad pass at the back and an immense solo effort got them both of their goals – from a process-based standpoint, there are certainly ways one could understand them cracking. Since joining League Two in 2008, the Phantoms peaked at a single Conference Final appearance, in 2022.

Long Island Rough Riders

Why they will: The 2022 Finalists have players on the squad that have been through this before. They also won the increasingly large Metro division, which has become a tradition. They know what it takes to win, and have the talent to make it happen.

Why they won’t: Getting out of the Eastern Conference is incredibly difficult, and the club’s struggled to fully dominate their competition. On June 1, the club defeated Ironbound SC 8-0 to move to 3-0-0 and pile up a +13 GD. Since then, they’ve been +8 in 11 games – not to fully exclude their most dominant result, but it’s been an inconsistent display in front of goal.

Vermont Green FC

Why they will: Vermont may be the best club in the nation in terms of building up play. Their midfield, bossed by Rodri Vaza (and sometimes Moussa Ndiaye), creates overloads for fullbacks and wingers that create a multitude of chances. They will have several clear looks at goal every match.

Why they won’t: For all the chances they make, they still really struggle to put them away in difficult games. It’s not an unfamiliar sight to have Jacob Labovitz or Zach Zengue sprinting onto a ball in the box, doing all the work that makes them great players, only for it to fire high or wide. As the chances get tighter, and farther between, Vermont will go home wondering what could’ve been if they can’t finish.

Lionsbridge FC

Why they will: Largely the same core that made it to the Final last season is back, especially the more experienced leaders like Sam Hall and Josh Baker. Their situation to qualify was largely the same last season to this season, so while they did just slip in, they made it to the Final last time they did that. The tenacity of the group is off the charts.

Why they won’t: They miss a cutting edge in chance creation against strong opposition. Isaiah Chisolm is a good striker, but they can sometimes go flat when they can’t create from out wide. They’ll need every trick in the book to make their way through again.

Western Mass Pioneers

Why they will: As positively-intentioned as possible – there might be nobody in the league better at making a match awful to play. Opponents have to bear down and truly give it everything to not have their passing combination booted into the stratosphere. Combine that with an elite mover and finisher in Alec Hughes, and a team that all knows how to pull in the same direction, and you’ve got a real contender.

Why they won’t: Sometimes, the chaos they create backfires on them, and they can allow poor goals from time to time. Being used to getting stuck in also can lend itself to being heavy on fouls, and in a tournament where everyone has to be up for every round, it can spell danger for them.

Salem City FC

Why they will: Four teams this season played all of their matches without losing once – Salem City were one of them. Refusing to lose is the name of the game, and they can survive a result with the best of them.

Why they won’t: Trying to survive may not be good enough against the best. Only Arizona Arsenal SC drew more times than Salem City FC this season, and only Cleveland Force SC have drawn as many times as them among teams in the playoff field. They certainly don’t want every game to go to extra time or penalties – one of those times, it isn’t going to go their way.

Virginia Beach United

Why they will: VBU play with a particular kind of fearlessness that lends itself to success in big games. They aren’t a team to crawl inside its own shell, and a lot of times, the braver team is the one moving on.

Why they won’t: This is the first time VBU is in the playoffs after the club was formed in 2019. It’s going to be an incredibly difficult time, and even the league’s best teams historically didn’t reach the summit on their very first try.

Asheville City SC

Why they will: None of the undefeated teams in the league were as dominant as Asheville City SC. They allowed more than one goal only once, and allowed six total goals on the year, while pouring in 37 of their own. Back to front, Asheville could be called the most complete team in the country.

Why they won’t: Finding a definitive reason the Blues might falter is one of the most difficult in the nation, but the most glaring is the fact that Rodrigo Robles signed a professional contract with Greenville Triumph three weeks ago. There are still adjustments to be made for what he brought to the team, and he wasn’t in the side for either of the matches in which the Blues dropped points.

Nona FC

Why they will: Their players are experienced, and several of them have played together for large parts of their lives. That kind of chemistry and continuity serves a team well in the postseason.

Why they won’t: Outside of the confines of Austin Tindall stadium, Nona dropped points in two of six games, and lost to Brave SC 3-0. They’ll likely be on the road for this entire postseason – can they produce results in every round?

Brave SC

Why they will: One of the league’s foremost experts in surviving and advancing has found their edge in attack. 38 goals scored on the season is among the league’s best, and they went 9-1-0 after drawing their first two matches. A robust defense combined with an inspired attack spells danger for the opposition.

Why they won’t: Like Nona FC, it’s likely they’ll be on the road for much of the playoffs. All three of the games in which they’ve dropped points have been away from home – can they cope and bear down when tough questions are asked of them?

Sarasota Paradise

Why they will: When the chips are down, and Sarasota need a result, they’ll go and get one. Approaching the league’s penultimate weekend, they needed a win over Miami AC to hold off their charge and expected division title win. They responded by demolishing them 4-0 and strolling to a playoff spot. They’ve shown mettle when their backs were against the wall.

Why they won’t: Averaging more than a goal conceded per match isn’t ideal, and the defense will certainly be top of mind as they take on a high-powered Brave side. There are a lot of free-scoring teams in the Southern Conference – they’ll need to bolt the door better than they have this season to win the whole thing.

Little Rock Rangers

Why they will: Defense. Defense. Defense. The stingiest defensive unit in the nation will hope to ride that lockdown unit all the way to the title, and it’s a side that’s good enough to do it. They’ve got the Golden Glove winner between the sticks and a penchant for big moments.

Why they won’t: Among the 16 divisional winners, only Fort Wayne have scored fewer than Little Rock’s 21 goals this season. 12 of those teams scored more than 30 times. If Little Rock fail to advance, the reason will be simple – they just couldn’t find the net. It’s an exact exchange with their defense, and a dangerous one when the margins are so fine.

AHFC Royals

Why they will: In six different matches this year, including against Corpus Christi FC, the Royals poured in three or more goals, and went the entire season without losing a match. Whatever they get hit with, they can respond with force.

Why they won’t: In that high-scoring game against Corpus Christi, the Royals also conceded five goals. They allowed opponents to score multiple goals more often than they kept clean sheets (five to four). They can’t trade goals at this level, they’ll suffer for it.

Corpus Christi FC

Why they will: Their only dropped points this season are to AHFC Royals. They won every game they were favored in and know how to take care of business emphatically. With 45 goals this season, they’re the highest-scoring team in the country, and can light up the scoreboard against any club.

Why they won’t: They didn’t win either game against the other team in their division to make playoffs. They kept one clean sheet in June, and one in July. They’ll have to tighten up at the back and not concede poor goals, even with a lead, in the playoffs. Everything can evaporate at once.

Tennessee SC

Why they will: Tennessee were up against it at the end of the season, needing clutch results to make it into the field. Like Lionsbridge FC last season, that’s not a reason to exclude them from contention – those sorts of games and results can give a team a strong identity that they can carry for several rounds.

Why they won’t: Their 1.67 league points per match is the lowest among all playoff teams, tied with Cleveland Force SC. Their goal difference is +5. It’s not the record of a team that one would expect to reach the summit.