MLS's Final Four: Toronto FC vs. Columbus Crew; Seattle Sounders vs. Houston Dynamo

MLS is down to its final four teams–and one of the two Eastern Conference finalists is assured of hosting MLS Cup.

Brian Straus and Luis Miguel Echegaray and Avi Creditor | Nov 5, 2017

MLS's Final Four: Toronto FC vs. Columbus Crew; Seattle Sounders vs. Houston Dynamo /

MLS is down to its final four.

Toronto FC and the Columbus Crew will meet in the Eastern Conference final, with both knowing that the winner will earn the right host MLS Cup, by virtue of having more regular-season points than either of the two Western Conference finalists.

Those teams are the defending champion Seattle Sounders and the Houston Dynamo, with Clint Dempsey's heroics propelling the Sounders to the cusp of another title game, while Houston returns to the final for the first time since losing consecutive title matches to the LA Galaxy in 2011 and 2012.

The conference finals will take place after the FIFA international window, with the first legs slated for Nov. 21. Here is how the four conference semifinals were decided:

Published Nov 5, 2017

BRIAN STRAUS AND LUIS MIGUEL ECHEGARAY AND AVI CREDITOR

A lifelong soccer player, coach and fan, Brian Straus joined SI in 2013 after covering the sport for The Washington Post, AOL and Sporting News. Luis Miguel Echegaray is a reporter, producer and head of Latino/Spanish content with Sports Illustrated. He is also an adjunct professor at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. Avi Creditor is the producer of Planet Futbol and has covered soccer for more than a decade. He’s also a scrappy left back.