[4][6] MLS Cup 2010 was contested by the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas, both Western Conference teams who qualified for the playoffs as wild cards.

[18][19] In January, the team completed a four-player trade with the Revolution to acquire midfielders Jeff Larentowicz and Wells Thompson in exchange for backup goalkeeper Preston Burpo, defender Cory Gibbs, and a draft pick.

[20] The Rapids made three separate trades with Toronto FC, including sending midfielder Nick LaBrocca to acquire defender Marvell Wynne in late March.

[27][28] The Rapids faced the Columbus Crew, who finished second in the Eastern Conference but would play without starting goalkeeper William Hesmer after his injury in the final regular season match.

The hosts then took the lead in the 70th minute from Robbie Rogers's goal, which led to Gary Smith switching the Rapids to a 3–5–2 formation to provide attacking support.

[32] The Rapids won 1–0 through a cross in the 43rd minute by midfielder Kosuke Kimura—the first Japanese player in MLS history—that went past Cummings and Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch into the goal.

[37] The team finished seventh in the Western Conference and eleventh overall in 2009 after rebounding from near the bottom of the standings, but fell short of the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

[38][39] The team made several acquisitions during the 2009 season that led to an improved defense and the highest goal production in MLS by the end of the year.

The four starting defenders for FC Dallas left the club and were replaced by younger players, including Ugo Ihemelu and George John; midfield positions were filled by Colombian playmaker David Ferreira, Daniel Hernández on his return from Mexico, and Atiba Harris after he was traded from Chivas USA.

[42][43] After a 1–0 loss to the Galaxy, FC Dallas amassed a 19-match unbeaten streak that set a new league record for the longest run of its kind within a single season.

The team finished third in the Western Conference standings and fourth overall to qualify for the playoffs as a wild card, but were seeded to remain in the West bracket.

[51] They benefitted from the return of captain Daniel Hernandez and defender Ugo Ihemelu from injuries late in the regular season, as well as goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, who was injured in a September match against the New York Red Bulls in an incident involving Thierry Henry.

[52][53] FC Dallas opened the playoffs against second-seeded Real Salt Lake, who hoped to defend their MLS Cup title, with the first leg played at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.

They conceded a goal to Real Salt Lake in the fifth minute, but equalized before halftime through Cunningham; both teams lost a player to red cards in the second half and played with 10 men each.

[56][57] FC Dallas advanced to the Western Conference Final, which was hosted at The Home Depot Center by Supporters' Shield champion and MLS Cup 2009 runners-up LA Galaxy.

After halftime, defender George John scored on a long cross from Brek Shea after an earlier corner kick was cleared out to double the lead.

[59][60] Another counterattack led by Ferreira resulted in a goal for Marvin Chávez to cap off the 3–0 victory and a clinch of the Western Conference title for FC Dallas.

[64] BMO Field opened in 2007 for expansion team Toronto FC and underwent C$5.5 million in offseason renovations to switch its surface from artificial turf to Kentucky bluegrass, install a heating and irrigation system, and add a grandstand.

[69][70] MLS received three bids for the right to host the match from BMO Field in Toronto, The Home Depot Center in the Los Angeles area, and Red Bull Arena near New York City.

[78] Prior to the start of the actual match, ESPN suffered severe criticism from fans and the media for their irregular information regarding the championship.

[81] This marked the ninth consecutive year in MLS Cup history that the league championship has failed to draw at least 1% of U.S. households watching television.

[85] Additionally, NBC's Sunday Night Football NFL matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants was given blame for drawing viewers away from MLS.

[90] Others however, saw FC Dallas as the favorites for the match, as they had finished the regular season with only four losses,[91] and knocked off the Supporters Shield winners, Los Angeles Galaxy, in stunning fashion.

Many, including league commissioner Don Garber, believed that the fact the two clubs made it to the final would draw interest from both Denver and Dallas media outlets.

Nineteen seconds in, Dallas striker and Kittian international Atiba Harris struck a low strike from the upper corner of the penalty box that skimmed wide of the crossbar.

Hartman's clearance was quickly intercepted by the Rapids central midfielder, Jeff Larentowicz who immediately distributed the ball to teammate, Drew Moor.

In the 35th minute of play, FC Dallas defender George John ran down the right flank of the pitch, and made a long cross into the penalty box.

Ferreira, who had previously been announced the league's Most Valuable Player, buried the ball in the back of the next, opening the score sheet and giving Dallas a 1–0 lead over Colorado.

With the Rapids and FC Dallas tied at one apiece at the end of regulation, the match went into extra time, consisting of two fifteen-minute periods, culminated by penalty kicks if needed.

Dallas defender George John attempted to deflect the cross, but it inadvertently struck the wrong side of his thigh, barreling into the net, for an own goal, the first ever in MLS Cup history.