The MLS Cup Playoffs is the annual postseason elimination tournament of Major League Soccer. The playoffs determine the MLS Cup champion, which is the final match of the tournament. The playoffs are different from most other soccer leagues around the world, where the team with the most points at the end of the season is deemed champion. MLS awards the regular-season champions with the Supporters Shield, and both champions earn a berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the continental tournament.
The current playoff format was adopted for the 2023 season. Under this format, 18 teams qualify for the tournament based on regular-season point totals, with the nine highest-placed teams from each the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. The top seven teams in each conference are given byes to the first round. The teams ranked 8th and 9th in each conference compete in the Wild-card round, with the winner advancing to face the 1 seed in Round One. The winners of the first round series advance to the Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and the MLS Cup.
The playoff system includes the following rounds:
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Wild Card Round: Single-elimination match between the 8th and 9th seeded teams in each conference.
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Round One: Best-of-3 series with the higher seeds hosting the odd-numbered games. There is no re-seeding in any round.
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Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and MLS Cup: Single-match eliminations hosted by the team with the better regular-season record.
If the score of a Conference Final game is tied at the end of regulation, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety. If the score is still tied at the end of the two extra time periods, teams will participate in kicks from the penalty spot to determine the winner. The winner of each Conference Final match will advance to MLS Cup presented by Audi.
Through MLS Season Pass, fans can catch every playoff match, ensuring they never miss a moment of the excitement. The Wild Card matches and Game 1 of each Round One series will be available for free, with all other matches requiring a subscription.
