MLS Playoffs

The 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs run from Nov 18 to MLS Cup on Friday, Dec 18: the top nine clubs in each conference qualify, No. 8 hosts No. 9 in a Wild Card match, Round One is best of three and every later round is a single match. Nashville SC leads the East and Vancouver Whitecaps the West.

18teamstop 9 per conference
Nov 7Decision Daylast regular-season matchday
Nov 18Wild CardNo. 9 at No. 8
Nov 20 – Dec 2Round Onebest of three
Dec 18MLS CupApple TV · FOX
Countdown toMLS Wild Card matchesWednesday, November 18, 2026
—Days
—Hours
—Minutes
—Seconds

MLS Playoff Race

Supporters’ ShieldNashville SC won the best overall record with 77 points.

Eastern Conference

Round One

  1. 1SC23W-8D-3L · +4677
  2. 2CF16W-12D-6L · +2160
  3. 3Revolution18W-4D-12L · +858
  4. 4Fire16W-7D-11L · +1055
  5. 5FC15W-9D-10L · +1554
  6. 6Union14W-8D-12L · +1450
  7. 7Crew14W-5D-15L · +747

Wild Card match

  1. 8City SC13W-7D-14L · -1546
  2. 9Cincinnati12W-10D-12L · -846

Western Conference

Round One

  1. 1Whitecaps19W-7D-8L · +4064
  2. 2Dallas16W-10D-8L · +1158
  3. 3St. Louis15W-9D-10L · +1154
  4. 4Earthquakes14W-10D-10L · +652
  5. 5Dynamo14W-9D-11L · 051
  6. 6FC12W-11D-11L · +1247
  7. 7Timbers13W-7D-14L · +146

Wild Card match

  1. 8Sounders FC12W-10D-12L · -246
  2. 9Salt Lake13W-6D-15L · +145

Points: 3 per win, 1 per draw; record W-D-L and goal difference; a minus figure = points behind ninth place; the last column is the 34-match points pace. Full playoff picture →

2026 Wild Card and Round One Matchups

East Wild CardCity SCNo. 8CincinnatiNo. 9
East Round OneSCNo. 1Wild Card winner8/9
East Round OneFireNo. 4FCNo. 5
East Round OneRevolutionNo. 3UnionNo. 6
East Round OneCFNo. 2CrewNo. 7
West Wild CardSounders FCNo. 8Salt LakeNo. 9
West Round OneWhitecapsNo. 1Wild Card winner8/9
West Round OneEarthquakesNo. 4DynamoNo. 5
West Round OneSt. LouisNo. 3FCNo. 6
West Round OneDallasNo. 2TimbersNo. 7

Higher seed listed first and hosts Games 1 and 3. Full bracket →

2026 MLS Cup Playoffs Schedule and TV

DatesRoundFormatTV
Sat, Nov 7Decision DayAll 30 clubs play; East 4 PM ET, West 7 PM ETApple TV
Wednesday, Nov 18, 2026Wild Card RoundOne match; a draw goes straight to penaltiesApple TV; TSN and RDS in Canada
Nov 20 to Dec 2, 2026Round OneBest of three; drawn games go to penaltiesApple TV; FOX for selected matches; TSN and RDS in Canada
Dec 5-6, 2026Conference SemifinalsOne match; extra time and penalties if levelApple TV; FOX for selected matches; TSN and RDS in Canada
Dec 11-12, 2026Conference FinalsOne match; extra time and penalties if levelApple TV; FOX for selected matches; TSN and RDS in Canada
Friday, Dec 18, 2026, in prime timeMLS CupOne match; extra time and penalties if levelApple TV and FOX; TSN and RDS in Canada

Every match streams on Apple TV. Schedule with kickoff times and scores →

How the MLS Cup Playoffs Work

  • Who qualifies: the top nine clubs in each conference by points (3 for a win, 1 for a draw); ties go to wins, then goal difference and goals scored.
  • Wild Card: No. 8 hosts No. 9 in one match; a draw goes straight to penalties. The winner plays No. 1.
  • Round One: best of three (1 v 8/9, 2 v 7, 3 v 6, 4 v 5); the higher seed hosts Games 1 and 3, and a drawn game goes straight to penalties.
  • Then: single matches with extra time and penalties, no reseeding; MLS Cup is hosted by the finalist with the better regular-season record.

Format and tiebreakers →

MLS Cup Champions

YearChampionOpponentScore
2025Inter Miami CFVancouver Whitecaps FC3-1
2024LA GalaxyNew York Red Bulls2-1
2023Columbus CrewLos Angeles FC2-1
2022Los Angeles FCPhiladelphia Union3-3 (3-0 pens)
2021New York City FCPortland Timbers1-1 (4-2 pens)
2020Columbus CrewSeattle Sounders FC3-0
2019Seattle Sounders FCToronto FC3-1
2018Atlanta United FCPortland Timbers2-0
2017Toronto FCSeattle Sounders FC2-0
2016Seattle Sounders FCToronto FC0-0 (5-4 pens)
Share this page

Frequently asked questions

How many points does it take to make the MLS playoffs?

It changes each year; ninth place in a conference has usually finished in the mid-40s on points over 34 matches. The race table above shows each club’s points pace.

What is the Supporters' Shield?

The trophy for the best regular-season record across the whole league. It is separate from MLS Cup, which the playoffs decide.

How are ties in the MLS standings broken?

Total wins, then goal difference, goals scored, fewest disciplinary points, away goal difference, away goals, home goal difference, home goals and finally a coin toss.

Who hosts MLS Cup?

The finalist with the better regular-season record. Every other single match is hosted by the higher seed.

What channel are the 2026 MLS playoffs on?

Every match streams on Apple TV; selected matches are also on FOX in the US, and on TSN and RDS in Canada. MLS Cup is on Apple TV and FOX.

Who won the last MLS Cup?

Inter Miami CF, 3-1 over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Dec 6, 2025; Lionel Messi was MLS Cup MVP. It was Miami’s first MLS Cup.