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 Decision DaySaturday, November 7, 2026
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MLS Playoff Race

Supporters’ ShieldNashville SC leads the league with 60 points, 10 ahead of Vancouver Whitecaps.

Eastern Conference

Round One

  1. 1SC18W-6D-3L · +346076
  2. 2Revolution14W-4D-9L · +94658
  3. 3CF12W-10D-5L · +144658
  4. 4FC12W-7D-8L · +94354
  5. 5Fire12W-6D-8L · +84255
  6. 6Union11W-6D-10L · +103949
  7. 7City SC10W-4D-13L · -163443

Wild Card match

  1. 8NY Red Bulls9W-6D-12L · -173342
  2. 9NY City8W-9D-10L · +53342
  1. =Cincinnati8W-9D-9L · -93343
  2. -3DC United6W-12D-8L · -83039
  3. -4Crew8W-5D-14L · -42937

Western Conference

Round One

  1. 1Whitecaps15W-5D-6L · +335065
  2. 2St. Louis13W-8D-6L · +124759
  3. 3Dallas13W-8D-6L · +84759
  4. 4Earthquakes13W-6D-8L · +104557
  5. 5Dynamo13W-5D-9L · +24455
  6. 6FC11W-8D-9L · +134150
  7. 7Sounders FC10W-8D-9L · 03848

Wild Card match

  1. 8Rapids11W-3D-13L · 03645
  2. 9LA Galaxy9W-9D-10L · -73644
  1. -4Timbers9W-5D-13L · -33240
  2. -4Salt Lake9W-5D-13L · -43240
  3. -4FC8W-8D-11L · 03240

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 →

Projected Wild Card and Round One Matchups

East Wild CardNY Red BullsNo. 8NY CityNo. 9
East Round OneSCNo. 1Wild Card winner8/9
East Round OneFCNo. 4FireNo. 5
East Round OneCFNo. 3UnionNo. 6
East Round OneRevolutionNo. 2City SCNo. 7
West Wild CardRapidsNo. 8LA GalaxyNo. 9
West Round OneWhitecapsNo. 1Wild Card winner8/9
West Round OneEarthquakesNo. 4DynamoNo. 5
West Round OneDallasNo. 3FCNo. 6
West Round OneSt. LouisNo. 2Sounders FCNo. 7

If the season ended today. Higher seed listed first and hosts Games 1 and 3. Full bracket →

2026 MLS Cup Playoffs Schedule and TV

Dates Round Format TV
Sat, Nov 7 Decision Day All 30 clubs play; East 4 PM ET, West 7 PM ET Apple TV
Wednesday, Nov 18, 2026 Wild Card Round One match; a draw goes straight to penalties Apple TV; TSN and RDS in Canada
Nov 20 to Dec 2, 2026 Round One Best of three; drawn games go to penalties Apple TV; FOX for selected matches; TSN and RDS in Canada
Dec 5-6, 2026 Conference Semifinals One match; extra time and penalties if level Apple TV; FOX for selected matches; TSN and RDS in Canada
Dec 11-12, 2026 Conference Finals One match; extra time and penalties if level Apple TV; FOX for selected matches; TSN and RDS in Canada
Friday, Dec 18, 2026, in prime time MLS Cup One match; extra time and penalties if level Apple 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

Year Champion Opponent Score
2025 Inter Miami CF Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3-1
2024 LA Galaxy New York Red Bulls 2-1
2023 Columbus Crew Los Angeles FC 2-1
2022 Los Angeles FC Philadelphia Union 3-3 (3-0 pens)
2021 New York City FC Portland Timbers 1-1 (4-2 pens)
2020 Columbus Crew Seattle Sounders FC 3-0
2019 Seattle Sounders FC Toronto FC 3-1
2018 Atlanta United FC Portland Timbers 2-0
2017 Toronto FC Seattle Sounders FC 2-0
2016 Seattle Sounders FC Toronto FC 0-0 (5-4 pens)
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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.