MLS Playoff Bracket 2026
The 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs bracket, updated after every match: the Eastern Conference on the left, the West on the right and MLS Cup in the middle. Round One is best of three; every later round is a single match.
MLS Playoff Bracket: Round One to MLS Cup
Eastern Conference
FC Cincinnati
Orlando City SCWestern Conference
Real Salt Lake
Seattle Sounders FCEastern Conference
Charlotte FC
Chicago Fire
Philadelphia Union
New England Revolution
Columbus Crew
Inter Miami CFWestern Conference
Houston Dynamo
San Jose Earthquakes
Los Angeles FC
St.Louis City
Portland Timbers
FC DallasEastern Conference
Western Conference
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
2026 MLS Bracket, Round by Round
Round One Nov 20 – Dec 2, 2026
- East: No. 5 FC at No. 4 Fire next Sun, Nov 22 · 6:30 PM EST · Apple TV
- East: No. 6 Union at No. 3 Revolution next Sat, Nov 21 · 2:00 PM EST · Apple TV
- East: No. 7 Crew at No. 2 CF next Sat, Nov 21 · 6:00 PM EST · Apple TV
- West: No. 5 Dynamo at No. 4 Earthquakes next Tue, Nov 24 · 10:00 PM EST · Apple TV
- West: No. 6 FC at No. 3 St. Louis next Mon, Nov 23 · 8:00 PM EST · Apple TV
- West: No. 7 Timbers at No. 2 Dallas next Sat, Nov 21 · 4:00 PM EST · Apple TV
Conference Semifinals Dec 5–6, 2026
Matchups are set when the previous round ends.
Conference Finals Dec 11–12, 2026
Matchups are set when the previous round ends.
MLS Cup Dec 18, 2026
Matchups are set when the previous round ends.
How the MLS Playoff Bracket Is Built
Who qualifies
The top nine in each conference by points; 1 to 7 go straight into Round One.
Wild Card
No. 9 at No. 8 in one match; a draw goes straight to penalties. The winner plays No. 1.
Round One
Best of three: 1 v 8/9 winner, 4 v 5, 3 v 6, 2 v 7. Then single matches with no reseeding.
MLS Cup
East champion v West champion on Friday, Dec 18, at the finalist with the better record.
The MLS playoff bracket above updates after every game, with each matchup linked to its live score and stats. For dates and kickoff times see the playoff schedule; to see who is still fighting for these spots, open the playoff picture, or pick your own bracket.
MLS playoff bracket FAQ
Does MLS reseed the playoffs?
No. The 1 v 8/9 winner meets the 4 v 5 winner and the 2 v 7 winner meets the 3 v 6 winner in the conference semifinals.
How does Round One work?
Best of three: the higher seed hosts Games 1 and 3, the lower seed Game 2. A drawn game goes straight to a penalty shoot-out, so every game has a winner; the first team to two wins advances.
What happens if a later playoff match is tied?
From the conference semifinals on, a draw after 90 minutes goes to 30 minutes of extra time and then penalties.
Who hosts MLS Cup?
The finalist with the better regular-season record. Every other single match is hosted by the higher seed.
How many teams make the MLS playoffs?
18 of 30: the top nine in each conference. Seeds 1 to 7 go straight to Round One; seeds 8 and 9 play a Wild Card match.