How the MLS Cup Playoffs Work
How the MLS Cup Playoffs work: 18 of 30 clubs qualify, nine per conference. Seeds 8 and 9 play a single Wild Card match, Round One is a best-of-three series, and the conference semifinals, conference finals and MLS Cup are single matches with no reseeding.
Who Qualifies
The 30 clubs play 34 regular-season matches in two conferences of 15, ranked by points: three for a win, one for a draw. The top nine in each conference reach the playoffs; there are no divisions and no guaranteed places for anyone else.
The Rounds
Draws, Extra Time and Penalties
The Wild Card match and every Round One game go straight to a penalty shoot-out if level after 90 minutes, so each game has a winner. From the conference semifinals on, a draw goes to 30 minutes of extra time and then penalties.
Home Field
The higher seed hosts the Wild Card match, Games 1 and 3 of each Round One series, and the conference semifinals and finals. MLS Cup goes to the finalist with the better regular-season record.
Tiebreakers
- Total wins
- Goal difference
- Goals scored
- Fewest disciplinary points
- Away goal difference
- Away goals
- Home goal difference
- Home goals
- Coin toss
Recent MLS Cup Finals
| 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) |
That is the full MLS playoff format: 18 clubs, a Wild Card match, best-of-three Round One series, single matches to MLS Cup and no reseeding. Follow it on the bracket and the playoff picture, or pick your own with the predictor.
MLS playoff format FAQ
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.
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.
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.
Who hosts MLS Cup?
The finalist with the better regular-season record. Every other single match is hosted by the higher seed.
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.
What does the MLS Cup winner get?
The Philip F. Anschutz Trophy and a bye into the round of 16 of the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.