MLS Playoff Predictor 2026

Updated

Pick your 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs bracket: choose the Round One series winners and every single match to MLS Cup. Seeds follow today’s table and the bracket fills in like the real one; picks save in your browser and can be shared with a link.

The field is set: pick winners for every real matchup. Tap a team to advance it. The bracket is fixed: the 4/5 winner meets the No. 1 seed and the 3/6 winner the No. 2 seed.

How the Bracket Simulator Works

1. Pick the Round One

Tap a team in each matchup (1 v 8, 4 v 5, 3 v 6, 2 v 7 in both conferences). Seeds follow today’s table: 1-7 straight into Round One, the 8/9 Wild Card winner as No. 8.

2. Follow the fixed bracket

The conference semifinals fill in like the real MLS bracket: the 1/8 winner meets the 4/5 winner and the 2/7 winner meets the 3/6 winner. No reseeding.

3. Pick to the MLS Cup

Choose the two conference champions and your MLS Cup winner. Changing an earlier pick clears the rounds after it.

4. Share it

Copy the link and your whole bracket travels with it. Picks are also saved in your browser, so you can come back and edit.

The 2026 Field

East seeds

  1. Nashville SC 23W-8D-3L · Conference leader
  2. Inter Miami CF 16W-12D-6L · Top seven
  3. New England Revolution 18W-4D-12L · Top seven
  4. Chicago Fire 16W-7D-11L · Top seven
  5. Charlotte FC 15W-9D-10L · Top seven
  6. Philadelphia Union 14W-8D-12L · Top seven
  7. Columbus Crew 14W-5D-15L · Top seven
  8. Orlando City SC 13W-7D-14L · Wild Card match
  9. FC Cincinnati 12W-10D-12L · Wild Card match

West seeds

  1. Vancouver Whitecaps 19W-7D-8L · Conference leader
  2. FC Dallas 16W-10D-8L · Top seven
  3. St.Louis City 15W-9D-10L · Top seven
  4. San Jose Earthquakes 14W-10D-10L · Top seven
  5. Houston Dynamo 14W-9D-11L · Top seven
  6. Los Angeles FC 12W-11D-11L · Top seven
  7. Portland Timbers 13W-7D-14L · Top seven
  8. Seattle Sounders FC 12W-10D-12L · Wild Card match
  9. Real Salt Lake 13W-6D-15L · Wild Card match

Official seeding.

The simulator follows the real MLS bracket rules; the full list, including tiebreakers, is on the format page. Real results are marked on your picks as the games are played.

Use the MLS playoff predictor to test any scenario before the real games are played, then share the link. The official bracket shows what actually happens, and the format page explains the pairing rules the simulator follows.

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MLS playoff predictor FAQ

How does the MLS playoff predictor work?

Pick each Round One series and every single match; the next round fills in on the fixed bracket.

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.

When are the 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs?

Wild Card matches Nov 18, Round One Nov 20 to Dec 2, conference semifinals Dec 5-6, conference finals Dec 11-12 and MLS Cup on Friday, Dec 18, after Decision Day on Nov 7.

How many teams make the MLS playoffs?

18, nine per conference.