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 projected from today’s standings; matchups update as results come in, and your picks are kept in this browser. 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 as of Today

East seeds

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

West seeds

  1. Vancouver Whitecaps 15W-5D-6L · Conference leader
  2. St.Louis City 13W-8D-6L · Top seven
  3. FC Dallas 13W-8D-6L · Top seven
  4. San Jose Earthquakes 13W-6D-8L · Top seven
  5. Houston Dynamo 13W-5D-9L · Top seven
  6. Los Angeles FC 11W-8D-9L · Top seven
  7. Seattle Sounders FC 10W-8D-9L · Top seven
  8. Colorado Rapids 11W-3D-13L · Wild Card match
  9. LA Galaxy 9W-9D-10L · Wild Card match

Projected from the current standings and updated after every game; the playoff picture shows who is in the hunt for these spots.

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.

Share this page

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.