MLS playoff bracket: Teams, results, schedule, how to watch race for MLS Cup
The 2024 MLS playoffs have featured some major upsets already, and the true drama hasn't even arrived.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are among the giants to suffer an early-round defeat, with the defending champion Columbus Crew and a consistent power in FC Cincinnati also crashing out of the postseason far earlier than anyone expected. New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls will play a one-game subway series, while Orlando City (at No 4, the highest-remaining seed in the East) will face Atlanta United.
In the Western Conference, things have skewed closer to expectations. The conference's top two seeds, LAFC and the LA Galaxy, held serve to advance to the conference semifinals, as did the fourth-seeded Seattle Sounders. A sturdy Minnesota United is the only underdog in the West to advance to this stage.
Here's what you need to know about the full MLS playoff bracket, schedule, and how to watch all the way through MLS Cup:
MLS playoff bracket
Nine teams from each conference qualified for the 2024 MLS playoffs, but the postseason is closer to its end than its beginning. The structure, which was changed for 2024, started with a single-elimination wild card round that started on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
Round One, which saw teams play best-of-three series, kicked off on Friday, Oct. 25 and ran through Saturday, Nov. 9. Following a break to allow for FIFA-mandated national team play, it's much more of a traditional format from here on out. The higher seed will host single-game conference semifinals and finals, with the conference champion holding the better regular-season record hosting MLS Cup.
MLS playoffs – Conference Semifinals
- East No. 4 Orlando City vs. East No. 9 Atlanta United
- East No. 6 New York City FC vs. East No. 7 New York Red Bulls
- West No. 1 LAFC vs. West No. 4 Seattle Sounders
- West No. 2 LA Galaxy vs. West No. 6 Minnesota United
MLS playoffs – Conference finals
- Highest-remaining East seed vs. Lowest-remaining East seed
- Highest-remaining West seed vs. Lowest-remaining West seed
MLS Cup
- East Champion vs. West Champion
Note: MLS Cup hosting rights will go to the team with the best regular-season record.
MLS playoff schedule by day
All times Eastern. Home teams listed first.
Tuesday, Oct. 22 – Wild card round
- CF Montréal 2-2 Atlanta United (Atlanta United advances 5-4 on penalty kicks)
Wednesday, Oct. 23 – Wild card round
- Portland Timbers 0-5 Vancouver Whitecaps
Friday, Oct. 25 – Round One, Game 1
- Inter Miami 2-1 Atlanta United
Saturday, Oct. 26 – Round One, Game 1
- LA Galaxy 5-0 Colorado Rapids
Sunday, Oct. 27 – Round One, Game 1
- Orlando City 2-0 Charlotte FC
- LAFC 2-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
Monday, Oct. 28 – Round One, Game 1
- FC Cincinnati 1-0 New York City FC
- Seattle Sounders 0-0 Houston Dynamo (Seattle wins 5-4 on penalty kicks)
Tuesday, Oct 29. – Round One, Game 1
- Columbus Crew 0-1 New York Red Bulls
- Real Salt Lake 0-0 Minnesota United (Minnesota United wins 5-4 on penalty kicks)
Nov. 1 – Round One, Game 2
- Charlotte FC 0-0 Orlando City (Charlotte FC wins 3-1 on penalty kicks)
- Colorado Rapids 1-4 LA Galaxy
Nov. 2 – Round One, Game 2
- New York City FC 3-1 FC Cincinnati
- Atlanta United 2-1 Inter Miami
- Minnesota United 1-1 Real Salt Lake (Minnesota United wins 3-1 on penalty kicks)
Nov. 3 – Round One, Game 2
- New York Red Bulls 2-2 Columbus Crew (New York Red Bulls win 5-4 on penalty kicks)
- Houston Dynamo 1-1 Seattle Sounders (Seattle Sounders win 7-6 on penalty kicks)
- Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 LAFC
Nov. 8 – Round One, Game 3
- LAFC 1-0 Vancouver Whitecaps
Nov. 9 – Round One, Game 3
- FC Cincinnati 0-0 New York City FC (New York City FC wins 6-5 on penalty kicks)
- Orlando City 1-1 Charlotte FC (Orlando City wins 4-1 on penalty kicks)
- Inter Miami 2-3 Atlanta United
Nov. 23 – Conference semifinals
- New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls — 5:30 p.m.
- LAFC vs. Seattle Sounders — 10:30 p.m.
Nov. 24 – Conference semifinals
- Orlando City vs. Atlanta United — 3:30 p.m.
- LA Galaxy vs. Minnesota United — 6:00 p.m.
Nov. 30-Dec. 1 – Conference finals
- Eastern Conference final: Teams and time TBD
- Western Conference final: Teams and time TBD
Dec. 7 – MLS Cup
- Teams, TBD, 4 p.m.
How to watch MLS playoffs
Every game of the 2024 MLS playoffs will be streamed on Apple TV.
Select games, including MLS Cup, will be broadcast on Fox and FS1, and streamed via Fubo.
Watch select MLS playoff games with a Fubo subscription
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