While FC Cincinnati wrapped up the league’s regular-season title weeks ago, the Major League Soccer playoffs will determine who has the honor of hoisting the most coveted domestic U.S. trophy: the MLS Cup.
Teams first had to qualify for the postseason by finishing high enough in their respective conference standings to secure a place in the tournament.
Once there, the teams then play through five rounds of matchups, needing to emerge victorious from a minimum of five games (and a maximum of seven) to triumph above all others and claim the MLS Cup. The winner not only earns the right to reign as league champion, but secures a spot in the coming CONCACAF Champions Cup, with a bye through to the Round of 16.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami fell short of the goal, failing to qualify for the postseason, but defending champions LAFC will be involved, as will the Seattle Sounders, Philadelphia Union, and many other popular MLS staples. Along with them, St. Louis City SC will be gunning for a strong finish in their first playoff journey in their first-ever season in Major League Soccer.
The Sporting News brings you all the participating teams and their fixtures through what will surely be a memorable tournament.
MORE: Taylor Twellman, Bradley Wright-Phillips, and Sacha Kljestan make their picks for MLS playoffs
2023 MLS Cup playoff format
In 2023, Major League Soccer unveiled a new playoff format that received mixed reviews when first revealed prior to the start of the regular season.
The top nine teams in each conference reach the playoffs, with the top seven earning a bye to Round One, leaving the final two teams to play a one-off Wild Card Round, thereby rewarding those who finish more comfortably in the postseason positions.
The format of Round One features the biggest change, as MLS will debut a best-of-three series for these matchups. All teams will contest two legs, one home and one road, with a winner required in both games, meaning all draws will advance directly to a penalty shootout without extra-time. Should one team win both matchups, they would advance to the conference semifinals, but if they should split, they would return to the stadium of the higher seed to play a third and final deciding match.
From that point on, the playoffs will progress as usual, with the conference semifinals, conference finals, and final all played as one-off matchups.
Which teams qualified for 2023 MLC Cup playoffs?
Teams must finish ninth or higher in their respective conference to reach the MLS Cup playoffs. Teams in eighth and ninth will contest the Wild Card round, while those seventh and above earn a bye into Round One.
In Major League Soccer, the top tiebreaker is NOT goal differential, but instead most victories through the season. Goal differential is second, followed by goals scored.
z – clinched Conference regular season title
y – clinched bye to Round One
x – clinched playoff spot
Only teams with a chance to make the playoffs entering Decision Day shown.
Eastern Conference
| Pos. | Team | Pts | W-D-L | GD |
| 1. | FC Cincinnati-z | 69 | 20-8-6 | +18 |
| 2. | Orlando City-y | 63 | 18-9-7 | +15 |
| 3. | Columbus Crew-y | 55 | 15-10-9 | +20 |
| 4. | Philadelphia Union-y | 55 | 15-10-9 | +16 |
| 5. | New England Revolution-y | 55 | 15-10-9 | +12 |
| 6. | Atlanta United-y | 51 | 13-12-9 | +13 |
| 7. | Nashville SC-y | 49 | 13-11-10 | +8 |
| 8. | NY Red Bulls-x | 43 | 11-11-13 | -3 |
| 9. | Charlotte FC-x | 43 | 10-13-11 | -7 |
| — | —————- | — | ——— | — |
| 10. | CF Montreal | 41 | 12-5-17 | -16 |
| 11. | NYCFC | 41 | 9-14-11 | -4 |
| 12. | D.C. United | 40 | 10-10-14 | -4 |
| 13. | Chicago Fire | 40 | 10-10-14 | -12 |
Western Conference
| Pos. | Team | Pts | W-L-D | GD |
| 1. | St. Louis City SC-z | 56 | 17-5-12 | +17 |
| 2. | Seattle Sounders-y | 53 | 14-11-9 | +9 |
| 3. | LAFC-y | 52 | 14-10-10 | +15 |
| 4. | Houston Dynamo-y | 51 | 14-9-11 | +13 |
| 5. | Real Salt Lake-y | 50 | 14-8-12 | -2 |
| 6. | Vancouver Whitecaps-y | 48 | 12-12-10 | +7 |
| 7. | FC Dallas-x | 46 | 11-13-10 | +4 |
| 8. | Sporting KC-x | 44 | 12-8-14 | -3 |
| 9. | San Jose Earthquakes-x | 44 | 10-14-10 | -4 |
| — | —————- | — | ——— | — |
| 10. | Portland Timbers | 43 | 11-10-13 | -12 |
| 11. | Minnesota United | 41 | 10-11-13 | -5 |
2023 MLS Cup playoffs fixtures, schedule, bracket
In each round except Round One and the Final, the highest seed in each matchup will host the game.
For Round One, the higher seed hosts game one and a potential game three if necessary. For the MLS Cup Final, the team with the higher standing in the overall Supporters’ Shield table will host.
Wild Card Round
| No. | Date | Time (ET) | Fixture |
| 1. | Wed, Oct. 25 | 7:30 p.m. | #8 NY Red Bulls 5-2 #9 Charlotte FC |
| 2. | Wed, Oct. 25 | 9:30 p.m. | #8 Sporting KC 0-0 #9 San Jose Sporting KC advanced on pens 4-2 |
Round One
*Game 3 is only if necessary should the teams split games one and two. All times Eastern. Higher seed listed first in all scores.
| No. | Matchup | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3* |
| 1. | #1 FC Cincinnati 2-0 |
3-0 | 1-1 (8-7 pens) |
— |
| 2. | #2 Orlando City vs. |
1-0 | 1-0 | — |
| 3. | #3 Columbus Crew vs. #6 Atlanta United | 2-0 | 2-4 | Nov. 12 (5 p.m.) |
| 4. | #4 Philadelphia vs. |
3-1 | 1-0 | — |
| 5. | 1-4 | 1-2 | — | |
| 6. | #2 Seattle Sounders vs. #7 FC Dallas | 2-0 | 1-3 | 1-0 |
| 7. | #3 LAFC 2-0 |
5-2 | 1-0 | — |
| 8. | #4 Houston Dynamo vs. |
2-1 | 1-1 (4-5 pens) |
1-1 (4-3 pens) |
Conference Semifinals
| No. | Date | Time (ET) | Fixture |
| 1. | Nov. 25/26 | TBD | #1 FC Cincinnati vs. #4 Philadelphia Union |
| 2. | Nov. 25/26 | TBD | #2 Orlando City vs. Round One #3 winner |
| 3. | Nov. 25/26 | TBD | #8 Sporting KC vs. #4 Houston Dynamo |
| 4. | Nov. 25/26 | TBD | #2 Seattle Sounders vs. #3 LAFC |
Conference Finals
| No. | Date | Time (ET) | Fixture |
| 1. | Dec. 2/3 | TBD | East Conference Finalist vs. East Conference Finalist |
| 2. | Dec. 2/3 | TBD | West Conference Finalist vs. West Conference Finalist |
MLS Cup Final
| Date | Time (ET) | Fixture | Location |
| Sat, Dec. 9 | TBD | East Conference Champion vs. West Conference Champion | TBD |