2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Format Explained: Complete Guide

Now that the MLS regular season is over, the league’s best will turn their attention to the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. With the final standings locked in on Decision Day and some tantalizing matchups awaiting in the Wild Card.

Whether one has been in love with this league for years or tuning in for the first time, the Wild Cards, best-of-3 series, and single-elimination showdowns give cause to confusing playoff structures.

No worries, we will break down each stage of the MLS cup playoffs-from the opening round of the Wild Card through to the December 7th MLS Cup Final-so you know exactly what’s coming up.

The Playoff Bracket Is Set

Decision Day’s final round of regular season games brought about twists and turns into the standings that sealed the fates of the teams in playoff contention.

In the East, CF Montréal and Atlanta United took the last two playoff spots, locking in eighth and ninth place along with their Wild Card status.

Meanwhile, out west, LAFC finished the regular season as the No. 1 seed, which gives them a crucial knockout round advantage and puts them over the top against their city rivals, the LA Galaxy.

In the postseason, both conferences, East and West, will be taking a structured bracket approach whereby each team’s seeding and type of competition they will face en route to the MLS Cup will be decided by their performance during the season.

Here is how the final standings shaped up:

Eastern Conference

• Inter Miami
• Columbus Crew
• FC Cincinnati
• Orlando City SC
• Charlotte FC
• New York City FC
• New York Red Bulls
• CF Montréal (Wild Card)
• Atlanta United (Wild Card)

Western Conference

• LAFC
• LA Galaxy
• Real Salt Lake
• Seattle Sounders
• Houston Dynamo
• Minnesota United
• Colorado Rapids
• Vancouver Whitecaps (Wild Card)
• Portland Timbers (Wild Card)

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A Look at the Playoff Format

For the 2024 playoffs, MLS has reconstituted the tournament format to balance single-elimination drama with a Best-of-3 series in the opening round.

Here is how the different stages break down:

Wildcard Round: A Do-or-Die Showdown

The teams that finished in the eighth and ninth spots in each conference enter the playoffs through the Wildcard round.

This is a winner-take-all playoff hosted by the eighth seed in each conference, with the winner advancing to Round One against each conference’s top-seeded team.

That means this round will be full of intensity, as no team can afford to make any mistakes, since one loss and a team is out. Here’s the first look at playoff pressure, where fans get to see just how prepared for high-stakes soccer their favorite clubs are.

Example Matchups:

• Eastern Conference Wild Card: CF Montréal vs. Atlanta United
• Western Conference Wild Card: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Portland Timbers.

Once these are set right after the conclusion of the regular season, the Wild Card round is like a doorway into the further stages of the playoffs, where the level of competition shall rise.

Round One: Best-of-3 Series

The playoffs start immediately the Wild Card winners get through, with a Best-of-3 series in Round One. That’s when things get really tactical since the Best-of-3 series format gives each team the leeway to rebound in case of an early loss.

This sets up an intricate chess game where adjustments and strategy play huge roles, very unlike the single-elimination games of old.

It gives them a bit more breathing room, and simultaneously it affords the fans an extended series with guaranteed rematches.

Here are the matchups for Round One of the playoffs, with some assumptions about seeding:

Eastern Conference:

• No. 1 seed vs. Wild Card winner (No. 8 or 9)
• No. 2 vs. No. 7
• No. 3 vs. No. 6
• No. 4 vs. No. 5

Western Conference:

• No. 1 seed vs. Wild Card winner (No. 8 or 9)
• No. 2 vs. No. 7
• No. 3 vs. No. 6
• No. 4 vs. No. 5

Throughout this series, the higher-seeded team gets to host both Game 1 and the decisive Game 3; therefore, this gives them an edge over their opponent.

The first team to win two games will go through, which makes every match competitive and potentially decisive at a tie after Game 2.

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Conference Semifinals: Single-Elimination Format

After Round One, the remaining teams in each conference advance to a single-elimination Conference Semifinal hosted by the higher-seeded team.

That’s where it gets really serious once more-no mistakes are allowed now. Just one game decides who goes through to the Conference Finals.

The matchups for each conference in the Semifinals are as follows:

Eastern Conference:

• Winner of No. 1 vs. No. 8/9 series vs. winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5 series
• Winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6 series vs. winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 series

Western Conference:

• Winner of No. 1 vs. No. 8/9 series vs. winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5 series
• Winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6 series vs. winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 series

Teams are on edge in these matches, knowing one mishap and the season is over. A win here is very crucial, as it advances them a step closer to the MLS Cup.

Conference Finals

Winners of the Semifinals go to the Conference Finals in a single elimination format. In these, each conference’s highest remaining seed faces off against the lowest remaining seed. The crowd is behind the host team for energy, which can sometimes be all the difference that makes in high-level stake games.

Both Eastern and Western Conferences’ Final matches look like this:

• Highest-advancing seed vs. Lowest-advancing seed

The winner of each Conference Final punches a ticket to MLS Cup, where both opponents will go head to head for the ultimate prize.

MLS Cup Final

The MLS Cup Final pits the Eastern and Western Conference champions against each other for one final battle. Hosted by the team with the better regular-season points total, the match is winner-take-all, single elimination.

For one team, victory means holding the MLS Cup aloft in front of thousands of screaming fans, celebrating the culmination of a hard-fought season and playoffs.

The final, to be held on December 7, will round off what has indeed been a season full of drama. It’s one last shot at glory, a game promising brilliance and heartbreak-the kind of game every player wishes to be part of in the MLS.

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Key Playoff Dates to Circle in Your Calendar

Here’s a snapshot of the key dates for this year’s playoff schedule:

• Wild Card Games: October 22-23
• Round One – Best-of-3 Series: October 25 to November 10
• Conference Semifinals: November 23-24
• Conference Finals: November 30 – December 1
• MLS Cup Final: December 7

An international break, to split the rounds, will follow the matches in Round One and give the players a breather and the teams a reboot ahead of the all-important Semifinals and Conference Finals.

Why the Format Matters

The unique format of the MLS Cup Playoffs always made for a special event, but with a Best-of-3 series in Round One, something even more special has been created.

It creates a balance of endurance and high-stakes intensity, testing each team’s ability to adapt, strategize, and handle the pressure.

It is a format rewarding consistent performers yet, at the same time, offering something for underdogs to cause surprises, too-a little something for everyone, which is what playoff soccer should be all about.

Who to Watch: Stars that Could Shape the Playoffs

Some of the biggest names in Major League Soccer and fresh faces highlight this year’s playoff player talent. From Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi to CF Montréal’s Josef Martinez, every match delivers a plethora of dazzling matchups.

The top-of-the-West LAFC features a roster deep with superstars, while others like Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati will feature fan-favorite players who always seem to perform under pressure.

Players to Watch:

• Lionel Messi-Inter Miami: The Argentine maestro is in his inaugural MLS season, and he is sure to bring magic into the playoffs.

• Carlos Vela (LAFC): Known for his game-changing skills, he’s central to LAFC’s title hopes.

• Cucho Hernández-Columbus Crew: The go-to scorer for Columbus, generally has a knack for finding the net in crucial situations.

Why Fans Are Buzzing

The passion of some of the most ardent fanbases in the league comes alive with every playoff season. Across the league, supporters sections from sea to shining sea don team colors, wave flags, and chant themselves hoarse.

Their playoff intensity levels equaled theirs as the stadiums filled with fans wanting to witness history-the atmosphere that is a signature trait of American soccer culture.

Single-elimination games, coupled with a Best-of-3 opener, truly allow the fans to go deep into a multi-round thriller. With MLS popularity on the rise, international superstars like Messi, and some rich rivalries to boot, the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs are shaping up to be one of the most-watched in league history.