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Breaking Down the MLS Playoff Format: How Do the MLS Playoffs Work?

· Jul 30 - 6 minutes read

We give you a guide to understand how the playoffs work in the MLS.
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We look at some rule changes that were introduced in 2023.

With 18 teams now vying for the MLS Cup, the postseason is more competitive than ever. We break down the new format, from the best-of-three series in the first round to the single-elimination rounds that follow, to help you navigate the thrilling race to the championship.

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How Do the MLS Playoffs Work?

There are plenty of unique idiosyncrasies that distinguish Major League Soccer from European soccer leagues. For one, there’s no promotion/relegation, there’s the annual All-Star Game, and there’s also the fact that team owners do not own a single franchise, but rather function as investor-operators in MLS’ single-entity structure. However, perhaps the most important distinction is the existence of the postseason.

In England’s top flight, the team that finishes with the most points over the course of the season is crowned as the champions of the Premier League. In the United States, however, the team with the best regular season record merely takes home the Supporters’ Shield trophy. Whilst this is undoubtedly an important accolade, the real kings of MLS are not crowned in October, but in December.

How Many Teams Play in the MLS Cup Playoffs?

As opposed to the NFL or MLB, where a select few qualify for the postseason, the vast majority of teams in MLS will qualify for the postseason. Of the 29 teams in the league, 18 of them will book their tickets to the MLS soccer playoffs. Of those teams, the top seven from each conference will automatically qualify for Round One, whilst the eighth-place and ninth-placed teams will face off in a single-elimination match. If the match is tied after 90 minutes, it will head to a penalty shootout. The winner of this wild card match will head to Round One and take on the top-ranked team in their respective conference.

The 2023 season featured some drastic MLS rules changes – for the first time since 1999, a best-of-three format took place. The higher-ranked team hosts the first match, and, if necessary, the third match. As opposed to the UEFA Champions League, where aggregate score is taken into account, the only thing that counts is who wins the match. Tied matches proceed directly to a penalty shootout to determine the winner – if a team wins the first two matches, they will book their ticket to the next round. Hypothetically, a team could score zero goals across 180 minutes and still confirm their spot in the second round of the playoffs after winning back-to-back penalty shootouts.

When Do the MLS Playoffs Take Place?

Whilst the wild card round took place on October 25 in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, the first round occurred between October 29 and November 12. From the eight fixtures in the first round, only three went to a third match tiebreaker: eventual champions Columbus Crew took care of business with a 4-2 win against Atlanta United, Seattle Sounders narrowly edged FC Dallas 1-0, whilst Houston Dynamo avenged their penalty shootout defeat in the previous match by beating Real Salt Lake on penalties in Texas.

The first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs is the only round that is not determined by a single-elimination contest. The conference semifinals, unlike the wild card round, will feature an additional half-hour of extra time provided that the two teams are tied after 90 minutes. In 2023, Columbus Crew edged Orlando City 2-0 via extra-time goals from Christian Ramirez and Cucho Hernandez, whilst Yerson Mosquera’s last-second winner ensured that FC Cincinnati avoided extra time against the Philadelphia Union.

One day after the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Western Conference Semifinals took place on November 26. Whilst Houston Dynamo treated their home support to a 1-0 victory against Sporting Kansas City, Seattle Sounders were unable to follow suit and suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Los Angeles FC. The Conference Finals, meanwhile, took place on December 2, with Los Angeles grinding out a 2-0 victory against Houston on home soil. As for Columbus, they found themselves down by two goals with a quarter-hour left to play, but they would erase Cincinnati’s lead and complete one of the most improbable comebacks in the history of the MLS soccer playoffs in the 115th minute. FC Cincinnati, despite having the best regular season record in the entire league, would miss out on the ultimate prize.

The MLS Cup Final was held a week later on December 9, with Columbus Crew hosting the final on account of being the higher-ranked team in the Supporters’ Shield standings. This time, they didn’t leave it late, with Hernandez and Yaw Yeboah scoring in quick succession to give them a two-goal lead before the break. Although Denis Bouanga pulled one back in the 74th minute, he wasn’t able to inspire a comeback for LAFC as Columbus achieved their second MLS Cup title in four years.

As a result of their championship, Columbus earned a bye to the Round of 16 in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, the premier club competition for teams in North America and Central America, as well as the right to host the Campeones Cup, where they will take on América, the winner of the Campeón de Campeones from Liga MX. Columbus joined D.C. United and the LA Galaxy as the only teams to win at least three MLS Cup titles, Hernandez became the first Colombian player to win the MLS Cup MVP, whilst Wilfried Nancy became the first Black coach to lead his team to an MLS Cup title.

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