MLS Playoffs

Western Conference

Eastern Conference

Updated May 17, 2026

Recent Changes

DAL logo FC Dallas entered bracket (seed 5)
CLT logo Charlotte FC entered bracket (seed 7)
RBNY logo New York Red Bulls entered bracket (seed 6)
DC logo D.C. United left bracket
MIN logo Minnesota United FC left bracket
CIN logo FC Cincinnati left bracket
MIA logo Inter Miami CF (seed 2 → 3)
SJ logo San Jose Earthquakes (seed 1 → 2)
LAFC logo Los Angeles FC (seed 5 → 7)
SEA logo Seattle Sounders FC (seed 3 → 4)
NYC logo New York City FC (seed 7 → 5)
HOU logo Houston Dynamo (seed 7 → 6)
RSL logo Real Salt Lake (seed 4 → 3)
NE logo New England Revolution (seed 3 → 2)
VAN logo Vancouver Whitecaps FC (seed 2 → 1)

MLS Playoff Format and Rules

The top 7 teams in both the Western and Eastern conference will reach the MLS playoffs. Each team is ranked based on their total points during the regular season.

Tiebreakers

  1. Most wins
  2. Goal differential
  3. Goal scored
  4. Fewer disciplinary points
  5. Away goal differential
  6. Away goals scored
  7. Home goal differential
  8. Home goals scored
  9. Coin toss (2 clubs) or drawing of lots (3 clubs)