MLS Playoffs

Western Conference

Eastern Conference

Updated March 16, 2026

Recent Changes

HOU logo Houston Dynamo entered bracket (seed 8)
DC logo D.C. United entered bracket (seed 5)
LA logo LA Galaxy left bracket
CIN logo FC Cincinnati left bracket
TOR logo Toronto FC left bracket
CLT logo Charlotte FC (seed 5 → 6)
MIA logo Inter Miami CF (seed 4 → 3)
LAFC logo Los Angeles FC (seed 1 → 2)
RBNY logo New York Red Bulls (seed 3 → 4)
NSH logo Nashville SC (seed 1 → 2)
VAN logo Vancouver Whitecaps FC (seed 3 → 1)
CHI logo Chicago Fire FC (seed 6 → 7)
NYC logo New York City FC (seed 2 → 1)
SEA logo Seattle Sounders FC (seed 6 → 5)
RSL logo Real Salt Lake (seed 5 → 6)
COL logo Colorado Rapids (seed 5 → 7)
SJ logo San Jose Earthquakes (seed 3 → 4)

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)