All 30 clubs play; East starts at 4 PM ET and West at 7 PM ET.
Road to MLS Cup · November 18–December 18
MLS Playoffs 2026: Schedule, Bracket & Key Dates
Track the road from the November 18 Wild Card games to MLS Cup on December 18. Confirmed teams and matchups replace TBD slots as qualification and seeding become official.
Official 2026 postseason window
2026 MLS Cup Playoffs at a Glance
Decision Day determines the final seeds before four weeks of postseason matches.
Nine from the Eastern Conference and nine from the Western Conference.
The finalist with the better regular-season record hosts.
Round-by-round calendar
2026 MLS Cup Playoffs Key Dates
Use this timeline to see when each stage is played and whether it is a series or a one-match knockout.
Wild Card
November 18No. 8 vs No. 9 in each conference
Round One
November 20 – December 2Best-of-3 series
Conference Semifinals
December 5–6Single elimination
Conference Finals
December 11–12Single elimination
MLS Cup
December 18Higher Supporters' Shield finisher hosts
Updates as seeds are confirmed
Updated Jul 24, 2026 10:51 AM UTC2026 MLS Cup Playoffs Bracket
Confirmed matchups link to game details. TBD means MLS has not officially set that team or pairing yet.
Wild Card
TBDvsTBD
November 18Round One
TBDvsTBD
November 20 – December 2Conference Semifinals
TBDvsTBD
December 5–6Conference Finals
TBDvsTBD
December 11–12MLS Cup
TBDvsTBD
December 18The bracket intentionally does not predict qualifiers. Teams appear only when the live schedule feed confirms the matchup.
How the 2026 MLS Playoff Format Works
Who Qualifies for the MLS Cup Playoffs?
The top nine clubs in each conference qualify. Seeds 1–7 advance directly to Round One. The No. 8 seed hosts No. 9 in a single Wild Card match, and the winner faces the conference's No. 1 seed.
How Does the Round One Best-of-3 Series Work?
The first team to win two matches advances. The higher seed hosts Game 1 and Game 3 if needed; the lower seed hosts Game 2. Every game has a winner, so a tie after 90 minutes goes directly to a penalty shootout without extra time.
Are the Conference Semifinals and Finals Single Elimination?
Yes. Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals and MLS Cup are one-match knockouts. In these rounds, a tie after regulation is followed by two 15-minute extra-time periods and, if still level, penalties.
Which Team Hosts MLS Cup 2026?
The finalist with the better regular-season Supporters' Shield ranking hosts MLS Cup. Use the Supporters' Shield standings to compare the current overall records.
How Can I Watch the 2026 MLS Playoffs?
Every playoff match is live on Apple TV with English and Spanish commentary. Selected matches, including MLS Cup, also air through FOX Sports in the United States and TSN or RDS in Canada. Check the MLS TV schedule when specific assignments are released.
Dates, qualification, hosting and broadcast information follow the official MLS 2026 playoff announcement and 2026 Competition Guidelines.