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How do MLS playoffs work? Format, competition bracket for USA soccer league's postseason | Sporting News

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, October 3rd 2025 at 6:20 GMT by Sporting News
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MLS Playoffs 2024: The Complete Guide to the Post‑Season Format

The Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs are the season’s most dramatic showdown, where the best teams from the United States and Canada battle it out for the coveted MLS Cup trophy and a berth in the next season’s CONCACAF Champions Cup. The 2024 format—announced in December 2023—has been simplified to a 10‑team, single‑elimination bracket that rewards regular‑season performance while keeping the drama high.

1. How Teams Earn a Spot

MLS is split into two conferences—Eastern and Western—each containing roughly half the league’s 27 clubs. At the conclusion of the 34‑match regular season, the top five teams in each conference automatically qualify for the playoffs. The teams are seeded 1 through 5 based on their conference record, with goal difference, head‑to‑head, and other tie‑breakers used if necessary.

The expansion of the league and the desire to increase competitiveness led MLS to reduce the playoff field from 12 to 10 teams starting in 2024. The intent is to make every regular‑season win more meaningful and to reduce the number of “play‑in” matches that previously took place during the final week of play.

2. The Bracket: From Seeds to the Cup

Key points

• Bye for the Top Seed – The number‑one team in each conference skips the first round entirely, earning a direct berth in the conference semifinals. This is a significant advantage: the top seed not only avoids early‑season fatigue but also has the opportunity to rest while opponents battle it out.
• Reseeding After the First Round – Once the first‑round winners are determined, the lowest‑remaining seed in each conference faces the conference’s number‑one seed in the semifinals. The other two winners meet in the second conference match. This reseeding mechanism ensures the best regular‑season performers face the toughest path to the finals.
• Home‑Field Advantage – All playoff matches are played at the higher seed’s home stadium, a feature that rewards regular‑season success. However, the MLS Cup final may be held at a neutral venue (a practice adopted for the 2023 season’s final at SoFi Stadium) depending on MLS’s scheduling decisions.

3. Match Rules: 90 Minutes, Shootouts, No Extra Time

One of the most distinctive aspects of MLS playoffs is the absence of extra time. Each match is played for 90 minutes; if the score is tied at the end of regulation, the game proceeds directly to a penalty shootout. This rule applies to every round—including the MLS Cup final.

The decision to eliminate extra time was driven by player welfare and scheduling concerns, and it aligns MLS with other North American sports that prioritize decisive outcomes within a fixed timeframe. While two‑leg aggregate series and extra‑time periods used to be staples of MLS postseason play, the current format delivers instant drama and simplifies broadcast schedules.

4. The MLS Cup Final: Prestige and Prize

The MLS Cup final is the culmination of the entire season, pitting the Eastern Conference champion against the Western Conference champion in a single, winner‑takes‑all match. The victorious club receives:

1. The MLS Cup trophy, the most coveted symbol in American soccer.
2. A berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, where they’ll compete against the best clubs from Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and the United States. This continental competition offers a chance for MLS clubs to prove their mettle on a larger stage and earn a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup.
3. Financial rewards and increased visibility, both of which can translate into higher attendance, sponsorship, and media rights.

The venue for the MLS Cup is usually the home of the higher seed, but MLS occasionally selects a neutral location to maximize attendance and marketing potential. In 2023, the final was played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, drawing a record crowd and setting a new standard for MLS Cup attendance.

5. Schedule and Timing

The playoffs typically begin the week after the regular‑season finale (usually late October). The first round takes place on a single weekend, followed by the conference semifinals and finals over the next two weekends. The MLS Cup final is then scheduled for the first weekend of November, allowing the league to conclude the season before the major European transfer window opens.

The exact dates are announced by MLS in late October, and the bracket is posted immediately after the regular season ends. This gives teams and fans a clear timeline for preparation, travel, and broadcast planning.

6. Why It Matters to Fans

The 2024 playoff format underscores MLS’s commitment to competitive balance and fan engagement. With only 10 teams in contention, every regular‑season match matters more than ever. The single‑elimination structure, combined with a shootout finish, guarantees high‑stakes games where anything can happen. The inclusion of a neutral‑venue final for the 2023 season indicates MLS’s willingness to experiment to maximize viewership and atmosphere.

For supporters, the playoffs represent the climax of an unpredictable journey. The path to the MLS Cup is littered with strategic decisions, momentum swings, and last‑minute heroics. With the added incentive of a CONCACAF Champions Cup berth, the stakes are higher than just a trophy.

Bottom line: MLS’s 2024 playoff format is a 10‑team, single‑elimination bracket that rewards regular‑season excellence with byes and home‑field advantage, eliminates extra time in favor of shootouts, and culminates in a single, high‑profile MLS Cup final that can also serve as a gateway to international competition. Whether you’re a lifelong supporter or a casual observer, the postseason promises excitement, drama, and the chance to witness the birth of a new MLS champion.