The 2024 MLS playoffs are down to four teams, with traditional powers to one side and upstarts hoping for a first-ever MLS Cup win on the other.
In the Eastern Conference, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami crashed out early, joining defending champion Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati in suffering shock Round One eliminations. The Western Conference saw fewer upsets, though top-seeded LAFC saw its season end in an extra-time home loss to the Seattle Sounders.
Those results have set up conference finals few saw coming. In the East, No. 4 seed Orlando City faces the seventh-seeded New York Red Bulls in a conference final between two teams that rarely go this far into the postseason. In the West, the LA Galaxy — arguably the most entertaining team in MLS this season — will host the Sounders in a 2 vs. 4 matchup between two of MLS’ most successful clubs.
Here’s what you need to know about the full MLS playoff bracket, schedule and how to watch all the way through MLS Cup:
MLS playoff bracket
Nine teams from each conference qualified for the 2024 MLS playoffs, but the postseason is down to its final four teams. The structure, which was changed for 2024, started with a single-elimination wild card round that started on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
Round One, which saw teams play best-of-three series, kicked off on Friday, Oct. 25 and ran through Saturday, Nov. 9. Following a break to allow for FIFA-mandated national team play, the format returned to a more traditional approach. The higher seed hosted single-game conference semifinals, and the same structure is in place for the conference finals, with the conference champion holding the better regular-season record hosting MLS Cup.
MLS playoffs – Conference Semifinals
East No. 4 Orlando City vs. East No. 9 Atlanta United
East No. 6 New York City FC vs. East No. 7 New York Red Bulls
West No. 1 LAFC vs. West No. 4 Seattle Sounders
West No. 2 LA Galaxy vs. West No. 6 Minnesota United
MLS playoffs – Conference finals
East No. 4 Orlando City vs. East No. 7 New York Red Bulls
West No. 2 LA Galaxy vs. West No. 4 Seattle Sounders
MLS Cup
East Champion vs. West Champion
Note: MLS Cup hosting rights will go to the team with the best regular-season record.
MLS playoff schedule by day
All times Eastern. Home teams listed first.
Tuesday, Oct. 22 – Wild card round
CF Montréal 2-2 Atlanta United (Atlanta United advances 5-4 on penalty kicks)
Wednesday, Oct. 23 – Wild card round
Portland Timbers 0-5 Vancouver Whitecaps
Friday, Oct. 25 – Round One, Game 1
Inter Miami 2-1 Atlanta United
Saturday, Oct. 26 – Round One, Game 1
LA Galaxy 5-0 Colorado Rapids
Sunday, Oct. 27 – Round One, Game 1
Orlando City 2-0 Charlotte FC
LAFC 2-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
Monday, Oct. 28 – Round One, Game 1
FC Cincinnati 1-0 New York City FC
Seattle Sounders 0-0 Houston Dynamo (Seattle wins 5-4 on penalty kicks)
Tuesday, Oct 29 – Round One, Game 1
Columbus Crew 0-1 New York Red Bulls
Real Salt Lake 0-0 Minnesota United (Minnesota United wins 5-4 on penalty kicks)
Nov. 1 – Round One, Game 2
Charlotte FC 0-0 Orlando City (Charlotte FC wins 3-1 on penalty kicks)
Colorado Rapids 1-4 LA Galaxy
Nov. 2 – Round One, Game 2
New York City FC 3-1 FC Cincinnati
Atlanta United 2-1 Inter Miami
Minnesota United 1-1 Real Salt Lake (Minnesota United wins 3-1 on penalty kicks)
Nov. 3 – Round One, Game 2
New York Red Bulls 2-2 Columbus Crew (New York Red Bulls win 5-4 on penalty kicks)
Houston Dynamo 1-1 Seattle Sounders (Seattle Sounders win 7-6 on penalty kicks)
Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 LAFC
Nov. 8 – Round One, Game 3
LAFC 1-0 Vancouver Whitecaps
Nov. 9 – Round One, Game 3
FC Cincinnati 0-0 New York City FC (New York City FC wins 6-5 on penalty kicks)
Orlando City 1-1 Charlotte FC (Orlando City wins 4-1 on penalty kicks)
Inter Miami 2-3 Atlanta United
Nov. 23 – Conference semifinals
New York City FC 0-2 New York Red Bulls
LAFC 1-2 Seattle Sounders
Nov. 24 – Conference semifinals
Orlando City 1-0 Atlanta United
LA Galaxy 6-2 Minnesota United
Nov. 30 – Conference finals
Eastern Conference final: Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls — 7:30 p.m.
Western Conference final: LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders — 10 p.m.
Dec. 7 – MLS Cup
Teams, TBD, 4 p.m.
How to watch MLS playoffs
Every game of the 2024 MLS playoffs will be streamed on Apple TV.
Select games, including MLS Cup, will be broadcast on Fox and FS1, and streamed via Fubo.
Watch select MLS playoff games with a Fubo subscription
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