After FC Cincinnati wrapped up the league's regular-season title weeks before the end of the season, the Major League Soccer playoffs will determine who has the honor of hoisting the most coveted domestic U.S. trophy: the MLS Cup.
With 18 teams qualifying for the postseason thanks to their table position, the playoffs have begun in earnest, progressing through to the conference finals where the final four teams contest for a spot in the title match.
The clubs are in round four of the postseason, needing to emerge victorious from a minimum of five games (and a maximum of seven) to triumph above all others and claim the MLS Cup. The winner not only earns the right to reign as league champion, but secures a spot in the coming CONCACAF Champions Cup, with a bye through to the Round of 16.
LIVE BLOG: Follow the 2023 MLS Cup final live as Columbus Crew host LAFC
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami fell short of the goal, failing to qualify for the postseason, but defending champions LAFC are involved, topping the Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference semifinals to earn a date with the red-hot Houston Dynamo. Supporters' Shield winners FC Cincinnati are still alive as well, matching up against another in-form side in Columbus Crew to determine the Eastern Conference champion.
The Sporting News brings you all the participating teams and their fixtures through what will surely be a memorable tournament.
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2023 MLS Cup playoff format
In 2023, Major League Soccer unveiled a new playoff format that received mixed reviews when first revealed prior to the start of the regular season.
The top nine teams in each conference reach the playoffs, with the top seven earning a bye to Round One, leaving the final two teams to play a one-off Wild Card Round, thereby rewarding those who finish more comfortably in the postseason positions.
The format of Round One features the biggest change, as MLS will debut a best-of-three series for these matchups. All teams will contest two legs, one home and one road, with a winner required in both games, meaning all draws will advance directly to a penalty shootout without extra-time. Should one team win both matchups, they would advance to the conference semifinals, but if they should split, they would return to the stadium of the higher seed to play a third and final deciding match.
From that point on, the playoffs will progress as usual, with the conference semifinals, conference finals, and final all played as one-off matchups.
Which teams qualified for 2023 MLC Cup playoffs?
Teams must finish ninth or higher in their respective conference to reach the MLS Cup playoffs. Teams in eighth and ninth will contest the Wild Card round, while those seventh and above earn a bye into Round One.
In Major League Soccer, the top tiebreaker is NOT goal differential, but instead most victories through the season. Goal differential is second, followed by goals scored.
z - clinched Conference regular season title
y - clinched bye to Round One
x - clinched playoff spot
Only teams with a chance to make the playoffs entering Decision Day shown.
Eastern Conference
| Pos. | Team | Pts | W-D-L | GD |
| 1. | FC Cincinnati-z | 69 | 20-8-6 | +18 |
| 2. | Orlando City-y | 63 | 18-9-7 | +15 |
| 3. | Columbus Crew-y | 55 | 15-10-9 | +20 |
| 4. | Philadelphia Union-y | 55 | 15-10-9 | +16 |
| 5. | New England Revolution-y | 55 | 15-10-9 | +12 |
| 6. | Atlanta United-y | 51 | 13-12-9 | +13 |
| 7. | Nashville SC-y | 49 | 13-11-10 | +8 |
| 8. | NY Red Bulls-x | 43 | 11-11-13 | -3 |
| 9. | Charlotte FC-x | 43 | 10-13-11 | -7 |
| --- | ---------------- | --- | --------- | -- |
| 10. | CF Montreal | 41 | 12-5-17 | -16 |
| 11. | NYCFC | 41 | 9-14-11 | -4 |
| 12. | D.C. United | 40 | 10-10-14 | -4 |
| 13. | Chicago Fire | 40 | 10-10-14 | -12 |
Western Conference
| Pos. | Team | Pts | W-L-D | GD |
| 1. | St. Louis City SC-z | 56 | 17-5-12 | +17 |
| 2. | Seattle Sounders-y | 53 | 14-11-9 | +9 |
| 3. | LAFC-y | 52 | 14-10-10 | +15 |
| 4. | Houston Dynamo-y | 51 | 14-9-11 | +13 |
| 5. | Real Salt Lake-y | 50 | 14-8-12 | -2 |
| 6. | Vancouver Whitecaps-y | 48 | 12-12-10 | +7 |
| 7. | FC Dallas-x | 46 | 11-13-10 | +4 |
| 8. | Sporting KC-x | 44 | 12-8-14 | -3 |
| 9. | San Jose Earthquakes-x | 44 | 10-14-10 | -4 |
| --- | ---------------- | --- | --------- | -- |
| 10. | Portland Timbers | 43 | 11-10-13 | -12 |
| 11. | Minnesota United | 41 | 10-11-13 | -5 |
2023 MLS Cup playoffs fixtures, schedule, bracket
In each round except Round One and the Final, the highest seed in each matchup will host the game.
For Round One, the higher seed hosts game one and a potential game three if necessary. For the MLS Cup Final, the team with the higher standing in the overall Supporters' Shield table will host.
Wild Card Round
| No. | Date | Time (ET) | Fixture |
| 1. | Wed, Oct. 25 | 7:30 p.m. | #8 NY Red Bulls 5-2 #9 Charlotte FC |
| 2. | Wed, Oct. 25 | 9:30 p.m. | #8 Sporting KC 0-0 #9 San Jose Sporting KC advanced on pens 4-2 |
Round One
*Game 3 is only if necessary should the teams split games one and two. All times Eastern. Higher seed listed first in all scores.
| No. | Matchup | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3* |
| 1. | #1 FC Cincinnati 2-0 | 3-0 | 1-1 (8-7 pens) | — |
| 2. | #2 Orlando City 2-0 | 1-0 | 1-0 | — |
| 3. | #3 Columbus Crew 2-1 | 2-0 | 2-4 | 4-2 |
| 4. | #4 Philadelphia 2-0 | 3-1 | 1-0 | — |
| 5. | 1-4 | 1-2 | — | |
| 6. | #2 Seattle Sounders 2-1 | 2-0 | 1-3 | 1-0 |
| 7. | #3 LAFC 2-0 | 5-2 | 1-0 | — |
| 8. | #4 Houston Dynamo 2-1 | 2-1 | 1-1 (4-5 pens) | 1-1 (4-3 pens) |
Conference Semifinals
| Date | Time (ET) | Fixture |
| Nov. 25 | 5:30 p.m. | #2 Orlando City 0-2 #3 Columbus Crew (a.e.t.) |
| Nov. 25 | 8 p.m. | #1 FC Cincinnati 1-0 #4 Philadelphia Union |
| Nov. 26 | 7 p.m. | #4 Houston Dynamo 1-0 #8 Sporting KC |
| Nov. 26 | 9:30 p.m. | #2 Seattle Sounders 0-1 #3 LAFC |
Conference Finals
| No. | Date | Time (ET) | Fixture |
| 1. | Dec. 2 | 6 p.m. | #1 FC Cincinnati 2-3 #3 Columbus Crew (a.e.t.) |
| 2. | Dec. 2 | 9:30 p.m. | #3 LAFC 2-0 #4 Houston Dynamo |
MLS Cup Final
| Date | Time (ET) | Fixture | Location |
| Sat, Dec. 9 | 4 p.m. | #3 Columbus Crew vs. #3 LAFC | TBD |
