Last year, Major League Soccer introduced a new format for the MLS Cup Playoffs. The field was expanded from 14 to 18 teams, an extra Wild Card round was added, and Round One was turned into a confusing and lengthy best-of-three series.
In other words, this edition of the MLS Cup Playoffs is significantly larger than the previous iteration, with more clubs playing more games.
For those who follow the teams that (ahem) didn't qualify last year, the composition of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs might seem a little unfamiliar. No worries. Read on, and all your questions will be answered.
1. What are the dates of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs?
The 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs begin on Wednesday, October 23, and will conclude with the 2024 MLS Cup Final on Saturday, December 7.
You read that right: The 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs will last more than six weeks.
| Date | Round |
|---|---|
| Wed, October 23 | Wild Card |
| Fri, October 25 – Sun, November 10 | Round One |
| Sat, November 23 – Sun, November 24 | Conference Semifinals |
| Sat, November 30 – Sun, December 1 | Conference Finals |
| Sat, December 7 | MLS Cup Final |
The Wild Card matches will be played on Wednesday, October 23, just four days after the conclusion of the regular season on Decision Day, which is Saturday, October 19.
Round One begins on Friday, October 26. The best-of-three series will conclude on Sunday, November 10. The execs at MLS and Apple TV set aside more than three weeks for four Round One matchups — even though a number will be decided after two games, and the final week will be a little spare. Last year, only two series went the full three games.
Then the league will hit the pause button for the FIFA international break, which takes place November 11-19. The playoffs will resume with the Conference Semifinals, which will be on Saturday, November 23, and Sunday, November 24.
The Conference Finals will be held the following weekend, on Saturday, November 30, and Sunday, December 1.
The MLS Cup Final will be on Saturday, December 7.
It's a looong schedule. All things told, the 2024 MLS Cup champion will lift the cup a full 49 days after the end of the regular season.
2. What is the Wild Card round?
Two Wild Card games will be played, when the No 8 and No 9 teams in both conferences will play each other in a single-elimination Wild Card game on Wednesday, October 23.
The higher-seeded team will host. A game that ends in a draw after 90′ goes into extra time, which consists of two 15′ halves. If the game is a draw after extra time, it goes to penalty kicks.
The winners will earn the right to play the conference's No 1 seeds in Round One. In 2023, the two No 8 seeds won the Wild Card games, eliminating the two No 9s.
3. How does the Round One best-of-three work?
The top seven seeds in both conferences plus the winners of the Wild Card round will compete in Round One, a best-of-three series that starts on Friday, October 25, and concludes on Sunday, November 10.
The four top-seeded teams in both conferences will have home-field advantage. Those teams will host the first game and the third game (if needed).
The matches are always played at the home of the higher seed as determined by the regular season table.
A game that ends in a draw after 90′ goes into extra time, which consists of two 15′ halves. If the game is a draw after extra time, it goes to penalty kicks.
Last year, five of the eight Round One matchups were decided in two games. Just three went the full three games: Columbus Crew needed three games to beat Atlanta United (then went on to win MLS Cup), Houston Dynamo beat Real Salt Lake (two of which were decided on penalties), and Seattle Sounders defeated FC Dallas.
The three weeks it takes to get through Round One pushes the MLS Cup Final into December — which is well after Major League Baseball plays the World Series. In case you forgot, the 2022 MLS Cup Final between LAFC and Philadelphia Union was Saturday, November 5, the same day that the Houston Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 of the World Series.
This year, the World Series is scheduled to begin on Friday, October 25.
Andrew Leigh
4. Home-field advantage matters a lot in Round One
Home-field advantage was strong in Round One. Out of the 19 games played, the away team won just five times — and four of those wins belonged to the higher seed.
In fact, the higher seed advanced in seven of the eight matchups. The only upset belonged to No 8 Sporting Kansas City, who beat No 1 St. Louis City.
This year, seven of the eight top-seeded teams are already set with one game to play*, including all four in the Western Conference. The only top-seed spot up for grabs is No 4 in the Eastern Conference, which is currently held by Orlando City but could belong to New York City FC if Orlando lose and NYCFC win on Decision Day.
1. Inter Miami | 71 pts
2. Columbus Crew* | 60 pts
3. FC Cincinatti | 56 pts
4. Orlando City | 52 pts
5. New York City FC | 50 pts
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. LA Galaxy | 64 pts
2. LAFC | 58 pts
3. Seattle Sounders | 56 pts
4. Real Salt Lake | 56 pts
* Columbus Crew has two games left to play
Andrew Leigh
5. The Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and 2024 MLS Cup Finals are one-and-done
While Round One is now a mini-tournament in its own right, with as many as 24 games played over more than three weeks, the remaining rounds are single-elimination games played at the home of the higher seed.
The Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and 2024 MLS Cup Finals will be played on three consecutive weekends after the end of the international break on November 19.
The matches are always played at the home of the higher seed as determined by the regular season table.
A game that ends in a draw after 90′ goes into extra time, which consists of two 15′ halves. If the game is a draw after extra time, it goes to penalty kicks.
