MLS Cup playoffs

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MLS Cup playoffs
Founded1996
Region
  • United States
  • Canada
Teams18
Current championsLA Galaxy (6th title)
Most championshipsLA Galaxy (6 titles)
2025 MLS Cup playoffs

The MLS Cup playoffs is the annual postseason elimination tournament of Major League Soccer. The MLS Cup, the league's championship game, is the final match of the tournament. Under the current format adopted for the 2023 season, 18 teams qualify for the tournament based on regular-season point totals — the nine highest-placed teams from each the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Audi is the title sponsor of this tournament.

Awarding a championship through a postseason tournament is standard in most U.S.-based leagues. However, it differs from most other soccer leagues around the world, where the team with the most points at the end of the season is deemed champion. MLS awards the regular-season champions with the Supporters' Shield and both champions earn a berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the continental tournament.[1]

Playoff system

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Since 2023, the top nine teams from each of the Eastern and Western Conference qualify for the playoffs, playing in separate brackets.[2][3][4] The wild-card round, conference semifinals, conference finals, and the MLS Cup are single-match eliminations hosted by the team with the better regular season record, while round one is a best-of-3 series with the higher seeds hosting the odd-numbered games with no re-seeding in any round. A penalty shoot-out is used if the teams are still tied in all games while extra time (divided into two 15-minute periods) is utilized from conference semifinals onwards.

The teams ranked 8th and 9th in each conference compete in the Wild-card round, with the winner advancing to Round One against the first-place team in the conference. The other six teams play each other using the highest v. lowest matchups: 2 v 7, 3 v 6, and 4 v 5. The winners of the first-round series advance to the conference semifinals, then the conference finals, and finally the MLS Cup, a single match hosted by the finalist with the better regular-season record.[2][3][4]

Previously, the top seven teams per conference qualified for the playoffs, with only the team with the best regular-season record in each conference earning a first-round bye to the conference semifinals.[5][6] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the top ten teams from the Eastern and top eight teams from the Western conference qualified for the playoffs in the 2020 season, with single-elimination remaining intact. The top six Eastern teams earned byes to the first round while teams seeded 7–10 and competed in play-in games. The lowest-ranked team to advance from the play-in round advanced to play the conference's first-placed team while the highest-ranked remaining team from that round advanced to face the conference's runner-up. In the Western Conference, the top eight teams competed in their first round with no byes.[7]

The conference semifinals and conference finals were formerly conducted in a home-and-away, aggregate-goal format. From 2014 to 2018, the away goals rule was used for these rounds.[8][9] In both rounds, the higher-seeded team hosted the second leg. If the teams were tied after two games (180 minutes), the team that scored more goals on the road advanced. If there was still a tie after the away goals rule had been applied, the teams played 30 minutes of extra time (divided into two 15-minute periods), followed by a penalty shoot-out if necessary. The away goals rule did not apply to goals scored in these extra periods.

Qualification

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Eighteen teams qualify for the playoffs: the top nine teams from the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference that had earned the best points per game record during the 34-game regular season. The top seven teams in each conference get a first-round bye, advancing to the conference quarterfinals.[2][3][4]

Tie-breaking procedures

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If at least two teams finish the regular season with an equal number of points, the following criteria are used to break the tie, with coin tosses (two teams) or drawing of lots (at least three teams) used if all of those below fail.[10]

  • Most wins
  • Higher goal differential
  • Higher goals scored
  • Fewer disciplinary points
  • Higher away goal differential
  • Higher away goals scored
  • Higher home goal differential
  • Higher home goals scored

Note:

  • If two clubs remain tied after another club with the same number of points advances during any step, the tie breaker reverts to step 1 for the two remaining clubs.
  • Head-to-head competition results have not been used in tie-breakers since 2012.[11]

History

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Seasons League teams Playoff teams % of teams Matches played
1996–1997 10 8 80% 19
1998–2001 12 66.7%
2002 10 80% 17
2003–2004 10 11
2005–2006 12 66.7%
2007 13 61.5%
2008 14 57.1%
2009 15 53.3%
2010 16 50%
2011 18 10 55.6% 13
2012–2014 19 52.6% 15
2015–2016 20 12 60% 17
2017 22 54.5%
2018 23 52.2%
2019 24 14 58.3% 13
2020 26 18[a] 69.2% 17
2021 27 14 51.9% 13
2022 28 50%
2023–2024 29 18 62.1% 25–33[b]
2025 30 18 60%
  1. ^ Temporarily expanded due to the shortened regular season.[12]
  2. ^ Teams played a best-of-3 first round these seasons, leading to a variable number of matches played each year depending on whether the 3rd game was required for each matchup.[13][14]

MLS playoff records

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  • Records include all knockout playoff matches, individual legs of aggregate-goal rounds, and MLS Cup appearances.

Goals

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Note: Players in bold are still active for an MLS club.

Landon Donovan has the most goals in MLS playoff history.
Rank Player Years Goals
1 United States Landon Donovan 2001–2014
2016 		25
2 Guatemala Carlos Ruiz 2002–2008
2011
2013
2016 		16
3 United States Roy Lassiter 1996–1999
2001–2002 		13
4 Bolivia Jaime Moreno 1996–2010 12
5 United States Ante Razov 1996–2009 11
6 United States Brian McBride 1996–2003
2008–2010 		10
United States Preki 1996–2005
United States Taylor Twellman 2002–2010
9 United States Jozy Altidore 2006–2008
2015–2023 		9
United States Will Bruin 2011–2023
Republic of Ireland Robbie Keane 2011–2016
United States Jordan Morris 2016–present
Peru Raúl Ruidíaz 2018–2024
England Bradley Wright-Phillips 2013–2021

Most goals by season

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Season Player(s) Club(s) Goals
1996 El Salvador Raúl Díaz Arce United States D.C. United 6
United States Roy Lassiter (1) United States Tampa Bay Mutiny
1997 United States Paul Bravo United States Colorado Rapids 3
Bolivia Jaime Moreno (1) United States D.C. United
United States Tony Sanneh United States D.C. United
1998 United States Roy Lassiter (2) United States D.C. United 4
United States Brian McBride United States Columbus Crew
1999 Argentina Ariel Graziani United States Dallas Burn 5
Trinidad and Tobago Stern John United States Columbus Crew
Bolivia Jaime Moreno (2) United States D.C. United
2000 Denmark Miklos Molnar United States Kansas City Wizards 5
2001 United States Landon Donovan (1) United States San Jose Earthquakes 5
2002 Guatemala Carlos Ruiz United States Los Angeles Galaxy 8
2003 United States Landon Donovan (2) United States San Jose Earthquakes 4
2004 United States Alecko Eskandarian United States D.C. United 4
2005 United States Landon Donovan (3) United States Los Angeles Galaxy 4
2006 United States Brian Ching United States Houston Dynamo 3
United States Taylor Twellman (1) United States New England Revolution
2007 United States Taylor Twellman (2) United States New England Revolution 3
2008 Colombia Juan Pablo Ángel United States New York Red Bulls 2
United States Chad Marshall United States Columbus Crew
United States John Wolyniec United States New York Red Bulls
2009 United States Landon Donovan (4) United States Los Angeles Galaxy 3
United States Robbie Findley United States Real Salt Lake
2010 United States Edson Buddle United States Los Angeles Galaxy 2
United States Conor Casey United States Colorado Rapids
United States Bobby Convey United States San Jose Earthquakes
Colombia David Ferreira United States FC Dallas
2011 United States Landon Donovan (5) United States Los Angeles Galaxy 3
United States Mike Magee United States Los Angeles Galaxy
Costa Rica Álvaro Saborío United States Real Salt Lake
2012 Republic of Ireland Robbie Keane United States Los Angeles Galaxy 6
2013 France Aurélien Collin United States Sporting Kansas City 3
2014 United States Charlie Davies United States New England Revolution 4
England Bradley Wright-Phillips United States New York Red Bulls
2015 Sierra Leone Kei Kamara United States Columbus Crew 4
2016 United States Jozy Altidore Canada Toronto FC 5
2017 United States Clint Dempsey United States Seattle Sounders FC 3
2018 Venezuela Josef Martínez United States Atlanta United FC 4
Argentina Diego Valeri United States Portland Timbers
2019 Peru Raúl Ruidíaz United States Seattle Sounders FC 4
2020 Trinidad and Tobago Kevin Molino United States Minnesota United FC 4
2021 Argentina Valentín Castellanos United States New York City FC 3
Germany Hany Mukhtar United States Nashville SC
2022 Argentina Sebastián Driussi United States Austin FC 3
Argentina Maximiliano Moralez United States New York City FC
2023 Gabon Denis Bouanga United States Los Angeles FC 5
Colombia Cucho Hernández United States Columbus Crew
2024 Serbia Dejan Joveljić United States Los Angeles Galaxy 6

Most goals in MLS Cup finals

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Note: Players in bold are still active for an MLS club. Finals in italics indicate an all-time record for a single final match.

Rank Player Finals scored in Goals
1 United States Landon Donovan 2001, 2003, 2011, 2012 5
2 United States Jozy Altidore 2017, 2019 2
Canada Dwayne De Rosario 2001, 2007
United States Alecko Eskandarian 2004
Hungary Dániel Gazdag 2022
Republic of Ireland Robbie Keane 2012, 2014
Bolivia Jaime Moreno 1997, 1999
United States Tony Sanneh 1996, 1997
United States Taylor Twellman 2006, 2007
Armenia Lucas Zelarayán 2020

Club Records

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  • Matches determined by shoot-out counted as win–loss, not draw
As of the conclusion of 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs
  Defunct team
MLS Cup playoff club records
Club MLS Cups MLS Cup
apps		 Win Loss Draw
Atlanta United FC 1 1 6 4 0
Austin FC 0 0 0 0 0
Chicago Fire FC 1 3 20 16 5
Chivas USA 0 0 1 4 3
Colorado Rapids 1 2 15 21 3
Columbus Crew 3 4 21 24 5
D.C. United 4 5 29 14 5
FC Cincinnati 0 0 1 1 0
FC Dallas 0 1 15 26 6
Houston Dynamo FC 2 4 17 10 6
Inter Miami CF 0 0 0 1 0
LA Galaxy 5 9 43 25 6
Los Angeles FC 1 1 1 2 0
Miami Fusion 0 0 0 0 0
Minnesota United FC 0 0 0 2 0
CF Montreal 0 0 6 4 0
Nashville SC 0 0 3 2 0
New England Revolution 0 5 20 20 7
New York City FC 1 1 6 7 0
New York Red Bulls 0 1 19 28 8
Orlando City SC 0 0 1 2 0
Philadelphia Union 0 1 4 7 0
Portland Timbers 1 3 12 8 4
Real Salt Lake 1 2 13 12 5
San Jose Earthquakes 2 2 13 11 1
Seattle Sounders FC 2 4 22 14 5
Sporting Kansas City 2 3 21 25 8
Tampa Bay Mutiny 0 0 1 4 0
Toronto FC 1 3 10 6 1
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0 0 1 5 2

Appearances

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As of October 21, 2025
  Defunct team
MLS playoff appearance records
Club MLS playoff
appearances		 Active
streak		 Longest
streak
Atlanta United FC 6 0 3
Austin FC 2 1 1
Charlotte FC 3 3 3
Chicago Fire FC 14 1 6
Chivas USA 4 0 4
Colorado Rapids 16 0 5
Columbus Crew 19 3 4
D.C. United 15 0 4
FC Cincinnati 4 4 4
FC Dallas 21 1 7
Houston Dynamo FC 10 0 4
Inter Miami CF 4 2 2
LA Galaxy 21 0 10
Los Angeles FC 7 4 4
Miami Fusion 3 0 2
Minnesota United FC 6 2 4
CF Montréal 6 0 2
Nashville SC 5 1 4
New England Revolution 17 0 8
New York City FC 9 2 7
New York Red Bulls 25 0 15
Orlando City SC 6 6 6
Philadelphia Union 9 1 6
Portland Timbers 9 2 5
Real Salt Lake 15 5 7
San Diego FC 1 1 1
San Jose Earthquakes 11 0 5
Seattle Sounders FC 16 3 13
Sporting Kansas City 20 0 8
St. Louis City SC 1 0 1
Tampa Bay Mutiny 4 0 2
Toronto FC 5 0 3
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 8 3 3

MLS playoff shoot-outs

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  Won
  Lost
  • MLS began implementing a shoot-out to determine the winner of a playoff series in 2004.
  • From 2014 to 2018 the away goals rule was used (but not in extra time).
As of October 27, 2025
Longest MLS Cup playoffs shoot-outs
Rank Rounds Home team Score Away team Season / stage
1 11 Portland Timbers 2–2 (7–6) Sporting Kansas City 2015 knockout round
2 10 Sporting Kansas City 1–1 (7–6) Real Salt Lake 2013 MLS Cup
New York Red Bulls 1–1 (7–8) FC Cincinnati 2023 first round
4 9 FC Cincinnati 0–0 (5–6) New York City FC 2024 round one
5 8 Portland Timbers 1–1 (7–8) FC Dallas 2020 first round
6 7 Chicago Fire 0–0 (4–5) Real Salt Lake 2009 conference finals
Real Salt Lake 1–1 (5–4) Los Angeles Galaxy 2009 MLS Cup †
Orlando City SC 1–1 (6–5) New York City FC 2020 first round
New York Red Bulls 1–1 (5–4) Columbus Crew 2024 round one
Houston Dynamo FC 1–1 (6–7) Seattle Sounders FC 2024 round one
5 games have been decided in 6 rounds
15 games have been decided in 5 rounds
10 games have been decided in 4 rounds
1 game has been decided in 3 rounds

† Game played at neutral location

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Concacaf announces qualification criteria for Confederation's expanded Champions League starting in 2024". CONCACAF. June 1, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Major League Soccer Announces Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs Format and Schedule" (Press release). Major League Soccer. February 21, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "MLS reveals new playoff format for 2023 season". 90min.com. February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "MLS playoff format: Major League Soccer introduce a play-in round to their postseason". CBSSports.com. February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  5. ^ "MLS announces new playoff format for 2019 season". December 17, 2018.
  6. ^ "MLS overhauls playoff format, alters league schedule". December 17, 2018.
  7. ^ mlssoccer. "How the 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs will work: Qualifying and competition format | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  8. ^ "Major League Soccer to introduce away-goals rule for first time in 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs". MLS. March 7, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  9. ^ "MLS adopts away goals rule". ESPN. March 8, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  10. ^ "MLS Cup Playoff Format". Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  11. ^ "New tiebreakers designed to encourage attacking play". MLS Communications. MLSSoccer.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  12. ^ "How the 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs will work: Qualifying and competition format". Major League Soccer. September 11, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  13. ^ "Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs: What should you know?". August 26, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  14. ^ "2025 MLS Competition Guidelines". February 20, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
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