The Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs begin on Thursday, Nov. 19 with two Wild Card matches.
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Two single-elimination Wild Card matches kick off the 18-team playoffs (Eastern Conference No. 8 vs. No. 9; Western Conference No. 8 vs. No. 9).
Eastern Conference
(8) Orlando City vs. (9) FC Cincinnati
- WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 19 | 7:30 pm ET
- WATCH: Apple TV
- WHERE: Inter.co Stadium
Western Conference
(8) Seattle Sounders FC vs. (9) Real Salt Lake
- WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 19 | 10 pm ET
- WATCH: Apple TV
- WHERE: Lumen Field
PK shootout: If a Wild Card game is tied after regulation time (90 minutes), no extra time will be played. There will immediately be a penalty kick shootout to determine the winner.
Single elimination: The winner of each Wild Card match advances to the Round One Best-of-3 Series, where they face the conference's No. 1 seed – either Supporters' Shield champions Nashville SC (East) or Vancouver Whitecaps FC (West). The loser's playoff journey ends.
The Wild Card winners advance to a Round One Best-of-3 Series against their conference's top seed.
At this stage, matches tied after regulation go straight to a penalty kick shootout (no ties). The matches will be hosted in a home-away-home format; the first team to two wins advances.
The Round One Best-of-3 Series span from Saturday, November 21 to Wednesday, December 2.
Eastern Conference Round One Best-of-3 Series
- No. 1 Nashville SC vs. Wild Card winner
- No. 2 Inter Miami CF vs. No. 7 Columbus Crew
- No. 3 New England Revolution vs. No. 6 Philadelphia Union
- No. 4 Chicago Fire FC vs. No. 5 Charlotte FC
Western Conference Round One Best-of-3 Series
- No. 1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Wild Card winner
- No. 2 FC Dallas vs. No. 7 Portland Timbers
- No. 3 St. Louis CITY SC vs. No. 6 LAFC
- No. 4 San Jose Earthquakes vs. No. 5 Houston Dynamo FC
Eastern Conference
(1) Nashville SC vs. (8/9) Orlando or Cincinnati
Western Conference
(1) Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. (8/9) Seattle or RSL
Date: MLS Cup presented by Audi is set for December 18.
Hosting: Hosting rights are awarded to the finalist with the better regular-season record. If both finalists have the same number of regular-season points, the team with more wins – or, if they're tied in that category, better goal difference – will host MLS Cup.
