The MLS playoffs are finally here after a busy Decision Day on Saturday. The postseason kicks off on Tuesday with a wild-card matchup between Montreal and Atlanta United, and will culminate in the MLS Cup Final on Dec. 7.
Inter Miami CF, led by Lionel Messi, clinched the Supporters’ Shield this season. The team, which has never advanced past the first round, is now aiming to make a deep playoff run to match its regular-season success.
Meanwhile, the Columbus Crew and LAFC are both seeking to make history repeat itself. Last season, the Crew emerged victorious over LAFC in the MLS Cup. Both teams are back in the 2024 playoffs, with Columbus aiming for a repeat and LAFC seeking revenge.
Before these teams can think about the Cup, they must navigate through the first round of the playoffs. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 MLS playoffs.
Playoff format
The MLS playoffs will once again feature the new format introduced last year. The postseason will commence with two single-elimination wild-card games between the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds in each conference. The winners will then advance to face the top seeds — Inter Miami in the East and LAFC in the West.
Following the wild-card round, the remaining 16 teams will compete in a best-of-three series in the first round. The series will follow a home-away-home format, with the higher seed hosting Game 1 and the lower seed hosting Game 2. In case of a tie, teams will go straight to penalty kicks to determine the winner.
Subsequent rounds will include the conference semifinals and finals, both being single-game elimination matches hosted by the higher seed. The standard extra time-penalty kicks format will be used in case of a tie.
The MLS Cup, the ultimate event, will be a single match hosted by the team with more regular-season points on Dec. 7.
Wild-card round
The MLS playoffs kick off with two wild-card matchups:
Tuesday, Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m. ET: No. 9 Atlanta United at No. 8 C.F. Montréal
Montréal, with a strong finish to the season, will face Atlanta, a team they defeated earlier this month.
Wednesday, Oct. 23, 10:30 p.m. ET: No. 9 Portland Timbers at No. 8 Vancouver Whitecaps
Portland and Vancouver, both struggling towards the end of the season, will battle it out on Wednesday.
First round: Eastern Conference
Inter Miami, with a record 74 points, is the team to watch in the East. Columbus Crew, the reigning champs, will take on the New York Red Bulls in another exciting matchup.
NYCFC and FC Cincinnati, Orlando City SC and Charlotte FC will also face off in the first round.
First round: Western Conference
LAFC, the top seed in the West, will await the winner of the Cascadia wild card. The LA Galaxy, narrowly missing out on the top spot, will take on the Colorado Avalanche.
Real Salt Lake vs. Minnesota and Seattle Sounders vs. Houston Dynamo are the other matchups to look forward to in the Western Conference.
How to watch
All MLS playoff games will be broadcast on Apple TV. The first round games will be free to watch, while the rest of the matches will require AppleTV’s MLS Season Pass.
For the full schedule, click here.