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Schedule, playoff bracket, how to watch

Vaseline October 20, 2024

The 2024 MLS season reaches its climax with Decision Day concluding the regular season and setting the playoff picture with a 14-match series on Saturday.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have already secured the top spot in the Eastern Conference after winning the Supporters Shield on October 2. In the Western Conference, the LA Galaxy – after a terrible 2023 season – need just one point to claim number one. 1 seed. However, the Galaxy face a tough road game against the Houston Dynamo, while the only team that can catch them (city rival LAFC) hosts the basement-dwelling San Jose Earthquakes.

The biggest drama will take place in the East, where four teams will battle for the final two spots in the playoffs. DC United and CF Montréal both enter Saturday with 40 points, while the Philadelphia Union and Atlanta United trail them with 37 (Toronto FC is tied with those teams, but in a 29-team league they are the odd one out and have already completed their regular season). DC and Montreal both have home games, but if either were to lose, the door would be open for Philadelphia or Atlanta to clinch a spot in the playoffs in dramatic last-minute fashion.

Here’s what you need to know for MLS Decision Day and preparing for the 2024 MLS Playoffs.

MLS Decision Day schedule

Always Oriental. Home teams listed first.

Chicago Fire vs. Chicago Fire Nashville SC – 6:00 PM
DC United vs. Charlotte FC – 6:00 PM
Inter Miami vs. New England Revolution – 6 p.m
CF Montreal vs. New York City FC – 6:00 PM
New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew – 6:00 PM
Orlando City vs. Atlanta United – 6 p.m
Philadelphia Union vs. FC Cincinnati – 6 p.m
Austin FC vs. Colorado Rapids – 9:00 PM
FC Dallas vs. Sporting Kansas City – 9:00 PM
Houston Dynamo vs. LA Galaxy – 9:00 PM
LAFC vs. San Jose Earthquakes – 9 p.m
Minnesota United vs. St. Louis City SC – 9:00 PM
Real Salt Lake vs. Vancouver Whitecaps – 9:00 PM
Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers – 9:00 PM

MLS News: Messi likely to come off the bench as Inter Miami chases points record

2024 MLS Playoff Bracket

Nine teams from each conference will qualify for the 2024 MLS Playoffs. The structure includes a single-elimination wildcard round, followed by the best-of-three Round 1. From there, the single-game format returns for the conference semifinals, the conference finals, and the MLS Cup (with the higher seed hosting).

Wildcard round

With the teams involved still up in the air, MLS has not yet finalized its playoff schedule. The Wild Card Round will be played Oct. 22-23, with the No. 8 seed hosting the No. 9 seed in both conferences.

East #8 vs. East #9
West #8 vs. West #9

Round 1

MLS will announce the dates and times for the first round of the playoffs at a later date. The higher ranked team in each pairing will host Game 1 and (if necessary) Game 3. Game 2 will be hosted by the lower seeded team. There are no ties in this round, and no extra time; If the scores are tied after regular play, the winner will be determined via penalty kicks.

Round one starts Friday, October 25 and runs until Sunday, November 10.

Eastern Conference

Winner Inter Miami vs. East Wild Card Round
Columbus Crew vs. East #7
FC Cincinnati vs. East #6
East #4 vs. East #5

In the East, the three best players are locked up. Orlando City, New York City FC, Charlotte FC and the New York Red Bulls have all clinched a spot in the playoffs, but their placement will depend on the results on Decision Day.

Western Conference

West No. 1 vs. West Wild Card winner
West #2 vs. West #7
West #3 vs. West #6
West #4 vs. West #5

In the West, the nine play-off teams are known. However, sowing is completely up in the air. The Galaxy and LAFC will occupy the top two spots, while the Seattle Sounders and Real Salt Lake will battle for the third and fourth seeds. The Houston Dynamo could finish fifth or sixth, while the Colorado Rapids, Minnesota United, Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers enter Decision Day with just four points.

Conference semi-finals

The MLS playoffs are interrupted by an international FIFA window, during which clubs are required to release players to national teams. All four Conference Semifinal matches will take place from November 23 to 24, with combinations and times yet to be determined.

East highest remaining seed vs. East lowest remaining seed
East second-highest remaining seed vs. East second-lowest remaining seed
West highest remaining seed vs. West lowest remaining seed
West second highest remaining seed vs. West second lowest remaining seed

Final of the conference

Both conference finals will be played from November 30 to December. 1, with the last two remaining teams in each conference facing off at the higher-seeded team’s stadium.

East highest remaining seed vs. East lowest remaining seed
West highest remaining seed vs. West lowest remaining seed

2024 MLS Cup

In the MLS Cup, the two conference champions play a one-match final, with the team with the best record getting to host the match. The competition is scheduled for Saturday, December 7.

Eastern Conference Champion vs. Western Conference Champion

How to watch MLS Decision Day

All fourteen matches during MLS Decision Day will air exclusively on Apple TV as part of the MLS Season Pass.

Fans who want to keep an eye on multiple games at once can also tune into MLS 360, a live show that jumps to notable moments in the league while the games are in progress.

first Drop

first Drop

Schedule, playoff bracket, how to watch

MLS Decision Day schedule