MLS Unveils Thrilling 2026 Playoff Calendar That Will Define Championship Dreams
Major League Soccer unveiled the complete fixture list for the Audi 2026 MLS Cup playoffs on Monday, marking the start of a month-long tournament that traditionally commences each November.
This season represents the 30th edition of the MLS postseason, dating back to the league's first campaign in 1996. The competition will commence with Wild Card action on Nov. 18 and reach its climax with the MLS Cup final on Dec. 18.
All playoff fixtures will be broadcast on Apple TV across the United States and globally, with selected matches—including the championship game—also available on FOX, TSN and RDS.
2026 MLS Cup Playoffs Schedule
2026 MLS Cup Playoffs Schedule
MLS Decision Day—the concluding day of regular season play and final factor in determining playoff positioning and qualification—is scheduled for Nov. 7, followed by an 11-day break for November's FIFA international break.
MLS Cup Playoffs Wild Card Matches
MLS Cup Playoffs Wild Card Matches
The wild card fixtures, consisting of one knockout match between each conference's No. 8 and No. 9 seeds, both occur on Nov. 18 and are held at the higher seed's venue. The two victors progress to the Round One Best-of-3 Series to face their conference's top seed.
MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 Series
MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 Series
The Round One Best-of-3 Series, occurring between Nov. 20 and Dec. 2, features 16 total clubs: the leading seven from each conference plus the two wild card victors.
MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Semifinals
MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Semifinals
The four knockout conference semifinal matches are scheduled for Dec. 5 and Dec. 6.
MLS Cup Conference Finals
MLS Cup Conference Finals
The elimination-style conference championship games occur on Dec. 11 and Dec. 12, deciding which club will represent their conference in the MLS Cup final.
2026 MLS Cup
2026 MLS Cup
The primetime title match, captured last season by Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, is set for Dec. 18, with the team holding the superior regular season record serving as host.
Beyond claiming the trophy, the champion will earn automatic qualification to the round of 16 in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.