By Daniel Feuerstein | New York, NY | March 16, 2026
Major League Soccer has released the official dates for the 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs from its headquarters in New York City. The announcement covers every stage of the postseason, including the Wild Card Round, First Round, Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and the MLS Cup Final. After the regular season ends, nine teams from each conference will compete for a chance to win the championship. The top two seeds in each conference will enter the playoffs with a major advantage.
This year’s schedule carries added significance. The 2026 postseason will be the final MLS Cup played in December before the league transitions to a new summer‑to‑spring calendar in 2027. Fans and clubs will experience the last edition of the league’s traditional fall‑to‑winter playoff format.
End of the Regular Season and the Playoffs
Decision Day will take place on Saturday, November 7. After that, MLS will pause for the November International Window. National teams will take priority during this break.
The postseason resumes with the Wild Card Round on Wednesday, November 18. The eighth and ninth seeds will meet, with the higher seed hosting. The winner will join the top seven teams in the First Round.
First Round Format
The First Round will follow a best‑of‑three series. The first team to reach five points will advance. The higher seed will host Games 1 and 3. The lower seed will host Game 2 if it becomes necessary.
This round will run from Friday, November 20, through Wednesday, December 2.
After the First Round, the format shifts to single‑elimination. This applies to the Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and the MLS Cup Final. The 2026 final will be the last December championship before MLS moves to its new summer‑to‑spring competitive structure in 2027. The league has stated that the updated calendar will better align with international competitions and reduce scheduling congestion.
Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and MLS Cup Final
The Conference Semifinals will be played on Saturday, December 5, and Sunday, December 6.
The Conference Finals will take place on Friday, December 11, and Saturday, December 12.
The MLS Cup Final is scheduled for Friday, December 18. The match will be hosted by the highest remaining seed based on the Supporters’ Shield standings.
All playoff matches will stream on Apple TV. Select games will also air on FOX, FOX Deportes, TSN, and RDS in Canada.
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