The 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs begin on November 18, after a pause between Decision Day and the postseason for the FIFA men's international window. The regular season ends on November 7, the FIFA window runs from November 9 to 17, and the Wild Card opens the playoffs on November 18. MLS Cup is scheduled for December 18.
The calendar in one sentence
After Decision Day on November 7, MLS will not play postseason matches during the November 9 to 17 FIFA window. The Wild Card takes place on November 18 and, from that point, the league has scheduled four consecutive weeks of postseason action through the December 18 final. The official sequence was announced by MLS, while the international window dates are listed in the FIFA calendar.
2026 MLS Cup Playoffs phase-by-phase schedule
| Stage | Date | Format | Hosting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decision Day | November 7 | Final regular-season matchday | MLS regular-season schedule |
| FIFA window | November 9 to 17 | Pause before the playoffs | Not applicable |
| Wild Card | November 18 | Single match, single elimination | No. 8 seed in each conference |
| Round One | November 20 to December 2 | Best-of-3 series | Home, away, home for the higher seed |
| Conference Semifinals | December 5 and 6 | Single match, single elimination | Highest remaining seed |
| Conference Finals | December 11 and 12 | Single match, single elimination | Team with the better regular-season record |
| MLS Cup | December 18 | Single match | Finalist ranked higher in the Supporters' Shield standings |
Who qualifies for the playoffs
The top nine teams in each conference qualify. Seeds 1 through 7 advance directly to Round One. Seeds 8 and 9 play in the Wild Card, and the winner faces the No. 1 seed in its conference. The other Round One matchups are 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6 and 4 vs. 5. The full format is set out in the 2026 MLS Competition Guidelines.
How the Wild Card works
Each conference has one Wild Card match. The No. 8 seed hosts the No. 9 seed in a single-elimination game. If the score is tied after 90 minutes, there is no extra time: the winner is decided immediately by a penalty shootout. The winner advances to Round One against the No. 1 seed.
Why Round One is different from every other stage
Round One is the only stage played as a best-of-3 series. Every match must have a winner and there is no aggregate score. The first team to win two matches advances.
- Game 1: hosted by the higher seed.
- Game 2: hosted by the lower seed.
- Game 3, if necessary: returns to the higher seed's venue.
If a Round One match is tied after 90 minutes, there is no extra time. The match goes directly to penalties. A team can therefore close a series in two games or be forced into a decisive third match.
Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals return to single elimination
The Conference Semifinals on December 5 and 6 and the Conference Finals on December 11 and 12 are single matches. In these rounds, a tie after 90 minutes leads to two 15-minute extra-time periods. If the score remains level, the winner is decided by penalties.
In the semifinals, the highest remaining seed hosts. In the conference finals, MLS awards hosting to the qualifier with the better regular-season record.
How the December 18 MLS Cup works
MLS Cup is a single-match final. Hosting goes to the finalist ranked higher in the overall Supporters' Shield standings. If the match is tied after 90 minutes, two 15-minute extra-time periods are played, followed by penalties if necessary.
What the November pause actually changes
The pause does not fall between two playoff rounds. It separates the regular season from the postseason. Decision Day locks in the standings on November 7, the FIFA men's international window occupies November 9 to 17, and the Wild Card begins on November 18, the day after the window ends.
In practical terms, MLS avoids starting its decisive postseason during a period when players can be released to national teams. After the Wild Card, the schedule continues without another international window inserted into the competition through MLS Cup on December 18.
What to remember when following the schedule
- November 7 determines the final regular-season standings.
- The No. 8 and No. 9 seeds in each conference play the Wild Card on November 18.
- Round One runs from November 20 to December 2 and uses a best-of-3 format.
- From the Conference Semifinals onward, every round is a single match.
- MLS Cup closes the season on December 18.
Kickoff times and specific broadcast details can be added as matchups are finalized. The phase dates and advancement rules above are those officially published by MLS for 2026.
