2023 MLS Cup Playoffs
 | |
| Country | United States Canada |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 25 – December 9 |
| Teams | 18 |
| Defending champions | Los Angeles FC |
| Matches played | 24 |
| Goals scored | 67 (2.79 per match) |
| Attendance | 540,522 (22,522 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) |  Cucho Hernández(4 goals) |
← 2022 2024 →
All statistics correct as of November 26, 2023. | |
The 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs (branded as the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for sponsorship reasons) is the ongoing post-season championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is the 28th edition of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the tournament culminating at the end of the 2023 regular season. The playoffs began on October 25 and are scheduled to conclude with MLS Cup 2023 on December 9.[1]
Los Angeles FC enter the playoffs as the defending MLS Cup champions, while FC Cincinnati enter as Supporters' Shield winners. Charlotte FC and St. Louis City SC reached the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in 2023, the latter qualifying in their debut MLS season.
Format[edit]
The playoffs feature a new format from previous years with an expanded field of 18 teams—the top nine teams from each conference. The eighth and ninth-placed teams in each conference contested a single wild card match with only a penalty shoot-out occurring if the game is tied. Round One comprised a best-of-three format with higher seeds playing against lower seeds, for the first time since 1999. The round did not have the aggregate score kept, and tied matches proceeded directly to a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. The remaining three rounds — the Conference Semifinals, Conference Final, and MLS Cup — will be single-elimination matches played with extra time and a penalty shoot-out if still tied.[1][2] The higher seed hosts the match in all rounds except for the best-of-three series in Round One, where the lower seed hosted the second of three possible matches. All matches will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass, a streaming service operated by Apple.[1]
The introduction of a best-of-three round and the expanded field, which allows 62% of the league's 29 teams to qualify for the playoffs, were criticized for being more confusing and diluting the competition.[3] It was the first major revamp of the playoff format since 2019, when all rounds were switched to single-elimination matches.[4] The format adds more matches, including home games for lower seeds, and was developed with fan input according to MLS officials; other outlets noted that new broadcaster Apple TV would benefit from the additional matches.[5][6] The new playoff format was announced on February 21, 2023, shortly before the start of the regular season;[7] earlier media reports indicated that another format with a round-robin group stage was also considered.[8]
Unlike regular season matches, playoff matches do not have a sixth substitute added for periods of extra time. Players are suspended for a match after accumulating three yellow cards; the suspension applies to the next match, whether it is in the playoffs or the 2024 regular season. In the event that a playoff match cannot be played and neither team has forfeited or is at fault, the team with the higher points per game during the 2023 regular season will advance.[9][10]
Qualified teams[edit]
The playoffs are being contested by 18 teams. The date listed indicates when each team qualified for the playoffs.
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Conference standings[edit]
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Eastern Conference
Source: MLS
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Western Conference
Source: MLS
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Bracket[edit]
The higher seeded teams host single-elimination matches, with the MLS Cup host determined by overall points in the Supporters' Shield table. During best-of-three rounds, the team with higher seed will host the first match, and the third match if necessary.
| Wild Card single match | Round One best-of-three series | Conference Semifinals single match | Conference Finals single match | MLS Cup single match | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| E1 | FC Cincinnati | 3 | 1 (8) | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| E8 | New York Red Bulls | 5 | E8 | New York Red Bulls | 0 | 1 (7) | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| E9 | Charlotte FC | 2 | E1 | FC Cincinnati | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Philadelphia Union | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Philadelphia Union | 3 | 1 | – | Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||||
| E5 | New England Revolution | 1 | 0 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| E1 | FC Cincinnati | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Columbus Crew | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Columbus Crew | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| E6 | Atlanta United FC | 0 | 4 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Columbus Crew (a.e.t.) | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Orlando City SC | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Orlando City SC | 1 | 1 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| E7 | Nashville SC | 0 | 0 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| W1 | St. Louis City SC | 1 | 1 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| W8 | Sporting Kansas City (p) | 0 (4) | W8 | Sporting Kansas City | 4 | 2 | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| W9 | San Jose Earthquakes | 0 (2) | W8 | Sporting Kansas City | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| W4 | Houston Dynamo FC | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| W4 | Houston Dynamo FC | 2 | 1 (4) | 1 (4) | Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||||
| W5 | Real Salt Lake | 1 | 1 (5) | 1 (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| W4 | Houston Dynamo FC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| W3 | Los Angeles FC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| W3 | Los Angeles FC | 5 | 1 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| W6 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2 | 0 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| W3 | Los Angeles FC | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Seattle Sounders FC | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Seattle Sounders FC | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| W7 | FC Dallas | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Wild Card round[edit]
Eastern Conference[edit]
Western Conference[edit]
Round One[edit]
| Team 1 | Series | Team 2 | Match 1 | Match 2 | Match 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Conference | |||||
| FC Cincinnati | 2–0 | New York Red Bulls | 3–0 | 1–1 (8–7 p) | — |
| Orlando City SC | 2–0 | Nashville SC | 1–0 | 1–0 | — |
| Columbus Crew | 2–1 | Atlanta United FC | 2–0 | 2–4 | 4–2 |
| Philadelphia Union | 2–0 | New England Revolution | 3–1 | 1–0 | — |
| Western Conference | |||||
| St. Louis City SC | 0–2 | Sporting Kansas City | 1–4 | 1–2 | — |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2–1 | FC Dallas | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 |
| Los Angeles FC | 2–0 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 5–2 | 1–0 | — |
| Houston Dynamo FC | 2–1 | Real Salt Lake | 2–1 | 1–1 (4–5 p) | 1–1 (4–3 p) |
Eastern Conference[edit]
FC Cincinnati won the series 2–0.
Orlando City SC won the series 2–0.
| Atlanta United FC | 4–2 | Columbus Crew |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Columbus Crew | 4–2 | Atlanta United FC |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
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Columbus Crew won the series 2–1.
Philadelphia Union won the series 2–0.
Western Conference[edit]
Sporting Kansas City won the series 2–0.
Seattle Sounders FC won the series 2–1.
| Los Angeles FC | 5–2 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 0–1 | Los Angeles FC |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Los Angeles FC won the series 2–0.
Houston Dynamo FC won the series 2–1.
Conference Semifinals[edit]
The higher-seeded team as determined by regular season ranking will host the match.[1]
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Conference | ||
| Orlando City SC | 0–2 (a.e.t.) | Columbus Crew |
| FC Cincinnati | 1–0 | Philadelphia Union |
| Western Conference | ||
| Houston Dynamo FC | 1–0 | Sporting Kansas City |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 0–1 | Los Angeles FC |
Eastern Conference[edit]
Western Conference[edit]
Conference Finals[edit]
The higher-seeded team as determined by regular season ranking will host the match.[1]
Eastern Conference[edit]
Western Conference[edit]
MLS Cup 2023[edit]
The highest-ranked finalist in the overall Supporters' Shield table will host the match.[1] The Eastern Conference champion will host the match due to the remaining Western Conference teams finishing lower than the fourth-placed Eastern team.[23]
| TBD | v | TBD |
|---|---|---|
Top goalscorers[edit]
- As of November 26, 2023
Players and clubs in bold are still active in the playoffs.
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References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f "MLS announces new playoff format for 2023 season". Major League Soccer. February 21, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ "MLS adds best-of-3 series to expanded playoffs for 2023 season". ESPN. February 21, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ Anderson, Jason (February 21, 2023). "MLS has a new playoff format, and it's complicated". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ Maurer, Pablo; Rueter, Jeff (February 21, 2023). "MLS expanding playoffs to 9 teams per conference, first round will be best-of-3 series: Sources". The Athletic. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ Tannenwald, Jonathan (February 21, 2023). "MLS changes its playoff format again, now guaranteeing home games for more teams". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ Peterson, Anne M. (February 21, 2023). "MLS expands playoffs to 9 teams from each conference". Associated Press. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ Davidson, Neil (February 21, 2023). "MLS revamps and expands post-season format for upcoming 2023 season". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ "What's driving MLS' reported playoff revamp? Is a World Cup-style postseason the right move?". ESPN. October 27, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ "2023 MLS Cup Playoffs Media Guide". Major League Soccer. October 27, 2023. pp. 8–10. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
- ^ "2023 MLS Competition Guidelines". Major League Soccer. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
- ^ Roberson, Doug (September 23, 2023). "Atlanta United clinches MLS playoff berth with win over Montreal". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ "Charlotte FC clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". MLSsoccer.com. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ a b c "How things stand: Major League Soccer". Soccer America. September 21, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ Brennan, Pat (August 31, 2023). "FC Cincinnati has its playoff berth. Now, it's closing in on MLS history". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ "Nashville SC clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". MLSsoccer.com. September 30, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- ^ "New England Revolution clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". MLSsoccer.com. September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
- ^ "New York Red Bulls clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". MLSsoccer.com. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ "FC Dallas clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". MLSsoccer.com. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Sigal, Jonathan (October 5, 2023). "Team of the Matchday: Five Western Conference teams clinch playoffs in Matchday 36". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ^ Timmermann, Tom (September 21, 2023). "St. Louis City SC clinches playoff spot after tie with LAFC and results elsewhere". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ "San Jose Earthquakes clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". MLSsoccer.com. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ "Sporting Kansas City clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". MLSsoccer.com. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ "MLS Cup 2023 hosting scenarios: Where will the final be held?". MLSsoccer.com. November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "MLS Player Stats". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved October 25, 2023.