MLS Playoffs 2022 bracket: Latest scores, schedule, TV channel, live streams on road to MLS Cup

The first round of the 2022 MLS Cup playoffs wraps up on Monday as 2021 champions New York City FC seek to defend the Major League Soccer title they won last December.

We already have our first upset in the East after No. 5 seed FC Cincinnati went into Red Bull Arena and claimed a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the No. 4 New York Red Bulls. Next they’ll face the top seeded Philadelphia Union, who Cincy manager Pat Noonan knows very well having served as Philly assistant coach for several years.

And we’re getting a playoff El Trafico derby matchup out West. The LA Galaxy knocked off Nashville SC on a Julian Araujo goal to advance to play the No. 1 seed in the West, LAFC, on Thursday.

West No. 2 seed Austin FC came from 2-0 down at home to force extra time before getting by No. 7 Real Salt Lake on penalties as goalkeeper Brad Stuver made a couple of big stops. They move on to face Dallas or Minnesota.

The Union (No. 1 seed in East) and LAFC (No. 1 in West) earned first-round byes after finishing top of their conference during the regular season (full playoff explainer further below). Since the team with the best record hosts every knockout match (including the MLS Cup final), both clubs will be getting a fair dose of home matches during this postseason provided they survive and advance.

The Sporting News brings you everything you need to know ahead of the 2022 MLS Cup playoffs.

MORE: Full breakdown of USMNT roster for September pre-World Cup friendlies

MLS playoffs schedule 2022

First Round

Conference Semifinals

Conference Finals

MLS Cup Final

How do MLS playoffs work?

The MLS Cup playoffs are a single elimination knockout tournament consisting of four rounds of competition that culminate in the MLS Cup final.

The 14 participating teams are seeded based on their regular season finish (No. 1 through No. 7 in each conference), and the team with the best regular season record hosts every match.

In 2022, the first round sees six teams from each conference take part (No. 2 through No. 7 seeds) with the No. 1 seeds sitting out with a first-round bye and automatic qualification to the Conference Semifinals.

The teams battle opponents from their same conference until the MLS Cup final, when the last team standing in the East and the West contest the championship matchup with the trophy on the line. The team with the best regular season record will get to host the title match.

What happens if MLS playoff games are tied after 90 minutes?

If any of the single-elimination playoff matches ends in a draw after 90 minutes, the match will head into two 15-minute periods of extra time. If the deadlock persists after extra time, a penalty-kick shootout will follow.

In the 2021 playoffs, one of the 13 matches was decided in extra time, while four needed a penalty shootout to determine the winner. 

Eventual MLS Cup champion NYCFC emerged victorious in two penalty shootouts against then No. 1 seed New England Revolution and in the MLS Cup final against Portland to claim the crown.

How many teams make MLS playoffs?

The 2022 MLS Cup playoffs will work the same as the previous season, with a single-elimination format providing the league a host of compelling matchups.

A total of seven teams make the playoffs from each conference, allowing 14 teams to dream of hoisting MLS Cup on Nov. 5. The league featured a total of 28 teams competing in the 2022 regular season, meaning half the field qualified for the postseason.

Only the No. 1 seed in each conference earned a first-round bye and qualified directly to the second round, while every other team takes the field in the first round. The team with the best regular season record hosts every matchup, including the MLS Cup final.

Below are the final seeds in each conference as of Decision Day, Sunday, Oct. 9 following the conclusion of the 2022 regular season. Total wins represented the first points tiebreaker in MLS in 2022, but the third one (goals scored) was needed to separate Inter Miami (47 goals) and Orlando City (44 goals), who finished even on 48 points.

MLS playoffs bracket 2022

The MLS playoffs feature three rounds of single-elimination knockout matches leading up to the 2022 MLS Cup final, where the last team surviving from each conference meet for the title.

The No. 1 seed in each conference enters the postseason competition in the second round (Conference Semifinals), having earned a first-round bye as a reward for finishing top during the regular season.

The higher seed hosts every playoff matchup.

First Round (Oct. 15-17)

East

• 2-CF Montreal vs. 7-Orlando City SC
• 3-NYCFC vs. 6-Inter Miami
• 4-NY Red Bulls vs. 5-FC Cincinnati (Result: 1-2)

West

• 2-Austin FC vs. 7-Real Salt Lake (Result: 2-2; 3-1 on penalties)
• 3-FC Dallas vs. 6-Minnesota United
• 4-LA Galaxy vs. 5-Nashville SC (Result: 1-0)

Conference Semifinals (Oct. 20-23)

East

• 1-Philadelphia Union vs. 5-FC Cincinnati
• Winner No. 3 vs. No. 6 vs. Winner No. 2 vs. No. 7

West

• 1-LAFC vs. 4-LA Galaxy
• Winner No. 3 vs. No. 6 vs. 2-Austin FC

Conference Finals (Oct. 30)

• Eastern Conference semifinal winners TBD
• Western Conference semifinal winners TBD

MLS Cup Final (Nov. 5)

• Conference final winners TBD

When did MLS playoffs start?

With the regular season wrapping up on October 9, the MLS Cup playoffs kicked off on Saturday, October 15 with the first round.

There are three single-elimination knockout rounds which will determine the two MLS Cup finalists, one from each conference. If any match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played. If the deadlock persists, a penalty shootout will determine the winner.

The playoff schedule will push all the way into early November, when the MLS Cup final is played on Saturday November 5 to decide the league champion.

This timing ensures the season wraps up nine days before players are to be released to their national teams for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.