The2021 Major League Soccer regular season is far behind us with the2021 MLS Playoffswell underway.The Conference Finals are set and the tournament decider is drawing nearer.
Portland Timbersare theWestern Conferencewinnersafter defeatingReal Salt Lakein the final. It was a convincing victory from the home side. With goals fromFelipe Mora and Santiago Moreno, the Timbersare nowwaiting for their rival in the MLS Cup.
On the other hand, New York City FC beatPhiladelphia Unionin the Eastern Conference Finals.Here, check out the road to the MLS Cup final, the playoffs format, dates, and how to watch each match in the United States.
MLS Playoffs 2021: Format
The MLS Playoffs will be played by 14 teams, seven from East and seven from West. The team with the best record hosts every match. The No. 1 seed in each conference gets a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout. It’s straight single-elimination knockouts from there on out.
- First round: Three matches in each conference pitting No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. 6 and No. 4 vs. No. 5. The No. 1 seed gets a bye. Higher seeds host.
- Conference semis: The No. 1 seed will face the winner of the No. 4-vs.-No. 5 match. The other two winners face off. The higher seed hosts.
- Conference finals: The final two teams left standing in each conference face off in the home of the highest remaining seed.
- MLS Cup: The two conference champions meet at MLS Cup, hosted by the team with the best regular season record.
MLS Playoffs 2021: Teams
As we said before, 14 teams, seven from East and seven from West, made the cut. From the Eastern Conference, the teams who qualified are: New England Revolution, Philadelphia, Nashville, New York City FC, Atlanta United, Orlando City and New York Red Bulls.
Meanwhile, from the Western Conference, these are the teams who made it into the playoffs: Seattle Sounders, Sporting Kansas City, Colorado Rapids, Portland Timbers, Minnesota United, Vancouver Whitecaps and Real Salt Lake.
MLS 2021 Playoffs: Schedule and How to Watch in the US
First Round
Saturday, November 20
Philadelphia Union 1-0NY Red Bulls
Sporting Kansas3-1 Vancouver
Sunday, November 21
NYCFC 2-0Atlanta United
Portland3-1 Minnesota
Tuesday, November 23
Nashville SC 3-1 Orlando City
Seattle Sounders 0 (5)-0 (6) Real Salt Lake
Conference Semifinals
Thursday, November 25
Colorado Rapids 0-1Portland Timbers
Sunday, November 28
Sporting Kansas City1-2 Real Salt Lake
Philadelphia Union 1 (2)-1(0) Nashville SC
Tuesday, November 30
New England Revolution 2 (3) – 2 (5)NYCFC
Conference Finals
Saturday, December 4
Portland Timbers2-0Real Salt Lake
Sunday, December 5
Philadelphia Union 1-2 New York City FC
MLS 2021 Cup Final
The 26th MLS Cup championship final between Portland Timbers and NYCFC will be played on Sat., Dec. 11 at Providence Park.It will be broadcasted by ABC, UniMas, TUDN, TSN, TVA in the US.
MLS 2021 Playoffs Bracket
MLS Playoffs bracket (mlssoccer.com)
