MLS Nashville SC

What to Know About the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs

Published on October 22, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Nashville SC News Release


The Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs are nearly here, and the Boys in Gold are facing off against Orlando City SC in Round One. Tickets are on sale now. Here's your guide to this year's competition:

Important Dates

Decision Day: October 21

Wild Card matches: October 25-26

Round One Best-of-3 series matches: October 28-November 12

Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals: November 25-December 3

MLS Cup presented by Audi: December 9

How many teams make the playoffs?

Overall, 18 teams qualify - the top 9 from the Eastern Conference and the top 9 from the Western Conference.

Seeds 1-7 in each conference automatically qualify for the Round One Best-of-3 series.

Seeds 8-9 in each conference qualify for the Wild Card matches.

The league's championship match and postseason tournament are different than the Supporters' Shield, which recognizes the year's best regular-season team.

Each round of the 2023 MLS Playoffs presented by Audi has its own unique twist. Here's a breakdown of what to expect at each stage.

Wild Card

Two single-game elimination matches hosted by the higher seed (Eastern Conference No. 8 vs. No. 9; Western Conference No. 8 vs. No. 9)

If the score of a Wild Card game is tied at the end of regulation, no extra time will be played. There will immediately be a penalty kick shootout to determine the winner.

The winner of each Wild Card match will advance to the Round One Best-of-3 series to face the conference No. 1 seed.

Round One Best-of-3 Series (16-24 games)

Every Round One game will have a winner; no ties, no aggregate score.

The matches will be hosted in a home-away-home format:

Match 1: higher seed hosts

Match 2: lower seed hosts

Match 3: higher seed hosts

If a match is tied at the end of regulation, no extra time will be played. Teams will participate in kicks from the penalty spot to determine the winner.

The first team to win two matches will advance.

Four teams from each conference will advance to the Conference Semifinals.

Eastern Conference Round One Best-of-3 Series

No. 1 vs. No. 8 or 9

No. 2 vs. No. 7

No. 3 vs. No. 6

No. 4 vs. No. 5

Western Conference Round One Best-of-3 Series

No. 1 vs. No. 8 or 9

No. 2 vs. No. 7

No. 3 vs. No. 6

No. 4 vs. No. 5

Conference Semifinals (4 games)

Single-elimination matches, hosted by the higher seed.

If the score of a Conference Semifinal game is tied at the end of regulation, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety. If the score is still tied at the end of the two extra time periods, teams will determine the winner via a penalty kick shootout.

Conference Semifinal winners will advance to the Conference Final.

Eastern Conference Semifinals

Winner of No. 1 vs. No. 8/9 series vs. winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5 series

Winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6 series vs. winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 series

Western Conference Semifinals

Winner of No. 1 vs. No. 8/9 series vs. winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5 series

Winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6 series vs. winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 series

Conference Finals (2 games)

Single-elimination match hosted by the higher seed.

If the score of a Conference Final game is tied at the end of regulation, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety. If the score is still tied at the end of the two extra time periods, teams will participate in kicks from the penalty spot to determine the winner.

The winner of each Conference Final match will advance to MLS Cup presented by Audi.

Eastern Conference Final: highest advancing seed vs. lowest advancing seed

Western Conference Final: highest advancing seed vs. lowest advancing seed

MLS Cup presented by Audi (1 game)

A single match hosted by the higher seed.

If the score of the game is tied at the end of regulation, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety. If the score is still tied at the end of the two extra time periods, teams will participate in kicks from the penalty spot to determine the winner.

MLS Cup presented by Audi: Eastern Conference Champion vs. Western Conference Champion

For The Gold Sweepstakes

Post a photo of your For The Gold Playoff flag on social media and tag @NashvilleSC to be entered to win! You can also enter by clicking below. One randomly selected winner will receive a $200 Team Store gift card and two (2) all-inclusive tickets to our upcoming playoff match. Get your For The Gold flag for FREE with any purchase at the NSC Team Store at GEODIS Park. Team Store hours this week are:

Sunday: 12 to 4 p.m.

Monday - Friday: 12 to 6 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Check out the Nashville SC Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from October 22, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central