2021 MLS Cup Playoffs
 | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Dates | November 20 – December 11 |
| Teams | 14 |
| Defending champions | Columbus Crew (did not qualify) |
← 2020 2022 → | |
The 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs (branded as the 2021 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for sponsorship reasons) will be the 26th edition of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the post-season championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top soccer league in the United States and Canada. The tournament will culminate the 2021 MLS regular season. The tournament will begin on November 20 and conclude with the 2021 MLS Cup Final on December 11.[1]
The Columbus Crew were the defending MLS Cup champions, but failed to qualify for the playoffs after finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference.
The 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs mark the first time since 2004 that no club from Texas qualified, and the first time ever that no club from California qualified.
Qualified teams[edit]
|
|
|
Conference standings[edit]
The top seven teams in the Eastern and Western Conference qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, with the conference champions receiving second round byes. Background colors denote playoff teams, with green also qualifying for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League, and blue also qualifying for the 2022 Leagues Cup.
|
Eastern Conference
Source: MLS
|
Western Conference
Source: MLS
|
Bracket[edit]
| First round November 20–21, 23 |
Conference Semifinals November 25, 28, 30 |
Conference Finals December 4–5 |
MLS Cup December 11 |
|||||||||||||||
| E1 | New England Revolution | |||||||||||||||||
| E4 | New York City FC | |||||||||||||||||
| E5 | Atlanta United FC | |||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Nashville SC | |||||||||||||||||
| E6 | Orlando City SC | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Philadelphia Union | |||||||||||||||||
| E7 | New York Red Bulls | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Colorado Rapids | |||||||||||||||||
| W4 | Portland Timbers | |||||||||||||||||
| W5 | Minnesota United FC | |||||||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||||||
| W3 | Sporting Kansas City | |||||||||||||||||
| W6 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Seattle Sounders FC | |||||||||||||||||
| W7 | Real Salt Lake | |||||||||||||||||
Note: The higher seeded team hosted matches, with the MLS Cup host determined by overall points.
First round[edit]
The second through fourth seeded teams in each conference host the first round matches. The top seeds in each conference get a bye to the Conference Semifinals.
Eastern Conference[edit]
Western Conference[edit]
Conference Semifinals[edit]
The higher-seeded teams in each match-up host the matches.
Eastern Conference[edit]
| TBD | v | TBD |
|---|---|---|
Western Conference[edit]
| TBD | v | TBD |
|---|---|---|
Conference Finals[edit]
The higher-seeded teams in each conference host the matches.
Eastern Conference[edit]
| TBD | v | TBD |
|---|---|---|
Western Conference[edit]
| TBD | v | TBD |
|---|---|---|
MLS Cup 2021[edit]
The highest-ranked team remaining in the overall table hosts the match.
| TBD | v | TBD |
|---|---|---|
References[edit]
- ^ "MLS announces Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs schedule". MLSSoccer.com. September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
- ^ Serrano, Rodrigo (September 22, 2021). "New England Revolution first team in MLS to clinch playoff spot". Diario AS. PRISA. Retrieved September 24, 2021.