The coronavirus-affected 2020 Major League Soccer regular season is in the home stretch, with teams vying for places in the postseason, which begins on Nov. 20 and concludes with MLS Cup on Dec. 12.
A total of 18 teams will qualify for the postseason, four more than in 2019, with the last day of the regular season — Decision Day — coming on Nov. 8 (watch all matches live on ESPN networks and ESPN+ in the U.S.).
Below is a list of teams who have qualified, those still in the hunt and what this year’s playoff format looks like.
– MLS standings | Schedule | Statistics
– Stream MLS games LIVE, watch replays on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
Clinched playoff places
Eastern Conference (six teams qualify straight to Round 1, four have a play-in game):
Toronto FC, Philadelphia Union, Columbus Crew SC, Orlando City SC.
Western Conference (eight teams qualify directly to Round 1):
None.
Still in contention
Eastern Conference:
New England Revolution, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Montreal Impact, Chicago Fire, Nashville SC, Atlanta United FC, Inter Miami SC, D.C. United and FC Cincinnati.
Western Conference:
Minnesota United FC, FC Dallas, San Jose Earthquakes, Vancouver Whitecaps, Real Salt Lake, Houston Dynamo, Colorado Rapids and the LA Galaxy.
Eliminated
None.
Format
The first round will be made up of a pair of one-off play-in games with the 7-10 seeds in the Eastern Conference vying to secure the final two spots in Round 1 of the playoffs.
Round 1
Round 1 begins on Nov. 20, with 16 teams playing single elimination matches in the higher seeds market for a spot in the conference semifinals.
Eastern Conference
Times and matches TBD.
Western Conference
Times and matches TBD.
Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference
Times and matches TBD.
Western Conference
Times and matches TBD.
Conference finals
Times and matches TBD.
MLS Cup
TBD vs. TBD (Dec. 12)
