MLS pLAYOFFS 2021

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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.

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.