All you need to know about the MLS Cup play-offs
As the Major League Soccer regular season comes to an end, attention will quickly turn to the end-of-season MLS Cup play-offs.
We run through all the key information you need to know about the post-season action.
What are the MLS Cup play-offs?
Taking place annually, the MLS Cup play-offs are the post-season championship for the sides who perform best during each respective MLS regular season.
Clubs from both the Eastern and Western Conferences take part in a series of elimination matches, with the last teams standing from each conference meeting in the MLS Cup final to crown that year's champions.
How do the MLS Cup play-offs work?
The format of the MLS Cup play-offs has been updated for the 2023 season.
Previously, 14 teams qualified for the post-season but that has now been increased to 18.
The top seven sides from each Conference go straight into Round One, with the eighth-placed teams in each division hosting the ninth-placed finishers for the final spot — known as the Wildcard round.
Round One then follows, with Wildcard winners taking on the top-ranked team in their respective Conference, second facing seventh, third facing sixth and fourth facing fifth.
Unlike all the other MLS play-off sections, Round One sees teams face each other over a best-of-three match series.
Round One winners progress to the Conference Semi-Finals, followed by the Conference Finals and then the MLS Cup Final — all of which are one-off games with the highest ranked team at home.
Which teams are in the 2023 MLS Cup play-offs?
The teams currently assured of a spot in the 2023 MLS Cup play-offs are:
Eastern Conference — FC Cincinnati, Orlando City, Philadelphia Union, Columbus Crew, New England Revolution, Atlanta United, Nashville SC
Western Conference — St Louis City, Los Angeles FC, Seattle Sounders, Houston Dynamo, Real Salt Lake, Vancouver Whitecaps
Despite a drastic improvement in form after his arrival, Lionel Messi's Inter Miami did not do enough to qualify for the 2023 post-season.
When do the 2023 MLS Cup play-offs take place?
The full 2023 MLS Cup play-off schedule will be confirmed once the final line-up is complete. We do know some dates already, however.
Both Wildcard round matches will take place across October 25 and 26, with the Eastern and Western Conference Semi-Finals scheduled for a month later on November 25 and 26.
The two Conference Finals will be on December 2 and 3, with the winners meeting in the MLS Cup Final on December 9, 2023.
How much do the MLS Cup winners receive?
The winners of the 2023 MLS Cup final are expected to receive $300,000 in prize money, with the runners-up taking home exactly half that sum — $150,000.
Those who exit in the Conference Finals net $100k, with $47.5k given to Conference Semi-Final losers and $20k to defeated sides from Round One.
Which teams have won the MLS Cup the most times?
LA Galaxy have lifted the MLS Cup on a record five occasions since its inception in 1996.
DC United follow close behind with four wins, followed by the quintet of Houston Dynamo, Seattle Sounders, Sporting Kansas City, San Jose Earthquakes and Columbus Crew who are all two-time winners.
A further eight sides have one MLS Cup to their name, including reigning champions Los Angeles FC.
