MLS playoff picture: Clinching scenarios, standings, schedule entering weekend

The MLS playoff chase is coming down to the wire, with just two matches remaining for all of the league's teams.

This weekend will see a crucial set of matches, the league's last games before Decision Day on Saturday, Nov. 7.

In the Eastern Conference, six teams have already qualified for the playoffs while another six are in a race for the final three playoff berths. That leaves three teams that are already eliminated.

It's the same story in the Western Conference: Six teams are in, six are still alive and three are out of contention.

Let's examine the MLS playoff picture heading into the penultimate weekend of play:

Qualified for MLS playoffs

Eastern Conference

• Nashville SC (clinched Supporters' Shield)
• New England Revolution
• Inter Miami CF
• Chicago Fire FC
• Charlotte FC
• Philadelphia Union

Western Conference

• Vancouver Whitecaps
• FC Dallas
• St. Louis CITY SC
• Houston Dynamo FC
• San Jose Earthquakes
• LAFC

Still in MLS playoff contention

Eastern Conference

• Orlando City SC
• FC Cincinnati
• Columbus Crew
• New York Red Bulls
• Toronto FC
• New York City FC

Western Conference

• Colorado Rapids
• Seattle Sounders
• Real Salt Lake
• LA Galaxy
• Portland Timbers
• Minnesota United

Eliminated from playoff contention

Eastern Conference

• D.C. United
• Atlanta United
• CF Montréal

Western Conference

• San Diego FC
• Austin FC
• Sporting Kansas City

MLS standings

View full MLS standings HERE.

MLS schedule

The full list of games for Matchday 34 is below. All times Eastern.

(All games available on Apple TV)

Saturday, Oct. 31

• 1 p.m. — Charlotte FC vs. Orlando City SC
• 2 p.m. — FC Cincinnati vs. Philadelphia Union
• 2 p.m. — Columbus Crew vs. D.C. United
• 2 p.m. — New York City FC vs. CF Montréal
• 3 p.m. — Sporting Kansas City vs. FC Dallas
• 3 p.m. — St. Louis CITY SC vs. San Diego FC
• 5 p.m. — LA Galaxy vs. Austin FC
• 5 p.m. — San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake
• 9:30 p.m. — Colorado Rapids vs. Chicago Fire

Sunday, Nov. 1

• 4:30 p.m. — Nashville SC vs. New York Red Bulls
• 4:30 p.m. — Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC
• 4:30 p.m. — Atlanta United FC vs. Toronto FC
• 7 p.m. — New England Revolution vs. Inter Miami CF
• 8:30 p.m. — LAFC vs. Minnesota United FC
• 9:45 p.m. — Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo FC

MLS playoff clinching scenarios

Below is the full list of clinching and elimination scenarios, courtesy of MLS:

Eastern Conference

ORLANDO CITY SC (43 points, 12-13-7)

Orlando City SC clinches playoff berth with:

1. Orlando City SC WIN at Charlotte FC OR
2. Orlando City SC DRAW at Charlotte FC AND Toronto FC LOSS/DRAW at Atlanta United AND Red Bull New York LOSS/DRAW at Nashville SC OR
3. Toronto FC LOSS/DRAW at Atlanta United AND Red Bull New York LOSS at Nashville SC AND New York City FC LOSS/DRAW vs. CF Montréal

FC CINCINNATI (43 points, 11-11-10)

FC Cincinnati clinches playoff berth with:

1. FC Cincinnati WIN vs. Philadelphia Union OR
2. FC Cincinnati DRAW vs. Philadelphia Union AND Toronto FC LOSS/DRAW at Atlanta United AND Red Bull New York DRAW at Nashville SC AND New York City FC LOSS/DRAW vs. CF Montréal OR
3. Toronto FC LOSS/DRAW at Atlanta United AND Red Bull New York LOSS at Nashville SC AND New York City FC LOSS/DRAW vs. CF Montréal

COLUMBUS CREW (41 points, 12-15-5)

Columbus Crew clinches playoff berth with:

1. Columbus Crew WIN vs. D.C. United AND Toronto FC LOSS/DRAW at Atlanta United AND Red Bull New York LOSS/DRAW at Nashville SC

NEW YORK RED BULLS (39 points, 11-15-6)

New York Red Bulls are eliminated from playoff contention with:

1. New York Red Bulls LOSS at Nashville SC AND Columbus Crew WIN vs. D.C. United OR
2. New York Red Bulls DRAW at Nashville SC AND Columbus Crew WIN vs. D.C. United AND Orlando City SC WIN/DRAW at Charlotte FC AND FC Cincinnati WIN/DRAW vs. Philadelphia Union

TORONTO FC (39 points, 9-11-12)

Toronto FC is eliminated from playoff contention with:

1. Toronto FC LOSS/DRAW at Atlanta United AND Columbus Crew WIN vs. D.C. United OR
2. Toronto FC LOSS at Atlanta United AND Columbus Crew DRAW vs. D.C. United OR
3. Toronto FC LOSS at Atlanta United AND New York Red Bulls WIN at Nashville SC

NEW YORK CITY FC (38 points, 9-12-11)

New York City FC is eliminated from playoff contention with:

1. New York City FC LOSS vs. CF Montréal OR
2. New York City FC DRAW vs. CF Montréal AND Columbus Crew WIN/DRAW vs. D.C. United OR
3. New York City FC DRAW vs. CF Montréal AND Red Bull New York WIN at Nashville SC OR
4. Columbus Crew WIN vs. D.C. United AND Orlando City SC WIN/DRAW at Charlotte FC AND FC Cincinnati WIN vs. Philadelphia Union

Western Conference

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC (58 points, 17-8-7)

Vancouver Whitecaps FC clinches the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with:

1. Vancouver Whitecaps FC WIN vs. Seattle Sounders FC OR
2. FC Dallas LOSS/DRAW at Sporting Kansas City

COLORADO RAPIDS (43 points, 12-13-7)

The Colorado Rapids clinch a playoff berth with:

1. Colorado Rapids WIN vs. Chicago Fire FC AND Portland Timbers LOSS/DRAW vs. Houston Dynamo FC OR
2. Colorado Rapids WIN vs. Chicago Fire FC AND Seattle Sounders FC LOSS at Vancouver Whitecaps FC OR
3. Colorado Rapids WIN vs. Chicago Fire FC AND Real Salt Lake LOSS at San Jose Earthquakes AND LA Galaxy LOSS/DRAW vs. Austin FC OR
4. Colorado Rapids DRAW vs. Chicago Fire FC AND Real Salt Lake LOSS at San Jose Earthquakes AND Portland Timbers LOSS vs. Houston Dynamo FC OR
5. Colorado Rapids DRAW vs. Chicago Fire FC AND LA Galaxy LOSS vs. Austin FC AND Portland Timbers LOSS vs. Houston Dynamo FC OR
6. Colorado Rapids DRAW vs. Chicago Fire FC AND Real Salt Lake DRAW at San Jose Earthquakes AND LA Galaxy DRAW vs. Austin FC AND Portland Timbers LOSS vs. Houston Dynamo FC

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC (43 points, 11-11-10)

Seattle Sounders FC clinch a playoff berth with:

1. Seattle Sounders FC WIN at Vancouver Whitecaps FC AND Portland Timbers LOSS/DRAW vs. Houston Dynamo FC OR
2. Seattle Sounders FC WIN at Vancouver Whitecaps FC AND Real Salt Lake LOSS at San Jose Earthquakes AND LA Galaxy LOSS/DRAW vs. Austin FC OR
3. Seattle Sounders FC DRAW at Vancouver Whitecaps FC AND Real Salt Lake LOSS/DRAW at San Jose Earthquakes AND Minnesota United FC LOSS/DRAW at LAFC AND LA Galaxy LOSS/DRAW vs. Austin FC AND Portland Timbers LOSS vs. Houston Dynamo FC

REAL SALT LAKE (42 points, 12-14-6)

Real Salt Lake clinches a playoff berth with:

1. Real Salt Lake WIN at San Jose Earthquakes AND LA Galaxy LOSS/DRAW vs. Austin FC AND Portland Timbers LOSS/DRAW vs. Houston Dynamo FC

LA GALAXY (41 points, 10-11-11)

The LA Galaxy are eliminated from playoff contention with:

1. LA Galaxy LOSS vs. Austin FC AND Real Salt Lake WIN at San Jose Earthquakes AND Seattle Sounders FC WIN at Vancouver Whitecaps FC AND Colorado Rapids WIN/DRAW vs. Chicago Fire FC OR
2. LA Galaxy DRAW vs. Austin FC AND Real Salt Lake WIN at San Jose Earthquakes AND Seattle Sounders FC WIN at Vancouver Whitecaps FC AND Colorado Rapids WIN vs. Chicago Fire FC

PORTLAND TIMBERS (40 points, 11-14-7)

The Portland Timbers are eliminated from playoff contention with:

1. Portland Timbers LOSS vs. Houston Dynamo FC AND Real Salt Lake WIN/DRAW at San Jose Earthquakes AND Seattle Sounders FC WIN/DRAW at Vancouver Whitecaps FC AND Colorado Rapids WIN/DRAW vs. Chicago Fire FC OR
2. Portland Timbers LOSS vs. Houston Dynamo FC AND LA Galaxy WIN vs. Austin FC AND Seattle Sounders FC WIN/DRAW at Vancouver Whitecaps FC AND Colorado Rapids WIN/DRAW vs. Chicago Fire FC OR
3. Portland Timbers LOSS vs. Houston Dynamo FC AND Real Salt Lake WIN at San Jose Earthquakes AND Seattle Sounders FC WIN/DRAW at Vancouver Whitecaps FC AND LA Galaxy WIN vs. Austin FC OR
4. Portland Timbers LOSS vs. Houston Dynamo FC AND Colorado Rapids WIN/DRAW vs. Chicago Fire FC AND LA Galaxy WIN vs. Austin FC AND Real Salt Lake WIN at San Jose Earthquakes OR
5. Portland Timbers DRAW vs. Houston Dynamo FC AND Seattle Sounders FC WIN at Vancouver Whitecaps FC AND Real Salt Lake WIN at San Jose Earthquakes AND Colorado Rapids WIN vs. Chicago Fire FC OR
6. Portland Timbers DRAW vs. Houston Dynamo FC AND Seattle Sounders FC WIN at Vancouver Whitecaps FC AND LA Galaxy WIN vs. Austin FC AND Colorado Rapids WIN vs. Chicago Fire FC

MINNESOTA UNITED FC (38 points, 9-12-11)

Minnesota United FC is eliminated from playoff contention with:

1. Minnesota United FC LOSS/DRAW at LAFC OR
2. LA Galaxy WIN vs. Austin FC AND Seattle Sounders FC WIN at Vancouver Whitecaps FC AND Colorado Rapids WIN/DRAW vs. Chicago Fire FC OR
3. Real Salt Lake WIN at San Jose Earthquakes AND Seattle Sounders FC WIN at Vancouver Whitecaps FC AND Colorado Rapids WIN/DRAW vs. Chicago Fire FC OR
4. LA Galaxy DRAW vs. Austin FC AND Real Salt Lake DRAW at San Jose Earthquakes AND Seattle Sounders FC WIN at Vancouver Whitecaps FC AND Colorado Rapids WIN/DRAW vs. Chicago Fire FC

What is the format and schedule for the 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs?

A total of 18 teams qualify for the 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs — the top nine finishers from each conference.

The eighth- and ninth-place finishers in each conference will play in wild-card matches. The top seven seeds qualify for the Round 1 best-of-three series.

What is the MLS playoff schedule?

• Nov. 18: Wild-card matches (single-elimination matches)
• Nov. 20-Dec. 2: Round 1 (best-of-three series)
• Dec. 5-6: Conference semifinals (single-elimination matches)
• Dec. 11-12: Conference finals (single-elimination matches)
• Dec. 18: MLS Cup (single winner-take-all match)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLS playoff picture: Clinching scenarios, standings, schedule entering weekend

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