MLS playoff picture: LAFC, Philadelphia Union among teams that can clinch

MLS Decision Day 2026 (Saturday, Nov. 7, mark your calendars!) will be here before you know it.

>There are just three or four matches to be played by each Major League Soccer club and the playoff picture is clearing up. Nine of the available 18 postseason spots have been secured; four more playoff berths can be claimed this weekend.

>Here's a look at the playoff picture and this weekend's clinching scenarios, starting with the teams that already have secured postseason berths:

>Eastern Conference

Chicago Fire FC • >Inter Miami • >Nashville SC • >New England RevolutionWestern Conference

FC Dallas • >Houston Dynamo • >San Jose Earthquakes • >St. Louis City SC • >Vancouver WhitecapsMLS playoff clinching scenarios for Oct. 24-25Charlotte FCWin or draw • >Draw • >Red Bull New York loss or drawPhiladelphia UnionWin • >Draw, and Red Bull New York draw • >Columbus Crew draw • >Red Bull New York lossLos Angeles FCWin or draw • >Minnesota United loss or draw, Real Salt Lake loss, San Diego FC loss or draw, and Portland Timbers loss or drawSeattle SoundersWin, Minnesota United loss or draw, Real Salt Lake loss or draw, LA Galaxy loss or draw, and Portland Timbers loss or drawThere are also scenarios for Nashville SC to clinch the No. 1 playoff seed and the 2026 Supporters’ Shield:

Win or draw • >Vancouver Whitecaps loss or drawMLS Matchday 32: What are this weekend's games?(All games available on Apple TV)

>Saturday, Oct. 24

CF Montréal vs. Nashville SC, 1:30 p.m. ET • >Columbus Crew vs. Toronto FC, 3:30 p.m. ET • >Red Bull New York vs. Inter Miami, 5:30 p.m. ET • >Atlanta United vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. ET • >D.C. United vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. ET • >Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET • >Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. ET • >FC Dallas vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 8:30 p.m. ET • >Houston Dynamo vs. Minnesota United, 8:30 p.m. ET • >Sporting Kansas City vs. Austin FC, 8:30 p.m. ET • >Colorado Rapids vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, 9:30 p.m. ET • >Real Salt Lake vs. St. Louis City SC, 9:30 p.m. ET • >Portland Timbers vs. Charlotte FC, 10:30 p.m. ET • >San Diego FC vs. Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m. ETSunday, Oct. 25

Los Angeles FC vs. LA Galaxy, 9 p.m. ETWatch MLS games on Apple TV

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.

class="related-link">MLS CUP WINNERS, SCORES: Results from Major League Soccer championship games

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)MLS CUP: Ranking every Major League Soccer championship game

MLS playoff picture: If the season ended today …Heading into MLS Matchday 32, these would be the MLS playoff matchups through the first round:

>EASTERN CONFERENCE

>Wild-card match:

FC Cincinnati (No. 8 seed) vs. Red Bull New York (9)Round 1 (best-of-three series):

Nashville SC (1) vs. Cincinnati-RBNY winner • >Inter Miami (2) vs. Orlando City SC (7) • >New England Revolution (3) vs. Philadelphia Union (6) • >Chicago Fire FC (4) vs. Charlotte FC (5)WESTERN CONFERENCE

>Wild-card match:

LA Galaxy (No. 8 seed) vs. Colorado Rapids (9)Round 1 (best-of-three series):

Vancouver Whitecaps (1) vs. Galaxy-Colorado winner • >St. Louis City SC (2) vs. Seattle Sounders (7) • >FC Dallas (3) vs. Los Angeles FC (6) • >San Jose Earthquakes (4) vs. Houston Dynamo FC (5)MLS: Latest standings for Eastern, Western Conferences

MLS betting odds: Who is favorite to win championship?According to BetMGM, Inter Miami (+400) are the favorites to win MLS Cup.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLS playoff picture: LAFC, Philadelphia Union among teams that can clinch

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