NEW YORK (Thursday, October 19, 2023) – Below are the clinching scenarios for the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs for Decision Day, which will feature 14 matches played on Saturday, Oct. 21.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
CLINCHED PLAYOFF BERTH: FC Cincinnati, Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Union, Columbus Crew, New England Revolution, Atlanta United, Nashville SC
ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFF CONTENTION: D.C. United, Inter Miami CF, Toronto FC
CF MONTRÉAL (41 points, 12-16-5)
CF Montréal can clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs berth with:
CF Montréal WIN at Columbus Crew OR
Chicago Fire FC LOSS/DRAW at NYCFC AND Charlotte FC LOSS/DRAW vs. Inter Miami CF OR
Chicago Fire FC LOSS/DRAW at NYCFC AND New York Red Bulls LOSS/DRAW at Nashville SC OR
Charlotte FC LOSS/DRAW vs. Inter Miami CF AND New York Red Bulls LOSS/DRAW at Nashville SC
NEW YORK RED BULLS (40 points, 10-13-10)
The New York Red Bulls can clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs berth with:
New York Red Bulls WIN at Nashville SC AND CF Montréal LOSS/DRAW at Columbus Crew OR
New York Red Bulls WIN at Nashville SC AND Chicago Fire FC LOSS/DRAW at NYCFC OR
New York Red Bulls WIN at Nashville SC AND New York Red Bulls advantage in tiebreakers over Chicago Fire FC OR
New York Red Bulls DRAW at Nashville SC AND Chicago Fire FC LOSS/DRAW at NYCFC AND Charlotte FC LOSS/DRAW vs. Inter Miami CF
CHICAGO FIRE FC (40 points, 10-13-10)
Chicago Fire FC can clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs berth with:
Chicago Fire FC WIN at NYCFC AND CF Montréal LOSS/DRAW at Columbus Crew OR
Chicago Fire FC WIN at NYCFC AND New York Red Bulls LOSS/DRAW at Nashville SC OR
Chicago Fire FC WIN at NYCFC AND Chicago Fire FC advantage in tiebreakers over New York Red Bulls OR
Chicago Fire FC DRAW at NYCFC AND New York Red Bulls LOSS at Columbus Crew AND Charlotte FC LOSS/DRAW vs. Inter Miami CF
CHARLOTTE FC (40 points, 9-11-13)
Charlotte FC can clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs berth with:
Charlotte FC WIN vs. Inter Miami CF AND CF Montréal LOSS/DRAW at Columbus Crew AND Chicago Fire FC LOSS/DRAW at NYCFC OR
Charlotte FC WIN vs. Inter Miami CF AND CF Montréal LOSS/DRAW at Columbus Crew AND New York Red Bulls LOSS/DRAW at Nashville SC OR
Charlotte FC WIN vs. Inter Miami CF AND Chicago Fire FC LOSS/DRAW at NYCFC AND New York Red Bulls LOSS/DRAW at Nashville SC
NEW YORK CITY FOOTBALL CLUB (38 points, 8-11-14)
New York City Football Club can clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs berth with:
NYCFC WIN vs. Chicago Fire FC AND New York Red Bulls LOSS at Nashville SC AND Charlotte FC LOSS/DRAW vs. Inter Miami CF
PHILADELPHIA UNION (55 points, 15-8-10)
The Philadelphia Union can clinch top-four seed in the Eastern Conference of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs with:
Philadelphia Union WIN/DRAW at New England Revolution OR
Columbus Crew LOSS vs. CF Montréal OR
Philadelphia Union LOSS BY TWO OR FEWER GOALS at New England Revolution
COLUMBUS CREW (54 points, 15-9-9)
The Columbus Crew can clinch top-four seed in the Eastern Conference of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs with:
Columbus Crew WIN/DRAW vs. CF Montréal OR
New England Revolution LOSS/DRAW vs. Philadelphia Union
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (52 points, 14-9-10)
The New England Revolution can clinch top-four seed in the Eastern Conference of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs with:
New England Revolution WIN vs. Philadelphia Union AND Columbus Crew LOSS vs. CF Montréal OR
New England Revolution WIN BY THREE OR MORE GOALS vs. Philadelphia Union OR
New England Revolution WIN vs. Philadelphia Union AND Columbus Crew DRAW vs. CF Montréal AND New England Revolution advantage in tiebreakers over Columbus Crew
WESTERN CONFERENCE
CLINCHED PLAYOFF BERTH: St. Louis CITY SC, Los Angeles Football Club, Seattle Sounders FC, Houston Dynamo FC, Real Salt Lake, Vancouver Whitecaps FC
ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFF CONTENTION: Austin FC, Colorado Rapids, LA Galaxy
PORTLAND TIMBERS (43 points, 11-12-10)
The Portland Timbers can clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs berth with:
Portland Timbers WIN vs. Houston Dynamo FC OR
Portland Timbers DRAW vs. Houston Dynamo FC AND San Jose Earthquakes DRAW vs. Austin FC OR
Portland Timbers DRAW vs. Houston Dynamo FC AND FC Dallas DRAW at LA Galaxy OR
San Jose Earthquakes LOSS vs. Austin FC OR
FC Dallas LOSS at LA Galaxy OR
Sporting Kansas City DRAW vs. Minnesota United FC
FC DALLAS (43 points, 10-10-13)
FC Dallas can clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs berth with:
FC Dallas WIN at LA Galaxy OR
FC Dallas DRAW at LA Galaxy AND Portland Timbers LOSS vs. Houston Dynamo FC OR
FC Dallas DRAW at LA Galaxy AND San Jose Earthquakes LOSS/DRAW vs. Austin FC OR
San Jose Earthquakes LOSS vs. Austin FC AND FC Dallas advantage in tiebreakers over San Jose Earthquakes OR
Sporting Kansas City DRAW vs. Minnesota United FC
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (43 points, 10-10-13)
The San Jose Earthquakes can clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs berth with:
San Jose Earthquakes WIN vs. Austin FC OR
San Jose Earthquakes DRAW vs. Austin FC AND Portland Timbers LOSS vs. Houston Dynamo FC OR
San Jose Earthquakes DRAW vs. Austin FC AND FC Dallas LOSS at LA Galaxy OR
FC Dallas LOSS at LA Galaxy AND San Jose Earthquakes advantage in tiebreakers over FC Dallas OR
Sporting Kansas City DRAW vs. Minnesota United FC
SPORTING KANSAS CITY (41 points, 11-14-8)
Sporting Kansas City can clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs berth with:
Sporting Kansas City WIN vs. Minnesota United FC AND Portland Timbers LOSS/DRAW vs. Houston Dynamo FC OR
Sporting Kansas City WIN vs. Minnesota United FC AND San Jose Earthquakes LOSS/DRAW vs. Austin FC OR
Sporting Kansas City WIN vs. Minnesota United FC AND FC Dallas LOSS/DRAW at LA Galaxy
MINNESOTA UNITED FC (41 points, 10-12-11)
Minnesota United FC can clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs berth with:
Minnesota United FC WIN at Sporting Kansas City AND Portland Timbers LOSS/DRAW vs. Houston Dynamo FC OR
Minnesota United FC WIN at Sporting Kansas City AND San Jose Earthquakes LOSS/DRAW vs. Austin FC OR
Minnesota United FC WIN at Sporting Kansas City AND FC Dallas LOSS/DRAW at LA Galaxy
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC (50 points, 13-9-11)
Seattle Sounders FC can clinch top-four seed in the Western Conference of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs with:
Seattle Sounders FC WIN/DRAW at St. Louis CITY SC OR
Houston Dynamo FC LOSS/DRAW at Portland Timbers AND Real Salt Lake LOSS/DRAW at Colorado Rapids OR
Houston Dynamo FC LOSS/DRAW at Portland Timbers AND Vancouver Whitecaps FC LOSS/DRAW vs. LAFC OR
Vancouver Whitecaps FC LOSS/DRAW vs. LAFC AND Real Salt Lake LOSS/DRAW at Colorado Rapids
HOUSTON DYNAMO FC (48 points, 13-11-9)
Houston Dynamo FC can clinch top-four seed in the Western Conference of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs with:
Houston Dynamo FC WIN at Portland Timbers OR
Houston Dynamo FC DRAW at Portland Timbers AND Vancouver Whitecaps FC LOSS/DRAW vs. LAFC AND Real Salt Lake LOSS/DRAW at Colorado Rapids OR
Vancouver Whitecaps FC LOSS/DRAW vs. LAFC AND Real Salt Lake LOSS at Colorado Rapids OR
Vancouver Whitecaps FC LOSS/DRAW vs. LAFC AND Real Salt Lake DRAW at Colorado Rapids AND Houston Dynamo FC advantage in tiebreakers over Real Salt Lake
REAL SALT LAKE (47 points, 13-12-8)
Real Salt Lake can clinch top-four seed in the Western Conference of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs with:
Real Salt Lake WIN at Colorado Rapids AND Seattle Sounders FC LOSS at St. Louis CITY SC OR
Real Salt Lake WIN at Colorado Rapids AND Houston Dynamo FC LOSS/DRAW at Portland TimbersOR
Real Salt Lake DRAW at Colorado Rapids AND Houston Dynamo FC LOSS at Portland Timbers AND Vancouver Whitecaps FC LOSS/DRAW vs. LAFC AND Real Salt Lake advantage in tiebreakers over Houston Dynamo FC
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC (47 points, 12-10-11)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC can clinch top-four seed in the Western Conference of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs with:
Vancouver Whitecaps FC WIN vs. LAFC AND Seattle Sounders FC LOSS at St. Louis CITY SC AND Houston Dynamo FC LOSS/DRAW at Portland Timbers OR
Vancouver Whitecaps FC WIN vs. LAFC AND Seattle Sounders FC LOSS at St. Louis CITY SC AND Real Salt Lake LOSS/DRAW at Colorado Rapids OR
Vancouver Whitecaps FC WIN vs. LAFC AND Houston Dynamo FC LOSS/DRAW at Portland Timbers AND Real Salt Lake LOSS/DRAW at Colorado Rapids
Tiebreaking Procedures
In the event that two or more teams finish the regular season with an equal number of points (or points per game), the following tiebreakers will be used. If the standard of points per game is used, the tiebreakers will be calculated on a per-game basis.
- Total number of wins
- Goal Differential (GD)
- Goals For (GF)
- Fewest Disciplinary Points* per match
- Away Goals Differential
- Away Goals
- Home Goals Differential
- Home Goals For
- Coin Toss (tie of two clubs) or Drawing of Lots (tie of three or more clubs)
After a winner of the MLS regular-season tiebreaker is determined, any clubs that remain tied from the first round of tiebreaker shall go through a second round of the MLS regular-season tiebreaker procedures in order to determine team standings.
The MLS regular-season tiebreaker protocol will continue until the final team standings have been determined.
