MLS Cup playoff results, schedule and bracket: Surprises rule as Lionel Messi and Inter Miami eliminated by Atlanta

After a wild final day of the season that saw Los Angeles FC secure first place in the Western Conference and Inter Miami sets record for points in a single seasonand a wild-card round that saw Atlanta and Vancouver advance, the MLS Cup playoffs are truly underway.

The playoffs began on October 22 with the wild card round and the main match began on Friday, October 23 with the first round of matchups of the best-of-three series, when Inter Miami beat Atlanta United 2-1 in the first match of the series. Despite finishing as the eighth seed in the Western Conference, the Vancouver Whitecaps needed to travel to face the Portland Timbers due to BC Place hosting the World Supercross Canadian Grand Prix, but their road win meant they had the honor. to face LAFC in the first round. , and losing their first game 2-1. After a best-of-three opening matchup, the playoffs will become a single-elimination as tension mounts in pursuit of an MLS Cup.

Wildcard results

Tuesday October 22
Montreal 2, Atlanta United 2

Wednesday October 23
Vancouver Whitecaps 5, Portland Timbers 0

MLS playoff bracket

MLS Cup Playoff Schedule

Eastern Conference Round 1 best-of-3 series
No. 1 Inter Miami CF vs. No. 9 Atlanta United
October 25: Inter Miami 2, Atlanta 1
November 2: Atlanta 2, Inter Miami 1
November 9: Inter Miami 2, Atlanta 3

No. 2 Team Columbus vs. No. 7 New York Red Bulls
October 29: RBNY 1, Team 0
November 3: RBNY 2, Crew 2 (RBNY wins and advances 5-4 on Penalties)

No. 3 FC Cincinnati vs. No. 6 New York FC
October 28: FCC 1, NYCFC 0
November 2: NYCFC 3, FCC 1
November 9: FCC 0, NYCFC 0 (NYCFC wins and advances 6-5 on penalties)

No. 4 Orlando City SC against No. 5 Charlotte FC
October 27: Orlando 2, Charlotte 0
November 1: Charlotte 0, Orlando 0 (Charlotte wins in the corrals 3-1)
Nov. 9, 6 p.m.: Orlando 1, Charlotte 1 (Orlando wins and advances 4-1 on penalties)

Western Conference Round 1 best-of-3 series
No. 1 LAFC against No. 8 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
October 27: LAFC 2, Whitecaps 1
November 3: Whitecaps 3, LAFC 0
November 8: LAFC 1, White Caps 0

No. 2 LA Galaxy against the No. 7 Colorado Rapids
October 26: Galaxy 5, Rapid 0
November 1: Rapids 1, Galaxy 4

No. 3 Real Salt Lake vs. No. 6 Minnesota United FC
October 29: Minnesota 0, RSL 0 (Minn wins on PK, 5-4)
Nov. 2, 9 p.m.: Minnesota 1, RSL 1 (Minn wins on PK, 3-1)

No. 4 Seattle Sounders FC against No. 5 Houston Dynamo FC
October 28: Sounders 0, Dynamo 0 (Sea win on PK, 5-4)
November 3: Dynamo 1, Sounders 1 (Sea wins and advances 7-6 on penalties)

Conference Semifinals
November 23, 5:30 pm: NYCFC vs. RBNY
November 23, 10:30 pm: LAFC vs. Seattle Sounders
November 24, 3:30 pm: Orlando vs. Atlanta United
November 24, 6 pm: LA Galaxy vs. Minnesota

conference finals
Saturday, November 30 – Sunday, December 1

MLS Cup presented by Audi
Saturday, December 7, 4 pm Eastern Time