The 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs (branded as the 2018 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for sponsorship reasons) began on October 31 and ended on December 8 with MLS Cup 2018, the 23rd league championship match for MLS. This was the 23rd version of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the tournament culminating the Major League Soccer regular season. Twelve teams, the top six of each conference, competed in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
The first round of each conference had the third-seeded team hosting the sixth seed while the fourth-seed hosted the fifth seed in a single match to determine who advanced to the Conference Semifinals. In the Conference Semifinals, the top seed played the lowest remaining seed while the second played the next-lowest. The winners advanced to the Conference Finals. Both the Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals were played as a two-legged aggregate series, with the higher-seed hosting the second leg. The winners advanced to the MLS Cup, a single match hosted by the participant with the better regular season record which was played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Toronto FC were the defending MLS Cup champions, but failed to qualify for the playoffs. Atlanta United FC won their first MLS Cup title.
Qualified teams
Eastern Conference
- Atlanta United FC
- Columbus Crew SC
- D.C. United
- New York City FC
- New York Red Bulls
- Philadelphia Union
Western Conference
- FC Dallas
- Los Angeles FC
- Portland Timbers
- Real Salt Lake
- Seattle Sounders FC
- Sporting Kansas City
Conference standings
The top six teams from each conference advanced to the MLS Cup playoffs.
Bracket
Knockout round
Summary
Matches
Conference semifinals
Summary
Matches
New York Red Bulls win 3–1 on aggregate.
Atlanta United win 4–1 on aggregate.
- Tied 4–4 on aggregate. Portland Timbers win 4–2 on penalties.
- Sporting Kansas City win 5–3 on aggregate.
Conference finals
Summary
Matches
Atlanta United win 3–1 on aggregate.
Portland Timbers win 3–2 on aggregate.
MLS Cup
Top goalscorers
MLS Cup Playoffs Best XI
References
