Since the 2023 edition, the MLS Cup Playoffs has had nine teams from each conference playing in separate brackets until the MLS Cup final. The preliminary round has the eighth seed hosting the ninth seed while the top seven seeds get a prelim-round bye. Whoever wins plays the top seed in Round One. In Round One, the top-seed hosts the eighth-ninth winner, the runner-up hosts the seventh seed, the third hosts the sixth, and fourth hosts the fifth, in best-of-three games. The remaining rounds (the conference semifinals, conference final, and MLS Cup final) are single-elimination matches hosted by the higher-seeded team. 62 percent of teams make the playoff under this new format.
Since the 2023 edition the MLS Cup Playoffs has had nine teams from each conference playing in separate brackets until the MLS Cup, final. The preliminary round has the eighth seed hosting the ninth seed while the top seven seeds get a prelim-round bye. Whoever wins plays the top seed in Round One. In Round One, the top-seed hosts the eighth-ninth winner, the runner-up hosts the seventh seed, the third hosts the sixth, and fourth hosts the fifth in best-of-three games. The remaining rounds (the conference semifinals, conference final, and MLS Cup final) are single-elimination matches hosted by the higher-seeded t,eam. 62 percent of teams make the playoff under this new format.