Vancouver Whitecaps FC are in the MLS Cup Playoffs for the second time in three seasons, and will enter in the Round One Best-of-3 series between October 28 to November 12 .
With that, the 'Caps will host a home playoff match at BC Place for the first time since 2017.
It's a tight race for seeding in the Western Conference that will come right down to Decision Day.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.
The Schedule
After Decision Day on Oct. 21, the playoff schedule will go as follows:
- Wild Card matches: Oct. 25-26
- Round One Best-of-3 series matches: Oct. 28-Nov. 12
- Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals: Nov. 25-Dec. 3
- MLS Cup: Dec. 9
How many teams make the playoffs?
- Overall, 18 teams qualify – the top 9 from the Eastern Conference and the top 9 from the Western Conference.
- Seeds 1-7 in each conference automatically qualify for the Round One Best-of-3 series.
- Seeds 8-9 in each conference qualify for the Wild Card matches.
How does it work for the 'Caps?
Round One Best-of-3 Series
Western Conference Round One Best-of-3 Series
- No. 1 vs. No. 8 or 9
- No. 2 vs. No. 7
- No. 3 vs. No. 6
- No. 4 vs. No. 5
- Every Round One game will have a winner; no ties, no aggregate score.
- The matches will be hosted in a home-away-home format:
- Match 1: higher seed hosts
- Match 2: lower seed hosts
- Match 3: higher seed hosts
- If a match is tied at the end of regulation, no extra time will be played. Teams will participate in kicks from the penalty spot to determine the winner.
- The first team to win two matches will advance.
- Four teams from each conference will advance to the Conference Semifinals.
A Return to the Single Elimination Format in Round 2 & Beyond
- Once the Wild Card and First Rounds conclude, the Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals and MLS Cup Final will all be decided by a single elimination match hosted by the higher seed.
- The MLS Cup will be hosted by the team that finished higher in the Supporters’ Shield standings.
Conference Semifinals (1 game)
- Western Conference Semifinals
- Winner of No. 1 vs. No. 8/9 series vs. winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5 series
- Winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6 series vs. winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 series
- Single-elimination matches, hosted by the higher seed.
- If the score of a Conference Semifinal game is tied at the end of regulation, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety. If the score is still tied at the end of the two extra time periods, teams will determine the winner via a penalty kick shootout.
- Conference Semifinal winners will advance to the Conference Final
Conference Finals (1 game)
- Western Conference Final: highest advancing seed vs. lowest advancing seed
- Single-elimination match hosted by the higher seed.
- If the score of a Conference Final game is tied at the end of regulation, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety. If the score is still tied at the end of the two extra time periods, teams will participate in kicks from the penalty spot to determine the winner.
- The winner of each Conference Final match will advance to MLS Cup.
MLS Cup (1 game)
- A single match hosted by the higher seed.
- If the score of the game is tied at the end of regulation, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety. If the score is still tied at the end of the two extra time periods, teams will participate in kicks from the penalty spot to determine the winner.
- MLS Cup: Eastern Conference Champion vs. Western Conference Champion
