Seven months after the 2021 Major League Soccer regular season began, it's over, and there's a new campaign to enjoy: the MLS Cup playoffs. After the most exciting Decision Day in the league's history, and the New England Revolution lifting their first ever MLS silverware in the form of the Supporters' Shield (and setting a league-record single-season points haul) the playoff field is set.
With the postseason kicking off on Nov. 20, ESPN breaks down the MLS Cup playoff bracket and details every match leading up to MLS Cup on Dec. 11 airing on ABC.
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Postseason format
The top seven teams from each conference will qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs. The No. 1 seeds in both the Eastern and Western Conferences -- the New England Revolution and Colorado Rapids, respectively -- will receive a bye from Round 1 and move directly into the conference semifinals.
The remaining 12 teams, seeds two through seven in each conference, will face off in the single-elimination Round 1.
Information is subject to change. All times Eastern.
Round 1
Nov. 20:
East: 2. Philadelphia Union def. 1-0 7. New York Red Bulls
West: 3. Sporting Kansas City def. 3-1 6. Vancouver Whitecaps
Nov. 21:
East: 4. New York City FC def. 2-0 5. Atlanta United FC
West: 4. Portland Timbers def. 3-1 5. Minnesota United FC
Nov. 23:
East: 3. Nashville SC def. 2-1 6. Orlando City SC
West: 7. Real Salt Lake def. 0-0 (6-5 penalties) 2. Seattle Sounders FC
Conference semifinals
Nov. 25:
Colorado Rapids def. 1-0 Portland Timbers
Nov. 28:
Real Salt Lake def. 2-1 Sporting Kansas City
Philadelphia Union def. 1-1 (2-0 penalties) Nashville SC
Nov. 30:
New York City FC def. 2-2 (5-3 penalties) New England Revolution
Conference finals
Dec. 4:
Portland Timbers def. 2-0 Real Salt Lake
Dec. 5:
New York City FC def. 2-1 Philadelphia Union
MLS Cup
Dec. 11:
Portland Timbers vs. New York City FC (3 p.m., stream live on ABC)