Round one of the best-of-3 series explained: Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs

After the Wild Card games, the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs will continue with eight best-of-3 first-round series.

The first round best-of-3 series runs from Friday, October 25th to Sunday, November 10th. With the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, every game is broadcast.

The top seven teams in each conference automatically qualified for the first-round best-of-3 series, followed by the winners of the wild card matches.

All 16 teams participating in the first round win at least one home game in the series. The first team to win two games advances. Four teams from each conference advance to the conference semifinals.

• No. 1 Inter Miami CF vs. No. 9 Atlanta United
• No. 2 Columbus Crew vs. No. 7 New York Red Bulls
• No. 3 FC Cincinnati vs. No. 6 New York City FC
• No. 4 Orlando City SC vs. No. 5 Charlotte FC

• No. 1 LAFC vs. No. 8 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
• No. 2 LA Galaxy vs. No. 7 Colorado Rapids
• No. 3 Real Salt Lake vs. No. 6 Minnesota United FC
• No. 4 Seattle Sounders FC vs. No. 5 Houston Dynamo FC

• Game 1: Higher Seed Hosts
• Game 2: Lower seed hosts
• Game 3 (if necessary): Higher seed hosts

Just win: There is a winner in each game in the first round. No draws, no total points.

PK Shootout: If a game is tied after regular time (90 minutes), No extra time will be played. Teams will take part Shots from the penalty spot to determine the winner.

Best of 3: The first team to win two games advances. Conversely, the loser's playoff journey ends.

The winner of each first-round best-of-3 series advances to the conference semifinals, November 23-24.

If a conference semifinal game is tied after regulation time (90 minutes), Two 15-minute overtime periods will be played in their entirety. If the score is still tied after two extra periods, a winner will be determined via a Penalty shootout.

• Series #1 vs. #8/9 vs. Series #4 vs. #5 winners
• Series #3 vs. #6 vs. Series #2 vs. #7 winner

• Series #1 vs. #8/9 vs. Series #4 vs. #5 winners
• Series #3 vs. #6 vs. Series #2 vs. #7 winner

Date: The MLS Cup presented by Audi will take place on December 7th.

Hosting: Hosting rights will be awarded to the finalist with the better regular season record. If both finalists have the same number of points in the regular season, the team with more wins – or, if they are tied in that category, with the better goal difference – will host the MLS Cup.