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The MLS Cup Playoffs Are Upon Us: How To Watch, Bracket And Knockout Round Preview

Major League Soccer’s Decision Day (the final match week of the regular season) came and went this past Sunday and served as the perfect precursor to the main event: we have absolutely no idea how this’ll all pan out. You’ll find our how to watch MLS Playoffs 2018 and a knockout round preview below. 

On the aforementioned D-Day, we witnessed two massive shocks: (1) Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s LA Galaxy failed to defeat an already eliminated Houston side in Los Angeles and crashed out of the playoffs, giving the six-seed in the West to Real Salt Lake and (2) an already eliminated Toronto FC hammered Atlanta United at BMO Field, handing the Supporters’ Shield and the one-seed in the East to the New York Red Bulls.

Additionally, the final match day revealed a playoff place for #SavedTheCrew, who’ll play Wayne Rooney’s D.C. United at its new fortress (United has a home record of 12W-1D-2L at Audi Field), and the completion of a remarkable surge to the two-seed in the West by Seattle, meaning that both LAFC and Dallas have to settle for home matches in the knockout round.  

How To Watch MLS Playoffs 2018 

2018 MLS Cup Playoffs Knockout Round Schedule

Eastern Conference

No. 3 New York City FC vs. No. 6 Philadelphia Union

Wednesday, October 31 | 7:00 p.m. ET | Yankee Stadium, The Bronx

  • TV: FS1 and UniMas 
  • Stream: Fubo TV, Sling TV, Fox Sports GO, Univision NOW 

No. 4 D.C. United vs. No. 5 Columbus Crew 

Thursday, November 1 | 8:00 p.m. ET | Audi Field, Washington D.C.

  • TV: FS1 and UniMas
  • Stream: Fubo TV, Sling TV, Fox Sports GO, Univision NOW

Western Conference

No. 4 FC Dallas vs. No. 5 Portland Timbers

Wednesday, October 31 | 9:30 p.m. ET | Toyota Stadium, Frisco 

  • TV: UniMas and Root Sports Northwest
  • Stream: ESPN+, Fubo TV, Sling TV, Univision NOW

No. 3 Los Angeles FC vs. No. 6 Real Salt Lake

Thursday, November 1 | 10:30 p.m. ET | Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles

  • TV: ESPN2 and UniMas 
  • Stream: WatchESPN, Fubo TV, Sling TV, Univision NOW, YouTube

Conference Semifinals 

First legs will take place on Sunday, November 4; second legs will take place on Sunday, November 11. Kickoff times TBD. 

Eastern Conference

No. 1 New York Red Bulls vs. Highest Remaining Seed

No. 2 Atlanta United vs. Lowest Remaining Seed

Western Conference

No. 1 Sporting Kansas City vs. Highest Remaining Seed

No. 2 Seattle Sounders vs. Lowest Remaining Seed 

Conference Championships

First legs will take place on Sunday, November 25; second legs will take place on Thursday, November 29.

2018 MLS Cup

The host will be the finalist with the best regular season record. The match will be played on Saturday, December 8. 

2018 MLS Cup Playoffs: Knockout Round Preview

Eastern Conference 

No. 3 New York City FC vs. No. 6 Philadelphia Union

Records at a Glance

NYCFC: 16W-10L-8T (12-1-4 home) | 59 GF, 45 GA

Union: 15W-14L-5T (6-8-3 away) | 49 GF, 50 GA

Top Scorers and Providers

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NYCFC: David Villa (10 goals); Maxi Moralez (9 assists) 

Union: Cory Burke and Fabrice-Jean Pinault (10 Goals); Borek Dockal (12 assists)

No. 4 D.C. United vs. No. 5 Columbus Crew

Records at a Glance

United: 14W-11L-9T (13-2-2 home) | 60 GF, 50 GA

Crew: 14W-11L-9T (3-9-5 away) | 43 GF, 45 GA

Top Scorers and Providers 

Embed from Getty Images

United: Wayne Rooney (12 goals); Luciano Acosta (15 assists) 

Crew: Gyasi Zardes (19 goals); Federico Higuain (6 assists) 

Western Conference 

No. 3 Los Angeles FC vs. No. 6 Real Salt Lake

Records at a Glance

LAFC: 16W-9L-9T (9-1-7 home) | 68 GF, 52 GA

RSL: 14W-13L-7T (3-11-3 away) | 55 GF, 58 GA

Top Scorers and Providers

Embed from Getty Images

LAFC: Carlos Vela (14 goals); Vela (10 assists) 

RSL: Damir Kreplach (12 goals); Jefferson Savarino (9 assists)

No. 4 FC Dallas vs. No. 5 Portland Timbers

Records at a Glance

FCD: 16W-9L-9D (10-2-5 home) | 52GF, 44GA

Timbers: 15W-10L-9T (4-8-5 away) | 54 GF, 48 GA

Top Scorers and Providers

Embed from Getty Images

FCD: Maximiliano Urruti and Roland Lamah (8 goals); Urruti (7 assists)

Timbers: Diego Valeri and Sebastian Blanco (10 goals); Valeri (8 assists) 

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