Below are the clinching and elimination scenarios for the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs for the Inter Miami CF – Charlotte FC match to be played on Wednesday, Oct. 18, and the Western Conference matches to be played on Decision Day (Saturday, Oct. 21).
The full Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs clinching scenarios for Decision Day will be released by MLS Communications on Thursday, Oct. 19.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
CLINCHED PLAYOFF BERTH: FC Cincinnati, Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Union, Columbus Crew, New England Revolution, Atlanta United, Nashville SC
ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFF CONTENTION: D.C. United, Inter Miami CF, Toronto FC
NEW YORK CITY FOOTBALL CLUB (38 points, 8-11-14)
New York City Football Club is eliminated from Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs contention with:
- Charlotte FC WIN at Inter Miami CF (Wednesday, Oct. 18)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
CLINCHED PLAYOFF BERTH: St. Louis CITY SC, Los Angeles Football Club, Seattle Sounders FC, Houston Dynamo FC, Real Salt Lake, Vancouver Whitecaps FC
ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFF CONTENTION: Austin FC, Colorado Rapids, LA Galaxy
PORTLAND TIMBERS (43 points, 11-12-10)
The Portland Timbers can clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs berth with:
- Portland Timbers WIN vs. Houston Dynamo FC OR
- Portland Timbers DRAW vs. Houston Dynamo FC AND San Jose Earthquakes DRAW vs. Austin FC OR
- Portland Timbers DRAW vs. Houston Dynamo FC AND FC Dallas DRAW at LA Galaxy OR
- San Jose Earthquakes LOSS vs. Austin FC OR
- FC Dallas LOSS at LA Galaxy OR
- Sporting Kansas City DRAW vs. Minnesota United FC
FC DALLAS (43 points, 10-10-13)
FC Dallas can clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs berth with:
- FC Dallas WIN at LA Galaxy OR
- FC Dallas DRAW at LA Galaxy AND Portland Timbers LOSS vs. Houston Dynamo FC OR
- FC Dallas DRAW at LA Galaxy AND San Jose Earthquakes LOSS/DRAW vs. Austin FC OR
- San Jose Earthquakes LOSS vs. Austin FC AND FC Dallas advantage in tiebreakers over San Jose Earthquakes OR
- Sporting Kansas City DRAW vs. Minnesota United FC
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (43 points, 10-10-13)
The San Jose Earthquakes can clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs berth with:
- San Jose Earthquakes WIN vs. Austin FC OR
- San Jose Earthquakes DRAW vs. Austin FC AND Portland Timbers LOSS vs. Houston Dynamo FC OR
- San Jose Earthquakes DRAW vs. Austin FC AND FC Dallas LOSS at LA Galaxy OR
- FC Dallas LOSS at LA Galaxy AND San Jose Earthquakes advantage in tiebreakers over FC Dallas OR
- Sporting Kansas City DRAW vs. Minnesota United FC
SPORTING KANSAS CITY (41 points, 11-14-8)
Sporting Kansas City can clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs berth with:
- Sporting Kansas City WIN vs. Minnesota United FC AND Portland Timbers LOSS/DRAW vs. Houston Dynamo FC OR
- Sporting Kansas City WIN vs. Minnesota United FC AND San Jose Earthquakes LOSS/DRAW vs. Austin FC OR
- Sporting Kansas City WIN vs. Minnesota United FC AND FC Dallas LOSS/DRAW at LA Galaxy
MINNESOTA UNITED FC (41 points, 10-12-11)
Minnesota United FC can clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs berth with:
- Minnesota United FC WIN at Sporting Kansas City AND Portland Timbers LOSS/DRAW vs. Houston Dynamo FC OR
- Minnesota United FC WIN at Sporting Kansas City AND San Jose Earthquakes LOSS/DRAW vs. Austin FC OR
- Minnesota United FC WIN at Sporting Kansas City AND FC Dallas LOSS/DRAW at LA Galaxy
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC (50 points, 13-9-11)
Seattle Sounders FC can clinch top-four seed in the Western Conference of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs with:
- Seattle Sounders FC WIN/DRAW at St. Louis CITY SC OR
- Houston Dynamo FC LOSS/DRAW at Portland Timbers AND Real Salt Lake LOSS/DRAW at Colorado Rapids OR
- Houston Dynamo FC LOSS/DRAW at Portland Timbers AND Vancouver Whitecaps FC LOSS/DRAW vs. LAFC OR
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC LOSS/DRAW vs. LAFC AND Real Salt Lake LOSS/DRAW at Colorado Rapids
HOUSTON DYNAMO FC (48 points, 13-11-9)
Houston Dynamo FC can clinch top-four seed in the Western Conference of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs with:
- Houston Dynamo FC WIN at Portland Timbers OR
- Houston Dynamo FC DRAW at Portland Timbers AND Vancouver Whitecaps FC LOSS/DRAW vs. LAFC AND Real Salt Lake LOSS/DRAW at Colorado Rapids OR
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC LOSS/DRAW vs. LAFC AND Real Salt Lake LOSS at Colorado Rapids OR
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC LOSS/DRAW vs. LAFC AND Real Salt Lake DRAW at Colorado Rapids AND Houston Dynamo FC advantage in tiebreakers over Real Salt Lake
REAL SALT LAKE (47 points, 13-12-8)
Real Salt Lake can clinch top-four seed in the Western Conference of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs with:
- Real Salt Lake WIN at Colorado Rapids AND Seattle Sounders FC LOSS at St. Louis CITY SC OR
- Real Salt Lake WIN at Colorado Rapids AND Houston Dynamo FC LOSS/DRAW at Portland Timbers OR
- Real Salt Lake DRAW at Colorado Rapids AND Houston Dynamo FC LOSS at Portland Timbers AND Vancouver Whitecaps FC LOSS/DRAW vs. LAFC AND Real Salt Lake advantage in tiebreakers over Houston Dynamo FC
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC (47 points, 12-10-11)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC can clinch top-four seed in the Western Conference of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs with:
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC WIN vs. LAFC AND Seattle Sounders FC LOSS at St. Louis CITY SC AND Houston Dynamo FC LOSS/DRAW at Portland Timbers OR
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC WIN vs. LAFC AND Seattle Sounders FC LOSS at St. Louis CITY SC AND Real Salt Lake LOSS/DRAW at Colorado Rapids OR
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC WIN vs. LAFC AND Houston Dynamo FC LOSS/DRAW at Portland Timbers AND Real Salt Lake LOSS/DRAW at Colorado Rapids
Tiebreaking Procedures
In the event that two or more teams finish the regular season with an equal number of points (or points per game), the following tiebreakers will be used. If the standard of points per game is used, the tiebreakers will be calculated on a per-game basis.
- Total number of wins
- Goal Differential (GD)
- Goals For (GF)
- Fewest Disciplinary Points* per match
- Away Goals Differential
- Away Goals
- Home Goals Differential
- Home Goals For
- Coin Toss (tie of two clubs) or Drawing of Lots (tie of three or more clubs)
After a winner of the MLS regular-season tiebreaker is determined, any clubs that remain tied from the first round of tiebreaker shall go through a second round of the MLS regular-season tiebreaker procedures in order to determine team standings.
The MLS regular-season tiebreaker protocol will continue until the final team standings have been determined.