2023 MLS Cup Playoffs: Live stream, new format, game times and dates, odds, how to watch

Jim Reineking, USA TODAY

October 25, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.·6 min read

The newly formatted MLS playoffs is down to one final, intriguing matchup.

➤ Columbus Crew vs. Los Angeles FC, Saturday, Dec. 9 (4 p.m. ET on FOX and MLS Season Pass) — The reigning league champion LAFC defeated the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference final and has a chance to become the league's first repeat title winner since their rival, Los Angeles Galaxy, did so in 2011-12. Winning MLS Cup would be sweet redemption for LAFC, which entered the 2023 season with a chance to win six trophies (MLS Cup, Supporters' Shield, U.S. Open Cup, CONCACAF Champions League, Leagues Cup, Campeones Cup), only to lose out on winning five of those prizes. In the realest Hell is Real derby to date, the Columbus Crew rallied to defeat the rival FC Cincinnati in extra time in the Eastern Conference final. MLS Cup will be played at Columbus' Lower.com Field, which opened in July 2021.

What is the new MLS playoff format for 2023?

A total of 18 teams qualify for the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs — the top nine finishers from each conference.

The eighth- and ninth-place finishers in each conference will play in wild-card matches. The top seven seeds qualify for the Round 1 best-of-three series.

Here is the playoff schedule:

Oct. 25: Wild-card matches (single-elimination matches)
Oct. 28-Nov. 12: Round 1 (best-of-three series)
Nov. 25-Dec. 3: Conference semifinals and finals (single-elimination matches)
Dec. 9: MLS Cup (single winner-take-all match)

Which teams made the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs?

EASTERN CONFERENCE

WESTERN CONFERENCE

How to watch and stream 2023 MLS playoff games

All MLS playoff games are available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Some playoff games will also be available on FOX Sports networks.

What is the schedule for the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs?

WILD-CARD RESULTS

ROUND 1 SCORES AND RESULTS (best of three)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

FC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls

Orlando City SC vs. Nashville SC

Game 1: Orlando City SC 1, Nashville SC 0
Game 2: Orlando City SC 1, Nashville SC 0

Columbus Crew vs. Atlanta United FC

Game 1: Columbus Crew 2, Atlanta United FC 0
Game 2: Atlanta United FC 4, Columbus Crew 2
Game 3: Columbus Crew 4, Atlanta United FC 2

Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution

Game 1: Philadelphia Union 3, New England Revolution 1
Game 2: Philadelphia Union 1, New England Revolution 0

WESTERN CONFERENCE

St. Louis City SC vs. Sporting Kansas City

Game 1: Sporting Kansas City 4, St. Louis City SC 1
Game 2: Sporting Kansas City 2, St. Louis City SC 1

Seattle Sounders FC vs. FC Dallas

Game 1: Seattle Sounders FC 2, FC Dallas 0
Game 2: FC Dallas 3, Seattle Sounders FC 1
Game 3: Seattle Sounders FC 1, FC Dallas 0

Los Angeles FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Game 1: Los Angeles FC 5, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
Game 2: Los Angeles FC 1, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0

Houston Dynamo FC vs. Real Salt Lake

CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

Saturday, Nov. 25

Sunday, Nov. 26

CONFERENCE FINALS

Saturday, Dec. 2

MLS Cup

Saturday, Dec. 9

Columbus Crew vs. Los Angeles FC, 4 p.m. ET (MLS Season Pass and FOX)

Where will 2023 MLS Cup be played?

The MLS championship game is held in the home stadium of the finalist that finished the regular season with the most points.

MLS Cup: Ranking all 27 championship games

Who is favored to win MLS Cup?

Entering the playoffs, FC Cincinnati (+333) were favorites to win the 2023 league championship, according to BetMGM.

Here were the odds for the other teams to win the title: Los Angeles FC (+600), St. Louis City SC (+650), Orlando City SC (+1000), Columbus Crew (+1200), Philadelphia Union (+1200), Seattle Sounders FC (+1400), New England Revolution (+1400), Nashville SC (+2000), Real Salt Lake (+2200), Houston Dynamo FC (+2500), Atlanta United (+2500), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (+2800), FC Dallas (+5000), New York Red Bulls (+5000), San Jose Earthquakes (+6500), Sporting Kansas City (+6600), Charlotte FC (+6600).

Which team has won the most MLS Cups?

The Los Angeles Galaxy have won the most MLS Cups, winning five in nine appearances. D.C. United has won four MLS Cups, but hasn't won the title since 2004. The Houston Dynamo, Seattle Sounders, Sporting Kansas City, Columbus Crew and San Jose Earthquakes have each won two MLS Cups.

Which teams have won MLS Cup?

2022: Los Angeles FC over Philadelphia Union (Banc of California Stadium), 3-3 (LAFC won penalty shootout, 3-0)
2021: New York City FC over Portland Timbers (Providence Park), 1-1 (NYCFC won penalty shootout, 4-2)
2020: Columbus Crew over Seattle Sounders (Mapfre Stadium), 3-0
2019: Seattle Sounders FC over Toronto FC (CenturyLink Field), 3-1
2018: Atlanta United over Portland Timbers (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), 2-0
2017: Toronto FC over Seattle Sounders FC (BMO Field), 2-0
2016: Seattle Sounders FC over Toronto FC (BMO Field), 0-0 (Sounders won penalty shootout, 5-4)
2015: Portland Timbers over Columbus Crew (Mapfre Stadium), 2-1
2014: Los Angeles Galaxy over New England Revolution (StubHub Center), 2-1 (extra time)
2013: Sporting Kansas City over Real Salt Lake (Sporting Park), 1-1 (SKC won penalty shootout, 7-6)
2012: Los Angeles Galaxy over Houston Dynamo (Home Depot Center), 3-1
2011: Los Angeles Galaxy over Houston Dynamo (Home Depot Center), 1-0
2010: Colorado Rapids over FC Dallas (BMO Field), 2-1 (extra time)
2009: Real Salt Lake over Los Angeles Galaxy (Qwest Field), 1-1 (RSL won penalty shootout, 5-4)
2008: Columbus Crew over New York Red Bulls (Home Depot Center), 3-1
2007: Houston Dynamo over New England Revolution (RFK Stadium), 2-1
2006: Houston Dynamo over New England Revolution (Pizza Hut Park), 1-1 (Dynamo won penalty shootout, 4-3)
2005: Los Angeles Galaxy over New England Revolution (Pizza Hut Park), 1-0 (extra time)
2004: D.C. United over Kansas City Wizards (Home Depot Center), 3-2
2003: San Jose Earthquakes over Chicago Fire (Home Depot Center), 4-2
2002: Los Angeles Galaxy over New England Revolution (Gillette Stadium), 1-0 (extra time)
2001: San Jose Earthquakes over Los Angeles Galaxy (Crew Stadium), 2-1 (extra time)
2000: Kansas City Wizards over Chicago Fire (RFK Stadium), 1-0
1999: D.C. United over Los Angeles Galaxy (Foxboro Stadium), 2-0
1998: Chicago Fire over D.C. United (Rose Bowl), 2-0
1997: D.C. United over Colorado Rapids (RFK Stadium), 2-1
1996: D.C. United over Los Angeles Galaxy (Foxboro Stadium), 3-2 (extra time)

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLS playoffs 2023: How to live stream, new format, bracket, odds

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