Overview
- Decision Day lands on Nov. 7, followed by the November FIFA window before the playoffs begin.
- The format stays the same: top nine per conference, 8‑vs‑9 Wild Card, best‑of‑three Round One, then single‑elimination rounds.
- Key dates include Wild Card on Nov. 18, Round One from Nov. 20–Dec. 2, Conference Semifinals Dec. 5–6, and Conference Finals Dec. 11–12.
- MLS Cup is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 18 in primetime to reduce overlap with college football, airing on Apple TV and Fox in the United States.
- This will be the latest MLS Cup to date and the last December final before a 2027 calendar transition that starts with a short sprint season.