2026 MLS Cup Playoff Bracket Schedule, Predictions and Odds for Wild Card Round

The beginning of the MLS Cup Playoffs is drawing near, with defending champions Inter Miami expected to be contenders to repeat, thanks in large part to superstar Lionel Messi.

Arguably the best player of the last decade, he leads a team that is right in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference, while the Vancouver Whitecaps, last year's runners-up, will look to avenge that loss and win the first MLS Cup in franchise history.

Where do those two teams stand in the current odds, what does the MLS Cup Playoffs schedule look like, and who may take home to top prize in the game when all is said and done? Find out in this preview.

Key Dates

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Decision Day: Saturday, November 7

The playoff picture is decided on the final regular-season day of the MLS season.

Wild Card Matches: Wednesday, November 18

Single-elimination games in each conference between the eighth and ninth seeds.

Round One Best-of-3 Series: Friday, November 20 - Wednesday, December 3

The top seven teams from each conference automatically qualify and are joined by the winning Wild Card team. All 16 teams play at least one home game.

Conference Semifinals: Saturday, December 5 - Sunday, December 6

The highest-seeded teams remaining host four win-or-go-home matches.

Conference Finals: Friday, December 11 - Saturday, December 12

Each conference will feature one final match, with a spot in the MLS Cup on the line. The two teams with the best regular-season records will host.

MLS Cup: Friday, December 18

The league championship match. This will mark the final awarding in the cup in the month of December as MLS will make a shift to a spring/summer schedule.

Current Odds

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To win the MLS Cup:

• Vancouver Whitecaps (+370)
• Nashville SC (+470)
• Inter Miami SC (+550)
• Los Angeles Football Club (+1000)
• New England (+1300)
• Houston Dynamo (+1400)
• Chicago Fire (+1400)
• FC Dallas (+1400)
• St. Louis City SC (+1400)
• Philadelphia Union (+1600)
• San Jose Earthquakes (+2000)
• Charlotte FC (+2000)
• Seattle Sounders (+3500)
• Orlando City (+3500)
• Colorado Rapids (+4000)
• FC Cincinnati (+4500)
• New York City FC (+6500)
• DC United (+6500)
• San Diego FC (+7500)
• Portland Timbers (+8000)
• LA Galaxy (+8000)
• New York Red Bulls (+8000)
• Toronto FC (+10000)
• Real Salt Lake (+12500)
• Minnesota United (+12500)
• Columbus Crew (+17500)
• Atlanta (+25000)
• Austin FC (+25000)
• CF Montreal (+30000)

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook

Vancouver Seeking Revenge, First MLS Cup

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The 2025 season for the Vancouver Whitecaps was one of tremendous success and heartbreak.

The organization reached its first MLS Cup final on December 6, a milestone moment for the franchise. They subsequently fell to Inter Miami, who hung three goals on them in a largely one-sided showdown.

This year, the squad is seeking revenge and their first cup win. They are as poised as any team to accomplish both.

The Whitecaps sit atop the Western Conference and have the second-best goal differential in the sport (64 to 31). They are 16-7, score prolifically and regularly, and have veteran leadership across their roster.

Thomas Müller is not only a high-profile addition for the team, but is one of the best players of his generation. He has backed up the hype with nine goals and 16 assists in 23 games for Vancouver.

Add to that the driving play of midfielder Ryan Gauld, and you have a team that has built on the momentum of last year's disappointment and is prepared to, potentially, match up with the Lionel Messi-led Miami squad or Sam Surridge and Nashville, with the most coveted prize in MLS at stake.

The latter has been the best so far this season and may prove too difficult to dethrone.

Early Prediction: Nashville takes the MLS Cup on the strength of an even higher point differential and a 20-3 win-loss record.