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US Soccer
Final Sat, Nov 7MLSSeattle Sounders FC 2-1 Los Angeles Football Club
Final Sun, Nov 8NWSLGotham FC 1-0 Seattle Reign
Final Sun, Nov 8NWSLWashington Spirit 4-1 Portland Thorns
Sat, Nov 14 9:00 AM PTNWSLWashington SpiritvsUtah Royals
Sun, Nov 15 12:00 PM PTNWSLGotham FCvsKansas City Current
Schedule: FixtureDownload

MLS sets Round One playoff schedule, with Inter Miami opening against Columbus

The best-of-3 series begin Nov. 21, while the Washington Spirit will host their NWSL semifinal at Audi Field and Gotham FC’s venue is still undecided.

By the Open Scoring Sports newsroom ·

Illustration: empty floodlit soccer stadium at dusk, pristine pitch, goalposts, and full empty stands awaiting kickoff.

MLS announces Round One playoff schedule

Major League Soccer announced the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One schedule, with the best-of-3 series opening Saturday, Nov. 21. The higher seed hosts Game 1 and, if needed, Game 3; the lower seed hosts Game 2. Teams advance by winning two matches, with penalty kicks deciding games tied after regulation.

The opening day features New England Revolution hosting Philadelphia Union at 2 p.m. ET, FC Dallas hosting Portland Timbers at 4 p.m. ET and Inter Miami CF hosting Columbus Crew at Nu Stadium at 6 p.m. ET. Nashville SC, the Supporters’ Shield winners, open their series Sunday, Nov. 22, against either Orlando City SC or FC Cincinnati. Every playoff match will be available on Apple TV, and MLS Cup is scheduled for Dec. 18.

Washington Spirit keep semifinal at Audi Field

The Washington Spirit will host Utah Royals FC in their NWSL semifinal at Audi Field on Saturday, Nov. 14, at noon ET, with the match airing on CBS. The venue change followed a scheduling conflict with a Division III football game that had been set for the same day.

The Spirit announced the venue after beating Portland Thorns FC 4-1 in a quarterfinal. The club said D.C. United and Lafayette Federal Credit Union helped bring the semifinal back to Audi Field.

Gotham’s semifinal venue remains uncertain after pitch complaints

Gotham FC’s semifinal against the Kansas City Current is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 15, but the NWSL has not announced the venue. The team could play at Icahn Stadium in New York City as questions persist over the condition of the field at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Gotham advanced with a 1-0 quarterfinal win over Seattle Reign FC on an own goal in the fourth minute. Seattle coach Laura Harvey called the Sports Illustrated Stadium pitch unfit for a playoff match, and ESPN reported that the league fined Gotham $10,000 over field conditions before the quarterfinal.

Spirit and Gotham advance in NWSL quarterfinals

The Spirit defeated Portland 4-1 on Sunday, Nov. 8, with Trinity Rodman scoring twice. Mélissa Bethi and Clara Luvanga also scored for Washington, which will face Utah in the semifinals.

Gotham beat Seattle 1-0 to reach the semifinals, with Jordyn Bugg’s fourth-minute own goal deciding the match. Gotham advanced despite not recording a shot on target, according to ESPN.

Sources (9)

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