2026 MLS Cup Playoffs

Matchday 34: Who can clinch playoffs or be eliminated?

PlayoffScenarios-MD34-SEA

During Matchday 34 this weekend:

  • Six teams can clinch an Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs spot.
  • Six teams can be eliminated from Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs contention.
  • Vancouver can clinch the Western Conference No. 1 seed.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Orlando City logo
Orlando City

Orlando will clinch a berth in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs if:

  1. ❌ Orlando win at Charlotte or...
  2. ❌ Orlando draw at Charlotte AND Toronto lose/draw at Atlanta AND New York lose/draw at Nashville or...
  3. ✅ Toronto lose/draw at Atlanta AND New York lose at Nashville AND New York City lose/draw vs. Montréal

UPDATE: Orlando lost 4-0 at Charlotte.

FC Cincinnati logo
FC Cincinnati

Cincinnati will clinch a berth in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs if:

  1. ✅ Cincinnati win vs. Philadelphia or...
  2. ❌ Cincinnati draw vs. Philadelphia AND Toronto lose/draw at Atlanta AND New York draw at Nashville AND New York City lose/draw vs. Montréal or...
  3. ✅ Toronto lose/draw at Atlanta AND New York lose at Nashville AND New York City lose/draw vs. Montréal

UPDATE: Cincinnati won 1-0 vs. Philadelphia.

Columbus Crew logo
Columbus Crew

Columbus will clinch a berth in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs if:

  1. ✅ Columbus win vs. D.C. AND Toronto lose/draw at Atlanta AND New York lose/draw at Nashville

UPDATE: Columbus won 3-0 vs. D.C. United.

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Colorado Rapids logo
Colorado Rapids

Colorado will clinch a berth in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs if:

  1. ❌ Colorado win vs. Chicago AND Portland lose/draw vs. Houston or...
  2. ❌ Colorado win vs. Chicago AND Seattle lose at Vancouver or...
  3. ❌ Colorado win vs. Chicago AND Salt Lake lose at San Jose AND LA lose/draw vs. Austin or...
  4. ❌ Colorado draw vs. Chicago AND Salt Lake lose at San Jose AND Portland lose vs. Houston or...
  5. ❌ Colorado draw vs. Chicago AND LA lose vs. Austin AND Portland lose vs. Houston or...
  6. ❌ Colorado draw vs. Chicago AND Salt Lake draw at San Jose AND LA draw vs. Austin AND Portland lose vs. Houston

UPDATE: Colorado lost 4-2 vs. Chicago.

Seattle Sounders FC logo
Seattle Sounders FC

Seattle will clinch a berth in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs if:

  1. ❌ Seattle win at Vancouver AND Portland lose/draw vs. Houston or...
  2. ❌ Seattle win at Vancouver AND Salt Lake lose at San Jose AND LA lose/draw vs. Austin or...
  3. ❌ Seattle draw at Vancouver AND Salt Lake lose/draw at San Jose AND Minnesota lose/draw at LAFC AND LA lose/draw vs. Austin AND Portland lose vs. Houston

UPDATE: Seattle lost 5-1 at Vancouver.

Real Salt Lake logo
Real Salt Lake

Salt Lake will clinch a berth in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs if:

  1. ❌ Salt Lake win at San Jose AND LA lose/draw vs. Austin AND Portland lose/draw vs. Houston

UPDATE: Salt Lake lost 2-1 at San Jose.

NO. 1 SEED SCENARIO
Vancouver Whitecaps FC logo
Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Vancouver will clinch the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference if:

  1. ✅ Vancouver win vs. Seattle or...
  2. ✅ Dallas lose/draw at Kansas City

UPDATE: Vancouver won 5-1 vs. Seattle.

ELIMINATION SCENARIOS
Eastern Conference
Red Bull New York logo
Red Bull New York

New York will be eliminated from Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs contention if:

  1. ✅ New York lose at Nashville AND Columbus win vs. D.C. or...
  2. ❌ New York draw at Nashville AND Columbus win vs. D.C. AND Orlando win/draw at Charlotte AND Cincinnati win/draw vs. Philadelphia

UPDATE: New York lost 3-2 at Nashville.

Toronto FC logo
Toronto FC

Toronto will be eliminated from Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs contention if:

  1. ✅ Toronto lose/draw at Atlanta AND Columbus win vs. D.C. or...
  2. ❌ Toronto lose at Atlanta AND Columbus draw vs. D.C. or...
  3. ❌ Toronto lose at Atlanta AND New York win at Nashville

UPDATE: Toronto lost 3-1 at Atlanta.

New York City Football Club logo
New York City Football Club

New York City will be eliminated from Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs contention if:

  1. ❌ New York City lose vs. Montréal or...
  2. ✅ New York City draw vs. Montréal AND Columbus win/draw vs. D.C. or...
  3. ❌ New York City draw vs. Montréal AND New York win at Nashville or...
  4. ❌ Columbus win vs. D.C. AND Orlando win/draw at Charlotte AND Cincinnati win vs. Philadelphia

UPDATE: New York City drew 1-1 vs. Montréal.

ELIMINATION SCENARIOS
Western Conference
LA Galaxy logo
LA Galaxy

LA will be eliminated from Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs contention if:

  1. ❌ LA lose vs. Austin AND Salt Lake win at San Jose AND Seattle win at Vancouver AND Colorado win/draw vs. Chicago or...
  2. ❌ LA draw vs. Austin AND Salt Lake win at San Jose AND Seattle win at Vancouver AND Colorado win vs. Chicago

UPDATE: LA won 4-1 vs. Austin.

Portland Timbers logo
Portland Timbers

Portland will be eliminated from Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs contention if:

  1. ❌ Portland lose vs. Houston AND Salt Lake win/draw at San Jose AND Seattle win/draw at Vancouver AND Colorado win/draw vs. Chicago or...
  2. ❌ Portland lose vs. Houston AND LA win vs. Austin AND Seattle win/draw at Vancouver AND Colorado win/draw vs. Chicago or...
  3. ❌ Portland lose vs. Houston AND Salt Lake win at San Jose AND Seattle win/draw at Vancouver AND LA win vs. Austin or...
  4. ❌ Portland lose vs. Houston AND Colorado win/draw vs. Chicago AND LA win vs. Austin AND Salt Lake win at San Jose or...
  5. ❌ Portland draw vs. Houston AND Seattle win at Vancouver AND Salt Lake win at San Jose AND Colorado win vs. Chicago or...
  6. ❌ Portland draw vs. Houston AND Seattle win at Vancouver AND LA win vs. Austin AND Colorado win vs. Chicago

UPDATE: Portland won 3-1 vs. Houston.

Minnesota United FC logo
Minnesota United FC

Minnesota will be eliminated from Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs contention if:

  1. ❌ Minnesota lose/draw at LAFC or...
  2. ❌ LA win vs. Austin AND Seattle win at Vancouver AND Colorado win/draw vs. Chicago or...
  3. ❌ Salt Lake win at San Jose AND Seattle win at Vancouver AND Colorado win/draw vs. Chicago or...
  4. ❌ LA draw vs. Austin AND Salt Lake draw at San Jose AND Seattle win at Vancouver AND Colorado win/draw vs. Chicago

UPDATE: Minnesota won 3-1 at LAFC.