The 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs, the postseason championship of the MLS, start on Friday. The competition marks the end of the MLS regular season and will commence on October 15 and end with MLS Cup 2022 on November 5, which is 16 days before the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
Los Angeles FC enters the playoffs as the Supporters’ Shield champions, while New York City FC is the reigning MLS Cup champions. This will be the first time no clubs from the Pacific Northwest region are in the playoffs, with Seattle and Portland failing to qualify. This will also be the first time in the playoffs for Austin FC, FC Cincinnati, and Inter Miami CF.
2022 MLS Cup Playoffs Seeding
The top seven teams from each conference (the Eastern and Western) qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs. The opening round games are hosted by the second through fourth-seeded clubs in each conference. Each conference’s top seeds received a bye into the conference semifinals. Full seedings by conference and first round match ups are below are below.
Western Conference
| Pos | Team | Pld | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 67 |
| 2 | CF Montréal | 34 | 65 |
| 3 | New York City FC | 34 | 55 |
| 4 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 53 |
| 5 | FC Cincinnati | 34 | 49 |
| 6 | Inter Miami CF | 34 | 48 |
| 7 | Orlando City SC | 34 | 48 |
#2 CF Montréal vs #7 Orlando City SC
#3 New York City FC vs #6 Inter Miami CF
#4 New York Red Bulls vs #5 FC Cincinnati
Eastern Conference
| Pos | Team | Pld | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles FC | 34 | 67 |
| 2 | Austin FC | 34 | 56 |
| 3 | FC Dallas | 34 | 53 |
| 4 | LA Galaxy | 34 | 50 |
| 5 | Nashville SC | 34 | 50 |
| 6 | Minnesota United FC | 34 | 48 |
| 7 | Real Salt Lake | 34 | 47 |
#2 Austin FC vs #7 Real Salt Lake
#3 FC Dallas vs #6 Minnesota United FC
#4 LA Galaxy vs #5 Nashville SC
Rox and Ken discuss their first round picks and make some way too early picks for the MLS Cup 2022 champion.
