2022 MLS Cup playoffs explained

See main article: 2022 Major League Soccer season.

MLS Cup Playoffs
Year:2022
Country:United States
Canada
Num Teams:14
Defending Champions:New York City FC
Champions:Los Angeles FC (1st title)
Runner-Up:Philadelphia Union
Semi-Finalist1:Austin FC
Semi-Finalist2:New York City FC
Matches:13
Goals:41
Top Goal Scorer: Sebastián Driussi
Maximiliano Moralez
(3 goals each)
Prevseason:2021
Nextseason:2023

The 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs (branded as the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs for sponsorship reasons) was the 27th edition of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the post-season championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top soccer league in the United States and Canada. The tournament culminated the 2022 MLS regular season. The tournament began on October 15 and concluded with MLS Cup 2022 on November 5, 16 days before the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[1]

New York City FC entered the playoffs as the defending MLS champions, but were eliminated in the conference finals by the Philadelphia Union. Los Angeles FC entered as Supporters' Shield winners and won their first MLS Cup, defeating the Philadelphia Union in a penalty shoot-out. The 2022 playoffs marked the first since 2008 where no teams from the Pacific Northwest region (including 2021 finalist Portland Timbers) qualified; Seattle Sounders FC failed to qualify for the first time in their MLS history, snapping a league-record thirteen-year playoff streak.[2] Austin FC and FC Cincinnati reached the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in 2022.

Qualified teams

Eastern Conference
Western Conference

Conference standings

The top seven teams in the Eastern and Western Conference qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs, with the conference champions receiving first round byes. A green background denotes teams that qualified for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League.Eastern ConferenceWestern Conference

Bracket

Note: The higher seeded teams hosted matches, with the MLS Cup host determined by overall points.

First round

The second through fourth seeded teams in each conference hosted the first round matches. The top seeds in each conference received a bye to the Conference semifinals.

Eastern Conference

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Western Conference

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Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference

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Western Conference

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Conference finals

The higher-seeded teams in each conference hosted the matches.

Western Conference

MLS Cup 2022

See main article: MLS Cup 2022. The highest-ranked team remaining in the overall table (Los Angeles FC) hosted the match.

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerClubGoals[3]
1 Sebastián DriussiAustin FC3
Maximiliano MoralezNew York City FC
3 Cristian ArangoLos Angeles FC2
Denis BouangaLos Angeles FC
Sergio CórdovaReal Salt Lake
Jack ElliottPhiladelphia Union
HéberNew York City FC
Dániel GazdagPhiladelphia Union
Djordje MihailovicCF Montréal

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs Schedule . MLSSoccer.com . October 3, 2022. Major League Soccer. September 12, 2022.
  2. News: Booth . Chuck . October 10, 2022 . MLS Playoff Schedule: LAFC win Supporters Shield for best record; postseason begins Oct. 15 . . October 10, 2022.
  3. Web site: Stats. Major League Soccer. MLSsoccer.com. October 20, 2022.