The beginner's guide to the MLS Playoffs

You might be wondering how the MLS Cup Playoffs work, who to follow and why its worth watching. We've compiled everything you need to know before the Playoffs get underway.

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The favourites

FC Dallas

It's been an historic season for Dallas, winning the Supporters Shield for the first time, along with the US Open Cup. If the Hoops can take out the MLS Cup, they will be the first MLS side to do the treble.

Home-field advantage will be key for Dallas going into the playoffs, having lost just one match at Toyota stadium this season.

Colorado Rapids

Colorado's 2016 campaign was written off as a transition year by many after the rapids finished bottom of the Western Conference last season but a remarkable turnaround has seen the Rapids go from cellar dwellers to second place in 12 months.

Former Everton keeper Tim Howard has been a revelation since joining the Rapids in March, providing a calming presence and wealth of experience between the sticks.

The 37 year-old's big game experience will be invaluable to Pablo Mastroeni's side heading into the playoffs.

New York Red Bulls

Unbeaten in its last 16 games and sitting pretty at the top of the Eastern Conference, there’s plenty to fear about this New York Red Bulls side. Golden boot winner Bradley Wright Phillips continues to lead the way from the front, bagging 24 goals in another stellar MLS season.

Benefiting from a bye in the first week, expect the Red Bulls to come into the conference semi-finals fit and firing.

They may appear unstoppable, but the Red Bulls do have an Achilles heel - three wins from 17 matches away from home this season could be a factor in the latter stages of the Playoffs.

Star Players

Sebastian Giovinco

The 29 year-old joined the MLS at the peak of his powers in 2015 and took the league by storm, breaking the record for most combined goals and assists in his debut season. He's shown no signs of a second season slump in 2016, with 17 goals in 15 assists in 28 games.

His spectacular dribbling, technique and eye for goal make the Italian the focal point of Toronto FC's attack. Put simply, his form determines how far Toronto can go in the playoffs.

David Villa

Spain’s all-time leading goalscorer, David Villa’s 23-goal haul for New York City FC helped NYCFC to a second-placed finish in the Eastern Conference behind bitter rivals New York Red Bulls.

With the likes of Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo providing quality service, expect Villa to fire New York deep into the Playoffs.

Didier Drogba

Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has enjoyed a decorated career for club and country and when the 38 year-old signed for Montreal Impact in 2015, most people assumed his career would wind down.

However, Drogba has shown no signs of slowing down since joining the club with 22 goals in 36 MLS games.

Any side is a chance of going all the way with Drogba leading the line, terrorising defenders with power, technique and clinical finishing.

Bradley Wright Phillips

It was another prolific season for Bradley Wright-Phillips winning the MLS golden boot for his 24 goal haul as the Red Bulls finished top of the Western Conference. If he can keep this up, he will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest strikers in MLS history.

A natural goalscorer, Wright Phillips can score from anywhere making clever runs, he has a knack for popping up in the right place at the right time.

How the Playoffs work

The playoffs feature the top 12 teams from the Eastern and Western Conferences (six from each), who face off in their respective conference brackets. The top two teams go straight to the semi-finals, leaving third to play sixth and fourth v fifth in the first round.

In the Conference semi-finals, The lowest ranked winner faces the first placed side and the highest ranked winner faces the second placed side.

The winner of the conference semi finals and finals is determined by goals aggregate over two legs (home and away) and if scores are level, the winner is decided by the away goal rule.

If both sides are equal after applying the away goal rule, 30 minutes of extra time (and a penalty shootout if required) will be played. The away goal rule does not apply to goals scored in Extra Time.

Next up is the MLS Cup final, when the last remaining Eastern Conference side faces the last remaining Western conference side to determine who is the best in MLS.

Fact file

No MLS side has won the Treble
Toronto stepped it up at the back this season. In 2015 it conceded 58 goals (equal worst in MLS), in 2016, it let in just 39 goals – the best defensive record in the Eastern conference and second best overall.
With 42 points, Philadelphia Union has the lowest points total for an MLS playoffs side since 2006. Also going into the Playoffs on the back of a seven game winless run, things don’t look good for the Union.
MLS ranked seventh in the world for average football attendance in 2016
Toronto and Philadelphia, who face each other in the first round of playoffs, have a spent a combined 17 seasons in the MLS, with zero playoff wins.
La Galaxy is the only club to win the MLS Cup five times