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The MLS Cup playoffs began with the knockout-round on Wednesday, Oct. 25, and Thursday, Oct. 26. They conclude with the MLS Cup final on ESPN on Saturday, Dec. 9.
The top six teams from each conference — Eastern and Western — qualified for the playoffs. The top two teams in each conference qualify directly for the conference semifinals, while the other eight teams go into winner-takes-all knockout round matches.
Toronto FC — last year’s MLS Cup runner-up — has won the Supporters’ Shield (the league’s best record) and was the first team to earn a postseason berth as well as a bye through the knockout round. They will face the New York Red Bulls who had defeated the Chicago Fire.
New York City FC will take on the Columbus Crew in the other Eastern Conference semifinal.
In the Western Conference, the Vancouver Whitecaps will face the second-place Seattle Sounders (last year’s MLS Cup champions) in the semi-finals, while the conference-leading Portland Timbers will meet the Houston Dynamo.
The following is the complete MLS Cup Playoff schedule, including dates, start times, TV networks and scheduled announcers.
Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017
8:30 p.m.: Eastern Conference Knockout Round: New York Red Bulls @ Chicago Fire (FS1)
Announcers: JP Dellacamera (play-by-play), Stu Holden (analyst), Katie Witham (reporter)
10:30 p.m.: Western Conference Knockout Round: San Jose Earthquakes @ Vancouver Whitecaps (NBC Sports California/UniMás)
UniMás Announcers: Ramsés Sandoval (play-by-play), Nicolás Cantor (analyst)
Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017
7:00 p.m.: Eastern Conference Knockout Round: Columbus Crew SC @ Atlanta United FC (ESPN2)
Announcers: Adrian Healey (play-by-play), Taylor Twellman (analyst), Julie Stewart-Binks (reporter)
9:30 p.m.: Western Conference Knockout Round: Sporting Kansas City @ Houston Dynamo (UniMás)
Announcers: Nicolás Cantor (play-by-play), Chris Wittyngham (analyst)
Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017
8:30 p.m.: Western Conference Semifinals Leg 1: Vancouver Whitecaps @ Seattle Sounders (ESPN)
Announcers: Adrian Healey (play-by-play), Taylor Twellman (analyst), Julie Stewart-Binks (reporter)
Monday, Oct. 30, 2017
7:00 p.m.: Eastern Conference Semifinals Leg 1: New York Red Bulls @ Toronto FC (FS1)
Announcers: JP Dellacamera (play-by-play), Brad Friedel (analyst), Katie Witham (reporter)
9:30 p.m.: Western Conference Semifinals Leg 1: Houston Dynamo @ Portland Timbers (FS1)
Announcers: Glenn Davis (play-by-play), Stu Holden (analyst), Danielle Slaton (reporter)
Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017
8:00 p.m.: Eastern Conference Semifinals Leg 1: Columbus Crew SC @ New York City FC (ESPN)
Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017
10:30 p.m.: Western Conference Semifinals Leg 2: Seattle Sounders @ Vancouver Whitecaps (FS1)
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2017
3:00 p.m.: Eastern Conference Semifinals Leg 2: Toronto FC @ New York Red Bulls (ESPN)
TBD: Eastern Conference Semifinals Leg 2: New York City FC @ Columbus Crew SC (TBD)
TBD: Western Conference Semifinals Leg 2: Portland Timbers @ Houston Dynamo (TBD)
Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017
TBD: Eastern Conference Semifinals Leg 1 (ESPN)
TBD: Western Conference Semifinals Leg 1 (FS1)
Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017 or Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017
TBD: Eastern Conference Semifinals Leg 2 (FS1)
Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017
TBD: Western Conference Semifinals Leg 2 (ESPN)
Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017
4:00 p.m.: MLS Cup Final (ESPN)
