What's at Stake?
Match 3. Round One. Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. It's winner-take-all as Charlotte FC head back to Orlando looking to secure a spot in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The series is tied 1-1. So it's once again 'do-or-die' for Charlotte as they look for vengeance for match one in Orlando.
The Crown are coming off their first-ever playoff win, despite what Taylor Twellman says, and they will need to carry that momentum into Saturday to keep their postseason run alive.
WATCH WITH FANS IN CHARLOTTE
Join us at The Fillmore in Charlotte NC, as we cheer on Charlotte FC take on Orlando City SC in a must-win Round One Match Three of Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs on Saturday, November 9 at 5:00 p.m. at our official Away Match Watch Party, presented by Modelo. Crowns Up, Queen City!
Eastern Conference
It's been tightly contested in every single matchup in the Eastern Conference so far. All but one matchup is heading to a final decisive match three. The only two-match series, an upset as New York Red Bulls took down the defending champions Columbus Crew.
What does this mean for Charlotte if they advance to Eastern Conference Semifinals?
Atlanta United at Inter Miami:
- Atlanta wins and Charlotte FC will host
- Miami wins and Charlotte FC will travel to Miami
New York City FC at FC Cincinnati + Atlanta United Win + New York Red Bulls Advanced:
- If New York City FC win and Atlanta United win, Charlotte FC is the highest remaining Eastern Conference seed in the MLS Cup Playoffs
2024 MLS Cup Playoffs:
How does it work?
Home-away-home format:
- Match 1: higher seed hosts
- Match 2: lower seed hosts
- Match 3 (if necessary): higher seed hosts
Win-only: Every Round One match will have a winner; no ties, no aggregate score.
PK shootout: No extra time will be played if a match is tied after regulation time (90 minutes). Teams will participate in kicks from the penalty spot to determine the winner.
Best-of-3: The first team to win two matches will advance. Conversely, the loser's playoff journey will end.
What's Next?
The winner of each Round One Best-of-3 series advances to the Conference Semifinals, which will be held November 23-24.
If a Conference Semifinal game is tied after regulation time (90 minutes), two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety. If the score is still tied after two extra time periods, a winner will be determined via a penalty kick shootout.
Eastern Conference Semifinals
- Winner of No. 1 vs. No. 8/9 series vs. winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5 series
- Winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6 series vs. winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 series
Western Conference Semifinals
- Winner of No. 1 vs. No. 8/9 series vs. winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5 series
- Winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6 series vs. winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 series
When is MLS Cup?
Date: MLS Cup presented by Audi is set for December 7.
Hosting: Hosting rights are awarded to the finalist with the better regular-season record. If both finalists have the same amount of regular-season points, the team with more wins – or if they're tied in that category, better goal difference – will host MLS Cup.
