NEW YORK, NEW YORK (September 23, 2026) – MLS NEXT Pro announced today the matchups and schedule for the first-ever Play-in Round and the first round of the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs. After a dramatic Decision Day on Sunday, September 20, the top nine finishers in each conference met for the popular Pick-Your-Opponent process on Wednesday, with higher seeded teams choosing their opponents for the Conference Quarterfinals. Prior to the first round (Conference Quarterfinals) the weekend of October 16, the final two spots in the Playoffs will be determined by the Play-in Round matches on October 11.
MLS NEXT Pro’s fan-favorite Pick-Your-Opponent format allows the No. 1-3 seeds in each conference to select their opponents for the Conference Quarterfinals from the No. 5-8/9 seeds, with the No. 4 seed hosting the remaining team. Introduced this season, the Play-in Round preceding the Playoffs features the No. 8 and No. 9 seeded teams in each conference facing each other in a single-elimination match to determine the final No. 8 seeds of the Playoff field.
On Wednesday, representatives from each of the 18 clubs joined host Josh Eastern on live selection shows on MLSNEXTPro.com. The Eastern Conference selections saw two non-traditional picks, as No. 2 Chattanooga FC selected No. 6 New York City FC II, while No. 3 Atlanta United 2 selected No. 7 CT United FC. No. 1 Crown Legacy FC opted to face the winner of the Play-in Match between No. 8 Red Bull New York II and No. 9 Huntsville City FC, resulting in No. 4 Columbus Crew 2 hosting No. 5 New England Revolution II.
In the Western Conference, No. 1 Austin FC II and No. 2 Portland Timbers2 selected traditional opponents; Austin FC II will host the winner of the Play-in Match between No. 8 San Jose Earthquakes II and No. 9 Tacoma Defiance, while Timbers2 hosts No. 7 St Louis CITY2. No. 3 Ventura County FC opted to pick against the traditional order, choosing to face No. 5 MNUFC2, with No. 4 Houston Dynamo 2 hosting No. 6 LAFC 2.
The Play-in Round schedule is as follows, with both matches airing on OneFootball.com and MLSNEXTPro.com.
Eastern Conference
Sunday, October 11
Red Bull New York II (No. 8) vs Huntsville City FC (No. 9) – Location TBA (5 p.m. ET)
Western Conference
Sunday, October 11
San Jose Earthquakes II (No. 8) vs Tacoma Defiance (No. 9) – PayPal Park (8 p.m. ET)
The Conference Quarterfinals schedule is as follows, with all matches airing on OneFootball.com and MLSNEXTPro.com.Â
Eastern Conference
Friday, October 16
Atlanta United 2 (No. 3) vs CT United FC (No. 7) – Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground (Time TBA)
Saturday, October 17
Columbus Crew 2 (No. 4) vs New England Revolution II (No. 5) – ScottsMiracle-Gro Field (3 p.m. ET)
Sunday, October 18
Chattanooga FC (No. 2) vs New York City FC II (No. 6) – Finley Stadium (5 p.m. ET)
Crown Legacy FC (No. 1) vs winner of Red Bull New York II (No. 8)/Huntsville City FC (No. 9) – Sportsplex at Matthews (7 p.m. ET)
Western Conference
Friday, October 16
Portland Timbers2 (No. 2) vs St Louis CITY2 (No. 7) – Providence Park (10 p.m. ET)
Ventura County FC (No. 3) vs MNUFC2 (No. 5) – Dignity Health Sports Park (10 p.m. ET)
Sunday, October 18
Houston Dynamo 2 (No. 4) vs LAFC 2 (No. 6) – Shell Energy Stadium (7 p.m. ET)
Austin FC II (No. 1) vs winner of San Jose Earthquakes II (No.8)/Tacoma Defiance (No. 9) – Parmer Field (8:30 p.m. ET)
St Louis CITY2 is the only team to appear in every MLS NEXT Pro postseason since the League launched in 2022. Three clubs will make their MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs debut in 2026: independent club CT United FC in its inaugural season, and MLS affiliates Portland Timbers2 and Atlanta United 2.
Following the Conference Quarterfinals, the Playoffs will continue the weekend of October 23. The Pick-Your-Opponent process will also be utilized for the Conference Semifinals, with the highest remaining seed in each conference selecting and hosting an opponent from the two lowest seeded teams. The two remaining Clubs will face each other, with the higher of the two seeds hosting.Â
The Conference Finals (weekend of October 30) and MLS NEXT Pro Cup (weekend of November 6) will follow a traditional bracket style. As the No. 1 overall seed (best regular season record), Austin FC II is guaranteed home field throughout the Playoffs – the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Cup Champions make a triumphant return to the postseason after missing the 2024 and 2025 editions.
