2021 MLS Cup Playoffs

2021 MLS Cup Playoffs

Country	United States
Dates	November 20 – December 11
Teams	14
Defending champions	Columbus Crew (did not qualify)
Champions	New York City FC (1st title)
Runners-up	Portland Timbers
Semi-finalists	Philadelphia Union Real Salt Lake
Matches played	13
Goals scored	32 (2.46 per match)
Attendance	299,891 (23,069 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)	Valentín Castellanos Hany Mukhtar (3 goals each)
← 2020 →

The 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs (branded as the 2021 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for sponsorship reasons) was the 26th 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 2021 MLS regular season. The tournament began on November 20 and concluded with MLS Cup 2021 on December 11.^[1]

The Columbus Crew were the defending MLS Cup champions, but failed to qualify for the playoffs after finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference.

The 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs marked the first time since 2004 that no club from Texas qualified, and the first time ever that no club from California qualified.

Qualified teams[]

Conference standings[]

The top seven teams in the Eastern and Western Conference qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, with the conference champions receiving second round byes. Background colors denote playoff teams, with green also qualifying for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League, and blue also qualifying for the 2022 Leagues Cup.

Bracket[]

First round November 20–21, 23

Conference Semifinals November 25, 28, 30

Conference Finals December 4–5

MLS Cup December 11

E1

New England Revolution

2 (3)

E4

New York City FC (p)

2 (5)

E4

New York City FC

2

E5

Atlanta United FC

0

E4

New York City FC

2

Eastern Conference

E2

Philadelphia Union

1

E3

Nashville SC

3

E6

Orlando City SC

1

E3

Nashville SC

1 (0)

E2

Philadelphia Union (p)

1 (2)

E2

Philadelphia Union (a.e.t.)

1

E7

New York Red Bulls

0

E4

New York City FC (p)

1 (4)

W4

Portland Timbers

1 (2)

W1

Colorado Rapids

0

W4

Portland Timbers

1

W4

Portland Timbers

3

W5

Minnesota United FC

1

W4

Portland Timbers

2

Western Conference

W7

Real Salt Lake

0

W3

Sporting Kansas City

3

W6

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

1

W3

Sporting Kansas City

1

W7

Real Salt Lake

2

W2

Seattle Sounders FC

0 (5)

W7

Real Salt Lake (p)

0 (6)

Note: The higher seeded teams host 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 got a bye to the Conference Semifinals.

Eastern Conference[]

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Western Conference[]

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Conference Semifinals[]

The higher-seeded teams in each match-up hosted the matches.

Eastern Conference[]

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Western Conference[]

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Conference Finals[]

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

Eastern Conference[]

Western Conference[]

MLS Cup 2021[]

The highest-ranked team remaining in the overall table (Portland Timbers) hosted the match.

Top goalscorers[]

Rank	Player	Club	Goals[3]
1	Valentín Castellanos	New York City FC	3
	Hany Mukhtar	Nashville SC
3	Sebastián Blanco	Portland Timbers	2
	Larrys Mabiala	Portland Timbers
	Felipe Mora	Portland Timbers
6	Tajon Buchanan	New England Revolution	1
	Adam Buksa	New England Revolution
	Jhonder Cádiz	Nashville SC
	Alexander Callens	New York City FC
	Cristian Dájome	Vancouver Whitecaps FC
	Daryl Dike	Orlando City SC
	Franco Fragapane	Minnesota United FC
	Dániel Gazdag	Philadelphia Union
	Jakob Glesnes	Philadelphia Union
	Nicolas Isimat-Mirin	Sporting Kansas City
	Anderson Julio	Real Salt Lake
	Talles Magno	New York City FC
	Maximiliano Moralez	New York City FC
	Santiago Moreno	Portland Timbers
	Santiago Rodríguez	New York City FC
	Johnny Russell	Sporting Kansas City
	Khiry Shelton	Sporting Kansas City
	Bobby Wood	Real Salt Lake
	Graham Zusi	Sporting Kansas City

References[]