MLS Cup Playoffs Wild Card 2026: Orlando vs Cincinnati, Seattle vs Real Salt Lake
The Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs open with the Wild Card round on Thursday, November 19, 2026, when Orlando City SC hosts FC Cincinnati in the East and the Seattle Sounders host Real Salt Lake in the West. Both matches are single-elimination — win and the season continues, lose and it is over. Here are the dates, kickoff times, venues, and how each team earned its place in the postseason.
MLS Cup Playoffs Wild Card 2026 — Matches, Dates and Times
- Eastern Conference: Orlando City SC (No. 8 seed) vs FC Cincinnati — Thursday, November 19, 2026, 7:30 p.m. ET, Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida
- Western Conference: Seattle Sounders (No. 8 seed) vs Real Salt Lake — Thursday, November 19, 2026, 7 p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET), Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington, on Apple TV
The two winners move on to the Round One best-of-three series, and the postseason ends with the 2026 MLS Cup final on December 18, 2026.
Eastern Conference: Orlando City vs FC Cincinnati
Orlando City SC clinched the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference — and a seventh straight postseason berth — with a 1-0 win over the New England Revolution on Saturday, November 7, 2026. Braian Ojeda scored the only goal of the match in the 45th minute, just before halftime, to secure the result Orlando needed on Decision Day. Orlando finished the regular season 13-14-7 with 46 points, and the reward is a home Wild Card match at Inter&Co Stadium against FC Cincinnati. The Wild Card format leaves no margin for error: one bad night ends the season. Cincinnati, meanwhile, arrives in Orlando knowing an away win would send them through and silence a home crowd. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 19 — check local listings for broadcast details.
Western Conference: Seattle Sounders vs Real Salt Lake
The Seattle Sounders clinched the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference with a 2-1 Decision Day win over LAFC on November 7, 2026, in front of a crowd of 40,171. Albert Rusnák scored just 52 seconds into the match to give Seattle a dream start, and Sebastian Gomez doubled the lead in the 31st minute. LAFC pulled one back through Eddie Segura in the 82nd minute, but the Sounders held on for the win that secured their postseason place. Seattle will host Real Salt Lake at Lumen Field on Thursday, November 19, with kickoff at 7 p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET) on Apple TV. Real Salt Lake qualified by beating the LA Galaxy 2-1 on Decision Day in Sandy, Utah, earning the club a fifth straight postseason appearance. Seattle's home record at Lumen Field makes the Sounders favorites on paper, but Real Salt Lake has now reached the playoffs five years in a row.
What the Wild Card Winners Get
The winner of Seattle vs Real Salt Lake advances to a Round One best-of-three series against the No. 1 seed Vancouver Whitecaps FC. That is a huge test, because the Whitecaps earned the top seed in the West over a long regular season. For Orlando and Cincinnati, the prize is the same kind of opportunity: a place in the Round One series and a real shot at a run to the 2026 MLS Cup final on December 18, 2026. The Wild Card format is what makes this round so dramatic. There is no second leg and no aggregate score to fall back on. Ninety minutes — plus extra time and penalties if needed — decide everything.
What It Means
Orlando's seventh straight postseason berth shows a club that has built a winning habit, but finishing 13-14-7 with 46 points also shows how tight the Eastern Conference race was — the Lions needed a Decision Day win just to get in. Seattle's fast start against LAFC, with Rusnák scoring in the first minute, showed what the Sounders can do at Lumen Field in front of more than 40,000 fans, and that home advantage is exactly what they will lean on against Real Salt Lake. For RSL, a fifth straight postseason is proof of a stable program, and beating the LA Galaxy on Decision Day showed they can deliver under pressure. For more on MLS Cup Playoffs coverage, follow our nightly updates, and see our MLS Decision Day playoff bracket breakdown for how the full postseason picture took shape.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is the MLS Cup Playoffs Wild Card round in 2026?
The Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs Wild Card round is played on Thursday, November 19, 2026, with one match in each conference.
Who plays in the Eastern Conference Wild Card match?
Orlando City SC, the No. 8 seed, hosts FC Cincinnati at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando at 7:30 p.m. ET on November 19, 2026.
Who plays in the Western Conference Wild Card match?
The Seattle Sounders, the No. 8 seed, host Real Salt Lake at Lumen Field in Seattle at 7 p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET) on November 19, 2026, on Apple TV.
How did Orlando City clinch a playoff spot?
Orlando clinched the No. 8 seed with a 1-0 win over the New England Revolution on November 7, 2026 — Braian Ojeda scored in the 45th minute — for a seventh straight postseason berth. Orlando finished 13-14-7 with 46 points.
Who does the Seattle vs Real Salt Lake winner play next?
The winner of Seattle vs Real Salt Lake advances to a Round One best-of-three series against the No. 1 seed Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
When is the 2026 MLS Cup final?
The 2026 MLS Cup final is scheduled for December 18, 2026.
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