MLS Announces Schedule and Broadcasts for the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs Knockout Round

NEW YORK (October 29, 2018) – Following Sunday night’s action-packed MLS Decision Day 2018 presented by AT&T, MLS today announced the broadcast schedule for the first round of the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs.  The postseason kicks off this Wednesday, Oct. 31 and Thursday, Nov. 1 with the single-elimination Knockout Round games.
 
All four single-elimination intraconference Knockout Round matches will air domestically in the United States in Spanish language on UniMás, while ESPN and FOX Sports will each broadcast two of the Knockout Round matches. TSN and TVA Sports will provide coverage of all four matches throughout Canada.
 
On Wednesday, Oct. 31, the Eastern Conference’s No. 3 seed New York City FC will host the No. 6 seed Philadelphia Union at Yankee Stadium (7 p.m. ET, UniMás / FS1 / TSN / TVA Sports). Then, Western Conference No. 4 seed FC Dallas and their crop of talented young standouts will host No. 5 Portland Timbers at Toyota Stadium (9:30 p.m. ET, UniMás / ESPN+ / TSN / TVA Sports).

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On Thursday, Nov. 1, No. 4 in the East, D.C. United, with Wayne Rooney and Luciano Acosta will host Gyasi Zardes and No. 5 Columbus Crew SC in the first playoff match ever at Audi Field (8 p.m. ET, UniMás / FS1 / TSN, TVA Sports).  Later that evening, No. 3 seed Los Angeles Football Club will look to continue their history-making expansion season while hosting No. 6 Real Salt Lake (UniMás / ESPN2 / TSN / TVA Sports, 10:30 p.m. ET).
 
The top two teams in each conference (Eastern Conference: New York Red Bulls, Atlanta United and Western Conference: Sporting Kansas City, Seattle Sounders FC) will enjoy a first-round bye and await the advancing Knockout Round teams.
 
The national broadcast schedule for the Conference Semifinal series matches will be announced following the four midweek Knockout Round matches.
 

• FINAL MLS STANDINGS
• AUDI 2018 MLS CUP PLAYOFFS
• AUDI 2018 MLS CUP PLAYOFFS FORMAT

 
 Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs Schedule  
*Subject to change. 
 
Knockout Round
(Conference third seed vs. sixth seed, and fourth seed vs. fifth seed in a single-game elimination match)
 
Eastern and Western Conference Knockout Round (4 games)
Wednesday, Oct. 31

• No. 3 New York City FC vs. No. 6 Philadelphia Union (7 p.m. ET, UniMas, FS1 / Canada: TSN, TVA Sports)
• No. 4 FC Dallas vs. No. 5 Portland Timbers (9:30 p.m. ET, UniMas, ESPN+ / Canada: TSN, TVA Sports)

  
Thursday, Nov. 1 

• No. 4 D.C. United vs. No. 5 Columbus Crew SC (8 p.m., UniMas, FS1 / Canada: TSN, TVA Sports)
• No. 3 Los Angeles Football Club vs. No. 6 Real Salt Lake (10:30 p.m. ET, UniMas, ESPN2 / Canada: TSN, TVA Sports)

 
Conference Semifinals
(Two-game series, aggregate-goal format between conference top seed vs. lowest advancing seed from Knockout Round and conference second seed vs. highest seed from Knockout Round)
 
Eastern Conference Semifinal Series
 
Eastern Conference Semifinal Leg 1 (2 games)

• Sunday, Nov. 4             TBD                  
• Sunday, Nov. 4             TBD                  

 
Eastern Conference Semifinal Leg 2 (2 games)

• Sunday, Nov. 11            TBD                 
• Sunday, Nov. 11            TBD                 

 
Western Conference Semifinal Series
 
Western Conference Semifinal Leg 1 (2 games)

• Sunday, Nov. 4             TBD                   
• Sunday, Nov. 4             TBD                     

 
Western Conference Semifinal Leg 2 (2 games)

• Thursday, Nov. 8            TBD                     
• Sunday, Nov. 11            TBD                 

 
 *Due to a stadium conflict at CenturyLink Field on Nov. 11, Seattle Sounders FC will host the second leg of the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Semifinals on Nov. 8.
 
Conference Championships
(Two-game series, aggregate-goal format)
 
Eastern Conference Championship Series
 
Eastern Conference Championship Leg 1 (1 game)

• Sunday, Nov. 25                        TBD      

 
Eastern Conference Semifinal Leg 2 (1 game)

• Thursday, Nov. 29                     TBD        

Western Conference Championship Series
 
Western Conference Championship Leg 1 (1 game) 

• Sunday, Nov. 25                        TBD      

 
Western Conference Championship Leg 2 (1 game)  

• Thursday, Nov. 29                     TBD       

 
2018 MLS Cup 
(Hosted at the home venue of the finalist with the best regular season record)

• Saturday, Dec. 8           8 p.m. ET          (FOX, UniMás, TSN, TVA Sports)

By Editor