The fifth season of MLS NEXT Pro is nearing its conclusion, as 18 of the Division III-league’s 30 clubs are set to battle for MLS NEXT Pro Cup trophy throughout the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs. The league’s largest-ever postseason field will kick off with a Play-in Round on Oct. 11 before concluding with MLS NEXT Pro Cup on the weekend of Nov. 6.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs.
What is the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs format?
The 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs features the top nine regular season finishers from each conference. The top seven teams in each conference automatically qualify for the Conference Quarterfinals, while the eighth and ninth place teams meet in their respective conference’s Play-in Round match—a new addition to the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs this year.
For the fourth consecutive year, the league has implemented the popular Pick-Your-Opponent format in which higher-seeded teams choose which opponents to host in the Conference Quarterfinals. The process will repeat for higher-seeded teams that advance to the Conference Semifinals. From there, the Conference Finals will take place between Oct. 31-Nov. 1, and the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Cup will be played between Nov. 6-8.
- Play-in Round: October 11 (one match per conference)
- No. 8 vs. No. 9 seeds in each conference
- Conference Quarterfinals: October 16 – 18 (four matches per conference)
- No. 1-3 seeds in each conference will host and select their opponent from the No. 5-8 seeds (with No. 8 being the winner of the Play-in Round)
- No. 4 seed will host the remaining club
- Conference Semifinals: October 23 – 25 (two matches per conference)
- The highest remaining seed in each conference will select and host an opponent from the two lowest seeded teams
- The two remaining clubs will face each other, with the higher of the two seeds hosting
- Conference Finals: October 30 – November 1 (one match per conference)
- The higher remaining seed in each conference will host the other remaining club
- MLS NEXT Pro Cup: November 6-8 (one match)
- The club with the highest regular season points total will host the other remaining club
Which teams are in the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs?
Eighteen teams have qualified for the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs—the largest field in MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs history. Of note, three of the four previous MLS NEXT Pro Cup winners—Red Bull New York II (2025), Austin FC II (2023) and Columbus Crew 2 (2022)—have qualified in hopes of becoming the league’s first repeat champion.
Additionally, St. Louis CITY2 extends its streak as the only team to appear in every iteration of the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs since its inception in 2022, while three teams are set to make their MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs debut: first-year independent side CT United FC and former USL Championship sides Portland Timbers2 and Atlanta United 2, with the latter making its first postseason appearance across its nine-season history.
| Western Conference |
Eastern Conference |
| 1. Austin FC II (65 points, 19-3-6) |
1. Crown Legacy FC (58 points, 15-5-8) |
| 2. Portland Timbers2 (57 points, 14-4-10) |
2. Chattanooga FC (56 points, 15-6-7) |
| 3. Ventura County FC (53 points, 14-7-7) |
3. Atlanta United 2 (48 points, 14-9-5) |
| 4. Houston Dynamo 2 (52 points, 14-8-6) |
4. Columbus Crew 2 (48 points, 12-9-7) |
| 5. MNUFC2 (45 points, 12-10-6) |
5. New England Revolution II (48 points, 12-8-8) |
| 6. LAFC 2 (45 points, 11-8-9) |
6. New York City FC II (47 points, 13-10-5) |
| 7. St. Louis CITY2 (44 points, 10-8-10) |
7. CT United FC (46 points, 14-12-2) |
| 8. San Jose Earthquakes II (42 points, 11-11-6) |
8. Red Bull New York II (46 points, 13-10-5) |
| 9. Tacoma Defiance (41 points, 11-12-5) |
9. Huntsville City FC (44 points, 12-10-6) |
Who are the players to watch in the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs?
The stars of the developmental league will be on full display in the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs, as every member of the league’s Best XI will have a chance to suit up in the postseason. On the heels of Atlanta United 2’s best-ever season, the attacking duo of 20-year-old Arif Kovac and 23-year-old captain Cameron Dunbar were awarded the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot Award and 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playmaker of the Year Award, respectively. The pair shattered personal records as Kovac scored 20 goals and Dunbar tallied 13 assists.
Portland Timbers2 shot-stopper and 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Goalkeeper of the Year Sam Joseph has T2 into the postseason for the first time since the 2018 USL Championship Playoffs thanks to his 12 clean sheets. Former France youth international and AS Monaco Academy product Jules Bery was named the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Defender of the Year after helping Austin FC II record the fewest number of goals allowed (21) enroute to FCito’s first postseason appearance since winning it all in 2023. Two additional defenders were included in the Best XI: U.S. Youth National Team prospect Dominik Chong Qui (Atlanta United 2) and former Denmark youth international Nicklas Lund (Portland Timbers2).
Further up the pitch, five additional players were recognized as members of the league’s Best XI. In midfield, Austin’s Jorge Alastuey, St. Louis’ Palmer Ault and Portland’s Eric Izoita were recognized alongside Dunbar. In addition to Kovac up top, Columbus’ Kevin Gbamblé and Chattanooga’s Alex Krehl earned nods as the league’s best forwards.
Which teams have won MLS NEXT Pro Cup?
The first two editions of the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs were defined by nascent teams starting strong. In the inaugural 2022 edition, first-year side Columbus Crew 2 topped the regular season table before winning MLS NEXT Pro Cup against St. Louis CITY2. In 2023, another first-year side—Austin FC II—denied Columbus a second title, defeating the hosts at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.
In the two most recent editions of the league’s postseason, a pair of more experienced clubs got back to winning ways, as former USL League One champions North Texas SC defeated Philadelphia Union II in 2024, and former USL Championship title-winners Red Bull New York II survived Colorado Rapids 2 on penalties in 2025.
For the Baby Bulls of RBNY II, their title-winning 2025 campaign was driven by two U.S. Men’s National Team talents, past and present. Former USMNT captain Michael Bradley led the team to a trophy in his first year as a head coach, while recent USMNT debutant Adri Mehmeti made 29 appearances during a breakout second professional season. Since winning MLS NEXT Pro Cup less than a year ago, both have been promoted to RBNY’s senior team in MLS.
How can fans follow along during the postseason?
All 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs matches and MLS NEXT Pro Cup will air live on OneFootball and the league’s website. Fans can follow along during the postseason on the league’s Instagram, X/Twitter and TikTok accounts.
