MLS Cup playoffs – Who’s in, who’s out and the matchups if the postseason began today

There is less than a month remaining in the 2021 Major League Soccer season. Two teams are locking up their places in the postseason (New England and Seattle), and six teams know they’ll be watching from home.

In all, 14 of the 27 teams will qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs — the top seven from each of the Eastern Conference and Western Conference — with the top seed in each conference earning a first-round bye and moving straight into the conference semifinals.

A great deal can (and will) change between now and Decision Day on Nov. 7, but we’re not letting that stop us from taking a way-too-early look at potential postseason matchups. Only the above two teams have locked in a place in the playoffs, while six have been eliminated from contention, so we can’t emphasize enough: These are hypothetical matchups, potential postseason contests based on the conference standings after Week 30.

Every week we’ll bring you updates on who has qualified, who has been eliminated and the matchups that could play out come Round 1. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the games that have us counting the days until the MLS Cup playoffs begin on Nov. 20.

Who’s in, who’s out

Clinched playoff place:

– New England Revolution
– Seattle Sounders

Eliminated from postseason contention:

– FC Cincinnati
– Toronto FC
– Chicago Fire
– Houston Dynamo
– Austin FC
– FC Dallas

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Who can clinch this weekend

Nashville SC: It’s fairly straightforward for NSC. Nashville is in if it wins against Philadelphia and any one of the following happens: Montreal loses to Toronto; the Red Bulls fail to beat Columbus; NYCFC either loses or ties against D.C. United.

Sporting Kansas City: SKC clinches a spot if it beats Seattle. Otherwise the complexity ratchets up to the point that it’s time to bring in the guys from “The Chase.” If SKC ties, it would also need one of…