The Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs are down to the final four in each conference as attention turns to the the single-elimination Conference Semifinals to be played on Saturday, Nov. 25 and Sunday, Nov. 26.
Seven of the eight teams that advanced from the Round One Best-of-3 Series were the higher seed, with No. 8 Sporting Kansas City out of the West being the lone lower seed to force an upset against rival and Western Conference No. 1 St. Louis CITY SC in a two-game sweep.
The stakes are raised as all eight teams enter single-elimination games and the opportunity to host MLS Cup presented by Audi remains alive for each of the four Eastern Conference clubs. For the remainder of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, if the score is tied at the end of regulation, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety. If the score is still tied at the end of the two extra time periods, teams will participate in kicks from the penalty spot to determine the winner.
Eastern Conference Semifinals
No. 2 Orlando City SC vs. No. 3 Columbus Crew
- Exploria Stadium – Saturday, Nov. 25 (5:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass)
It was an efficient Round One Best-of-3 Series for Orlando City SC, as they swept Nashville SC in two games to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals as the only team to not concede a goal in Round One. Maintaining that ironclad defensive record will be a tough task against the Columbus Crew , though, as these sides combined for 11 goals in their two regular-season meetings in 2023. For the Crew, prolific goal scorer Cucho Hernández is also in a fine run of form, having scored three goals during the Round One Best-of-3 Series.
No. 1 FC Cincinnati vs. No. 4 Philadelphia Union
- TQL Stadium – Saturday, Nov. 25 (8 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass)
The Eastern Conference Semifinals will feature a rematch from last year as FC Cincinnati, led by 2023 Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year Pat Noonan and general manager Chris Albright, welcome the Philadelphia Union to TQL Stadium. After helping lead the Union to its first-ever trophy in the Supporters’ Shield in 2020, Albright and Noonan have done the same with Cincinnati this season and must now overcome their former club to continue Cincinnati’s journey to MLS Cup presented by Audi. Philadelphia is looking to make their third consecutive Eastern Conference Final with an upset win over Cincinnati but must do so away from home and having been winless in both regular season meetings between these sides in 2023.
Western Conference Semifinals
No. 4 Houston Dynamo FC vs. No. 8 Sporting Kansas City
- Shell Energy Stadium – Sunday, Nov. 26 (7 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass)
Sporting Kansas City’s resurgent run continued through the Round One Best-of-3 Series as they made swift work of local rivals and Western Conference No. 1 seed St. Louis CITY SC. Now, they will travel to Texas to take on Houston Dynamo FC , who held the best home record in the West during the regular season (11-2-4) and won both home games against Real Salt Lake in the previous round. Can the Dynamo continue to defend their home fortress or will Kansas City write another chapter in their postseason Cinderella story?
No. 2 Seattle Sounders FC vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Football Club
- Lumen Field – Sunday, Nov. 26 (9:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass)
Perennial Western Conference powerhouses Seattle Sounders FC and Los Angeles Football Club will go head-to-head in the postseason for the second time in their histories, with the Sounders having previously emerged victorious in 2020. LAFC have been firing on all cylinders through 2023 Golden Boot presented by Audi winner Dénis Bouanga , who scored three goals in two games against Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Round One. However, the Sounders’ seasoned duo of midfielder João Paulo and forward Jordan Morris have found their postseason form just in time for this clash of titans in the Western Conference Semifinals.
