The 2002playoffs.

The format

How 2002 worked.

Back to ten clubs in two conferences, but the eight playoff places still went to the best records regardless of conference, seeded 1–8. Both knockout rounds before MLS Cup — officially the Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals — were three-game series decided on points, first to five advancing; MLS Cup was a single match at a predetermined venue. Games level after 90 minutes went to sudden-death overtime and could end drawn.

• Contraction to 10 clubs and a return to two conferences; the two conference winners took the top two seeds and the remaining six qualifiers were seeded by points regardless of conference.
• Last season of the points-based three-game series and of league-wide seeding.

1. 01Quarterfinals (officially Conference Semifinals)Best of three, decided on points · First to five points (3 for a win, 1 for a draw). Games level after 90 minutes went to sudden-death overtime; if still level, a draw. A series level on points after three games was settled by a sudden-death series overtime straight after Game 3.Sep 25 – Oct 2
2. 02Semifinals (officially Conference Finals)Best of three, decided on points · Also a first-to-five-points series, not a single match.Oct 5 – 12
3. 03MLS CupSingle matchOct 20

Seeding

The two conference winners were seeded 1 (Los Angeles) and 2 (New England) and the other six qualifiers 3–8 by points: 3 San Jose, 4 Dallas, 5 Colorado, 6 Columbus, 7 Chicago, 8 Kansas City. Pairings 1 v 8 and 4 v 5 (top half), 2 v 7 and 3 v 6 (bottom half). Because seeding was league-wide, the top half was entirely Western clubs and the bottom half three Eastern clubs plus San Jose; sides here are 'top' and 'bottom' halves, not conferences, even though MLS named the rounds Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals.

Hosting

The higher seed hosted Games 1 and 3 and the lower seed Game 2; a series could end after two games at 6–0. MLS Cup at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, as the predetermined venue (New England's home).

Ties

A game level after 90 minutes went to sudden-death overtime (decidedBy 'golden-goal'); if still level it was a draw worth one point each. A series level 4–4 on points after three games was settled by a sudden-death series overtime straight after Game 3 — Colorado beat Dallas that way. MLS Cup: golden-goal overtime, then penalties.