The 2003playoffs.

The format

How 2003 worked.

Conference brackets returned: the top four in each conference qualified. Conference semifinals were two-legged ties decided on aggregate goals (no away-goals rule), conference finals a single match at the higher seed, and MLS Cup a single match at a predetermined venue. Level ties and matches went to golden-goal extra time and then penalties.

• Return to conference brackets (top four per conference) after three seasons of league-wide seeding.
• Conference semifinals became two-legged aggregate ties and conference finals single matches; the points-based series were dropped.
• MLS Cup moved to the new Home Depot Center.
• Playoffs ran entirely in November after a longer regular season.

1. 01Conference semifinalsTwo legs, aggregate · Aggregate goals over two legs, no away-goals rule; a level tie went to golden-goal extra time and then penalties.Nov 1 – 9
2. 02Conference finalsSingle match · Single match hosted by the higher seed; golden-goal extra time, then penalties.Nov 14 – 15
3. 03MLS CupSingle matchNov 23

Seeding

Seeded 1–4 within each conference on regular-season points. Pairings E1 v E4, E2 v E3, W1 v W4, W2 v W3. Kansas City (42 points) was W2 and Colorado (40) W3 per the standings and the hosting order; Wikipedia's bracket template labels them the other way round.

Hosting

Conference semifinals: the lower seed hosted the first leg and the higher seed the second. Conference finals: hosted by the higher seed. MLS Cup at the Home Depot Center, Carson, as the predetermined venue.

Ties

Aggregate goals over two legs, no away-goals rule; a level aggregate after the second leg went to golden-goal extra time (San Jose beat Los Angeles 5–4 that way) and then penalties. Single matches: golden-goal extra time (both conference finals were settled by golden goals), then penalties.