The 2010playoffs.

The format

How 2010 worked.

Sixteen clubs; the top two in each conference qualified automatically and the next four by overall points entered as wild cards regardless of conference. Two Western clubs, Colorado and San Jose, filled the East's third and fourth slots and met in the Eastern Conference final. Conference semifinals were two-legged aggregate series, conference finals single matches at the higher seed, and MLS Cup a single match at a predetermined venue (BMO Field, Toronto). Ties went to extra time then penalties; no away-goals rule.

• Format unchanged from 2009; for the first time two clubs crossed conferences, so the 'Eastern' final was contested by two Western clubs.
• MLS Cup staged outside the United States for the first time (BMO Field, Toronto).
• Philadelphia Union joined (16 clubs).

1. 01Conference semifinalsTwo legs, aggregateOct 28 – Nov 7
2. 02Conference finalsSingle matchNov 13 – Nov 14
3. 03MLS CupSingle matchNov 21

Seeding

Top two per conference automatic; next four by overall points as wild cards. Only two Eastern clubs qualified, so Colorado (46 pts) and San Jose (46 pts), both Western clubs, played as the East's Nos. 3 and 4.

Hosting

Higher seed hosted the second leg of the semifinal and the single-match conference final; MLS Cup at a predetermined venue (BMO Field, Toronto).

Ties

Aggregate goals over two legs with no away-goals rule; if level after the second leg, two 15-minute extra-time periods then penalty kicks. Single matches likewise went to extra time then penalties.