The 2012playoffs.

The format

How 2012 worked.

Nineteen clubs; the top five in each conference qualified and the brackets were fully separate for the first time since 2006. The 4th and 5th seeds met in a single knockout match at the 4th seed, the winner facing the No. 1 seed; conference semifinals and, for the first time, conference finals were two-legged aggregate series with the higher seed hosting the second leg. MLS Cup was a single match hosted by the finalist with the better regular-season record rather than at a predetermined venue. Ties went to extra time then penalties; no away-goals rule.

• Wild cards and crossover series scrapped: top five per conference in fully separate brackets, with a single 4 v 5 knockout match feeding the No. 1 seed.
• Conference finals became two-legged aggregate series (previously single matches).
• MLS Cup hosted by the finalist with the better regular-season record instead of a predetermined neutral venue.
• Montreal Impact joined (19 clubs).

1. 01Knockout roundSingle matchOct 31 – Nov 1
2. 02Conference semifinalsTwo legs, aggregateNov 2 – Nov 8
3. 03Conference finalsTwo legs, aggregateNov 11 – Nov 18
4. 04MLS CupSingle matchDec 1

Seeding

Top five per conference by points, seeded 1–5 within the conference; the 4 v 5 knockout winner met the No. 1 seed and the 2 and 3 seeds met each other. No cross-conference series.

Hosting

Knockout match hosted by the 4th seed; higher seed hosted the second leg of each two-legged series; MLS Cup hosted by the finalist with the better regular-season record (LA Galaxy, 54 pts v Houston 53).

Ties

Aggregate goals over two legs; if level after the second leg, 30 minutes of extra time then penalty kicks. Neither the away-goals rule nor golden goal was used. Single matches (knockout round, MLS Cup) went to extra time then penalties.