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Playoffs · 2020

The 2020playoffs.

Columbus Crew SC beat Seattle Sounders FC in MLS Cup 2020. A one-off pandemic format: eighteen clubs qualified — ten in the East and eight in the West — with standings decided on points per game because COVID-19 cancellations left unequal schedules.

Final

Western Conference

Round OneSingle match
Conference semifinalsSingle match
Conference finalsSingle match
One matchDec 7
2Seattle3
4Minnesota2
SEA won 3–2
One matchDec 1
2Seattle1
6Dallas0
SEA won 1–0
One matchNov 24
2Seattle3
7LAFC1
SEA won 3–1
One matchNov 22
3Portland1(7)
6Dallas1(8)
DAL won 8–7 on penalties after 1–1 a.e.t.
One matchDec 3
1Sporting KC0
4Minnesota3
MIN won 3–0
One matchNov 22
1Sporting KC3(3)
8San Jose3(0)
SKC won 3–0 on penalties after 3–3 a.e.t.
One matchNov 22
4Minnesota3
5Colorado0
MIN won 3–0

Eastern Conference

Play-in roundSingle match
Round OneSingle match
Conference semifinalsSingle match
Conference finalsSingle match
One matchDec 6
3Columbus1
8New England0
CLB won 1–0
One matchNov 29
3Columbus2
7Nashville0
CLB won 2–0 after extra time
One matchNov 21
3Columbus3
6Red Bulls2
CLB won 3–2
One matchNov 24
2Toronto0
7Nashville1
NSH won 1–0 after extra time
One matchNov 20
7Nashville3
10Miami0
NSH won 3–0
One matchNov 29
4Orlando1
8New England3
NE won 3–1
One matchNov 21
4Orlando1(6)
5NYCFC1(5)
ORL won 6–5 on penalties after 1–1 a.e.t.
One matchNov 24
1Philadelphia0
8New England2
NE won 2–0
One matchNov 20
8New England2
9Montreal1
NE won 2–1

MLS Cup

Dec 12

One matchDec 12
3Columbus3
2Seattle0
CLB won 3–0
2020 championColumbus Crew SC

MLS Cup 2020

Columbus Crew SC over Seattle Sounders FC.

3–0

Venue
MAPFRE Stadium, Columbus
Attendance
1,500
MVP
Lucas Zelarayán
Field
18 of 26 clubs

The format

How 2020 worked.

A one-off pandemic format: eighteen clubs qualified — ten in the East and eight in the West — with standings decided on points per game because COVID-19 cancellations left unequal schedules. Eastern seeds 7–10 played a play-in round (7 v 10, 8 v 9) to complete a 16-club single-elimination bracket; every match including MLS Cup was a single game at the higher seed, with extra time and penalties if level.

  • Field expanded from 14 to 18 for one season (10 East, 8 West) with an East-only play-in round.
  • Standings and seeding by points per game after seven regular-season matches were cancelled.
  • Most matches played behind closed doors or at sharply reduced capacity; Toronto FC hosted in East Hartford, Connecticut because of border restrictions.
  1. 01Play-in roundSingle match · Eastern Conference only: 7 v 10 and 8 v 9Nov 20
  2. 02Round OneSingle matchNov 21–24
  3. 03Conference semifinalsSingle matchNov 29 – Dec 3
  4. 04Conference finalsSingle matchDec 6–7
  5. 05MLS CupSingle matchDec 12
Seeding
Top ten East and top eight West by points per game. East: seeds 7–10 played in, and the lowest-ranked survivor met the 1 seed while the other met the 2 seed; seeds 3–6 paired 3 v 6, 4 v 5. West: fixed 1 v 8, 4 v 5, 3 v 6, 2 v 7.
Hosting
Higher seed hosted every match; MLS Cup hosted by the finalist with the better regular-season record (points per game).
Ties
Single matches: 30 minutes of extra time, then a penalty shoot-out.

Open the 2020 season · Wikipedia — 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs · Wikipedia — MLS Cup 2020 · American Soccer Analysis match data (fixtures/asa)