Between clinching a playoff spot, a top-four seed, the overall top spot in the conference, or winning the division title, Decision Day on Sunday could be remembered as the wildest ever.
Like last week, getting caught up with the different scenarios for the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs will take you several minutes. One playoff spot remains open in the Western Conference, while five are open in the Eastern Conference! In the West, Real Monarchs, Houston Dynamo Dos, Sporting KC II, Timbers2, and the defending champions, Austin FC II, are all looking to join the big show with the lone spot.
As aforementioned, the East has five spots open, and only three points separate the following teams vying for a spot: Inter Miami II, NYCFC II, Crown Legacy FC, Chicago Fire II, Carolina Core FC, Chattanooga FC, and Columbus Crew 2, last year's finalist and 2022 champions.
Below are the different playoff scenarios for Decision Day.
Western Conference
- Real Monarchs
- Houston Dynamo 2
- Austin FC II
- Sporting KC II
- Timbers2
Clinch a playoff spot if:
1) REAL MONARCHS win
OR
2) REAL MONARCHS shootout win + HOUSTON 2 or fewer points
OR
3) REAL MONARCHS shootout loss + HOUSTON 1 or fewer points + AUSTIN 2 or fewer points + SKC 2 or fewer points
OR
4) AUSTIN 1 or fewer points + TIMBERS 2 or fewer points + HOUSTON loss + SKC 1 or fewer points
OR
5) AUSTIN 1 or fewer points + TIMBERS 2 or fewer points + HOUSTON loss + SKC shootout win + REAL MONARCHS win tiebreaker over SKC
Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) HOUSTON win + REAL MONARCHS 2 or fewer points
OR
2) HOUSTON shootout win + REAL MONARCHS 1 or fewer points + AUSTIN 2 or fewer points + SKC 2 or fewer points
OR
3) HOUSTON shootout loss + REAL MONARCHS loss + AUSTIN 1 or fewer points + SKC 2 or fewer points + TIMBERS 2 or fewer points
Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) AUSTIN win + REAL MONARCHS 1 or fewer points + HOUSTON 2 or fewer points
OR
2) AUSTIN shootout win + REAL MONARCHS loss + HOUSTON 1 or fewer points + SKC 2 or fewer points + TIMBERS 2 or fewer points
clinches a playoff spot if:
1) SKC win + REAL MONARCHS 1 or fewer points + HOUSTON 2 or fewer points + AUSTIN 2 or fewer points
OR
2) SKC shootout win + REAL MONARCHS loss + HOUSTON loss + AUSTIN 1 or fewer points + TIMBERS 2 or fewer points +
SKC wins tiebreaker over REAL MONARCHS
Clinch a playoff spot if:
1) TIMBERS win + REAL MONARCHS loss + HOUSTON 1 or fewer points + AUSTIN 2 or fewer points + SKC 2 or fewer points
Clinches Pacific Division title if:
1) TOWN 2 or more points
OR
2) TOWN shootout loss + TACOMA 2 or fewer points
OR
3) TACOMA 1 or fewer points + LAFC 2 or fewer points
Clinches a top-four seed if:
1) TOWN 1 or more points
OR
2) TACOMA 1 or fewer points
OR
3) LAFC 2 or fewer points
Clinches Pacific Division title if:
1) TACOMA win + TOWN 1 or fewer points
OR
2) TACOMA shootout win + TOWN loss + LAFC 2 or fewer points
OR
3) TACOMA shootout win + TOWN loss + TACOMA wins tiebreaker over LAFC
Clinches a top-four seed if:
1) TACOMA win
OR
2) TACOMA shootout win + TOWN loss
OR
3) TACOMA goes to shootout + LAFC 2 or fewer points
OR
4) TACOMA shootout win + TACOMA wins tiebreaker over LAFC
OR
5) LAFC 1 or fewer points
Clinches Pacific Division title if:
1) LAFC win + TOWN loss + TACOMA 1 or fewer points
OR
2) LAFC win + TOWN loss + TACOMA shootout win + LAFC wins tiebreaker over TACOMA
Clinches a top-four seed if:
1) LAFC win + TOWN loss
OR
2) LAFC win + TACOMA 1 or fewer points
OR
3) LAFC win + TACOMA shootout win + LAFC wins tiebreaker over TACOMA
OR
4) LAFC shootout win + TACOMA loss
Eastern Conference
- Inter Miami II
- NYCFC II
- Crown Legacy FC
- Chicago Fire II
- Carolina Core FC
- Chattanooga FC
- Columbus Crew 2
Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) MIAMI 1 or more points
OR
2) NYCFC loss
OR
3) CROWN loss
OR
4) CHICAGO 1 or fewer points
OR
5) CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points
Clinches Southeast Division title if:
1) MIAMI win + ORLANDO 2 or fewer points
OR
2) MIAMI shootout win + ORLANDO 1 or fewer points + CROWN 2 or fewer points
OR
3) MIAMI shootout loss + ORLANDO loss + CROWN 1 or fewer points
Clinches a top-four seed if:
1) MIAMI win
OR
2) MIAMI shootout win + ORLANDO 1 or fewer points + NYCFC 2 or fewer points
OR
3) MIAMI shootout win + ORLANDO 1 or fewer points + CROWN 2 or fewer points
OR
4) MIAMI shootout win + NYCFC 2 or fewer points + CROWN 2 or fewer points
OR
5) MIAMI shootout loss + ORLANDO loss + NYCFC 1 or fewer points + CROWN 1 or fewer points
OR
6) MIAMI shootout loss + ORLANDO loss + NYCFC 1 or fewer points + CHICAGO 2 or fewer points
OR
7) MIAMI shootout loss + ORLANDO loss + CROWN 1 or fewer points + CHICAGO 2 or fewer points
OR
8) MIAMI shootout loss + NYCFC 1 or fewer points + CROWN 1 or fewer points + CHICAGO 2 or fewer points
Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) NYCFC 1 or more points
OR
2) CROWN loss + CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + NYCFC wins tiebreaker over CROWN
OR
3) CROWN loss + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points + NYCFC wins tiebreaker over CROWN
OR
4) CROWN loss + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points + NYCFC wins tiebreaker over CROWN
OR
5) CROWN loss + COLUMBUS 2 or fewer points + NYCFC wins tiebreaker over CROWN
OR
6) CROWN loss + NYCFC wins tiebreaker over CROWN + NYCFC wins tiebreaker over COLUMBUS
OR
7) CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points
OR
8) CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points
OR
9) CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + COLUMBUS 2 or fewer points
OR
10) CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + NYCFC wins tiebreaker over COLUMBUS
OR
11) CAROLINA 1 or fewer points + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points
OR
12) CAROLINA 1 or fewer points + COLUMBUS 2 or fewer points
OR
13) CAROLINA 1 or fewer points + NYCFC wins tiebreaker over COLUMBUS
OR
14) CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points + COLUMBUS 2 or fewer points
OR
15) CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points + NYCFC wins tiebreaker over COLUMBUS
Clinches a top-four seed:
1) NYCFC win + ORLANDO 2 or fewer points + MIAMI 2 or fewer points
OR
2) NYCFC win + ORLANDO 2 or fewer points + CROWN 2 or fewer points
OR
3) NYCFC win + ORLANDO 2 or fewer points + NYCFC wins tiebreaker over CROWN
OR
4) NYCFC win + MIAMI 2 or fewer points + CROWN 2 or fewer points
OR
5) NYCFC win + MIAMI 2 or fewer points + NYCFC wins tiebreaker over CROWN
OR
6) NYCFC shootout win + any three of the following:
* MIAMI 1 or fewer points
* CROWN 2 or fewer points
* CHICAGO 2 or fewer points OR NYCFC wins tiebreaker over CHICAGO
* ORLANDO loss OR ORLANDO shootout loss + NYCFC wins tiebreaker over ORLANDO
OR
7) NYCFC shootout loss + ORLANDO loss + CROWN 1 or fewer points + CHICAGO 2 or fewer points
Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) CROWN 1 or more points
OR
2) NYCFC loss + CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + CROWN wins tiebreaker over NYCFC
OR
3) NYCFC loss + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points + CROWN wins tiebreaker over NYCFC
OR
4) NYCFC loss + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points + CROWN wins tiebreaker over NYCFC
OR
5) NYCFC loss + COLUMBUS 2 or fewer points + CROWN wins tiebreaker over NYCFC
OR
6) NYCFC loss + CROWN wins tiebreaker over NYCFC + CROWN wins tiebreaker over COLUMBUS
OR
7) CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points
OR
8) CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points
OR
9) CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + COLUMBUS 2 or fewer points
OR
10) CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + CROWN wins tiebreaker over COLUMBUS
OR
11) CAROLINA 1 or fewer points + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points
OR
12) CAROLINA 1 or fewer points + COLUMBUS 2 or fewer points
OR
13) CAROLINA 1 or fewer points + CROWN wins tiebreaker over COLUMBUS
OR
14) CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points + COLUMBUS 2 or fewer points
OR
15) CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points + CROWN wins tiebreaker over COLUMBUS
Clinches Southeast Division title if:
1) CROWN win + ORLANDO 2 or fewer points + MIAMI 2 or fewer points
OR
2) CROWN shootout win + ORLANDO loss + MIAMI 1 or fewer points
Clinches a top-four seed:
1) CROWN win + ORLANDO 2 or fewer points + MIAMI 2 or fewer points
OR
2) CROWN win + ORLANDO 2 or fewer points + NYCFC 2 or fewer points
OR
3) CROWN win + ORLANDO 2 or fewer points + CROWN wins tiebreaker over NYCFC
OR
4) CROWN win + MIAMI 2 or fewer points + NYCFC 2 or fewer points
OR
5) CROWN win + MIAMI 2 or fewer points + CROWN wins tiebreaker over NYCFC
OR
6) CROWN shootout win + any three of the following:
* MIAMI 1 or fewer points
* NYCFC 1 or fewer points
* ORLANDO loss
* CHICAGO 2 or fewer points OR CROWN wins tiebreaker over CHICAGO
OR
7) CROWN shootout loss + ORLANDO loss + NYCFC loss + CHICAGO 2 or fewer points + CROWN wins tiebreaker over ORLANDO
Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) CHICAGO 2 or more points
OR
2) CHICAGO shootout loss + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points
OR
3) CHICAGO shootout loss + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points + COLUMBUS 2 or fewer points
OR
4) CHICAGO shootout loss + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points + COLUMBUS 2 or fewer points
OR
5) CHATTANOOGA 1 or fewer points + CAROLINA loss
OR
6) CHATTANOOGA 1 or fewer points + COLUMBUS 1 or fewer points
OR
7) CAROLINA loss + COLUMBUS 1 or fewer points
Clinches a top-four seed if:
1) CHICAGO wins + any three of the following:
* MIAMI 1 or fewer points
* ORLANDO loss OR ORLANDO shootout loss + CHICAGO wins tiebreaker over ORLANDO
* NYCFC 1 or fewer points OR NYCFC shootout win + CHICAGO wins tiebreaker over NYCFC
* CROWN 1 or fewer points OR CROWN shootout win + CHICAGO wins tiebreaker over CROWN
Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) CAROLINA win
OR
2) CAROLINA shootout win + NYCFC loss
OR
3) CAROLINA shootout win + CROWN loss
OR
4) CAROLINA shootout win + CHICAGO 1 or fewer points
OR
5) CAROLINA shootout win + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points
OR
6) CAROLINA shootout loss + CHICAGO loss + CHATTANOOGA 1 or fewer points
OR
7) CAROLINA shootout loss + CHICAGO loss + COLUMBUS 2 or fewer points
OR
8) CAROLINA shootout loss + CHATTANOOGA 1 or fewer points + COLUMBUS 2 or fewer points
OR
9) CHATTANOOGA loss + COLUMBUS 1 or fewer points
Clinches Southeast Division title if:
1) CAROLINA win + ORLANDO loss + CROWN 1 or fewer points
Clinches a top-four seed:
1) CAROLINA win + ORLANDO loss + NYCFC 1 or fewer points + CROWN 1 or fewer points
OR
2) CAROLINA win + ORLANDO loss + NYCFC 1 or fewer points + CHICAGO 2 or fewer points
OR
3) CAROLINA win + ORLANDO loss + CROWN 1 or fewer points + CHICAGO 2 or fewer points
OR
4) CAROLINA win + NYCFC 1 or fewer points + CROWN 1 or fewer points + CHICAGO 2 or fewer points
Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) CHATTANOOGA win
OR
2) CHATTANOOGA shootout win + CHICAGO loss + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points
OR
3) CHATTANOOGA shootout win + CHICAGO loss + COLUMBUS 2 or fewer points
OR
4) CHATTANOOGA shootout win + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points + COLUMBUS 2 or fewer points
OR
5) CHATTANOOGA shootout loss + CAROLINA loss + COLUMBUS 1 or fewer points
clinches a playoff spot:
1) COLUMBUS win + NYCFC loss + CROWN loss + COLUMBUS wins tiebreaker over NYCFC + COLUMBUS wins tiebreaker over CROWN
OR
2) COLUMBUS win + NYCFC loss + CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + COLUMBUS wins tiebreaker over NYCFC
OR
3) COLUMBUS win + NYCFC loss + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points + COLUMBUS wins tiebreaker over NYCFC
OR
4) COLUMBUS win + NYCFC loss + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points + COLUMBUS wins tiebreaker over NYCFC
OR
5) COLUMBUS win + CROWN loss + CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + COLUMBUS wins tiebreaker over CROWN
OR
6) COLUMBUS win + CROWN loss + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points + COLUMBUS wins tiebreaker over CROWN
OR
7) COLUMBUS win + CROWN loss + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points + COLUMBUS wins tiebreaker over CROWN
OR
8) COLUMBUS win + CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points
OR
9) COLUMBUS win + CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points
OR
10) COLUMBUS win + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points
OR
11) COLUMBUS shootout win + CHICAGO loss + CAROLINA loss
OR
12) COLUMBUS shootout win + CHICAGO loss + CHATTANOOGA 1 or fewer points
OR
13) COLUMBUS shootout win + CAROLINA loss + CHATTANOOGA 1 or fewer points
Clinches best record in East and Northeast Division title if:
1) PHILADELPHIA win
OR
2) PHILADELPHIA goes to a shootout + CINCINNATI 2 or fewer points
OR
3) CINCINNATI loss
OR
4) CINCINNATI shootout loss + PHILADELPHIA wins tiebreaker over CINCINNATI
Clinches best record in East and Northeast Division title if:
1) CINCINNATI win + PHILADELPHIA 2 or fewer points
OR
2) CINCINNATI shootout win + PHILADELPHIA loss
OR
3) CINCINNATI shootout loss + PHILADELPHIA loss + CINCINNATI wins tiebreaker over PHILADELPHIA
Clinches Southeast Division title if:
1) ORLANDO win
OR
2) ORLANDO shootout win + MIAMI 2 or fewer points + CROWN 2 or fewer points
OR
3) ORLANDO shootout loss + MIAMI 1 or fewer points + CROWN 2 or fewer points
Clinches a top-four seed:
1) ORLANDO win
OR
2) ORLANDO shootout win + MIAMI 2 or fewer points + NYCFC 2 or fewer points
OR
3) ORLANDO shootout win + MIAMI 2 or fewer points + CROWN 2 or fewer points
OR
4) ORLANDO shootout win + NYCFC 2 or fewer points + CROWN 2 or fewer points
OR
5) ORLANDO shootout loss + any three of the following:
* MIAMI 1 or fewer points
* CROWN 2 or fewer points
* CHICAGO 2 or fewer points OR ORLANDO wins tiebreaker over CHICAGO
* NYCFC 1 or fewer points OR NYCFC shootout win + ORLANDO wins tiebreaker over NYCFC
OR
6) NYCFC loss + CHICAGO 2 or fewer points + CROWN loss
OR
7) NYCFC loss + CHICAGO 2 or fewer points + CROWN shootout loss + ORLANDO wins tiebreaker over CROWN
