2024 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs

Matchweek 29 Playoffs Clinching Scenarios

MW 29 Playoffs Scenarios

There is so much at stake this Matchweek 29 that it will take you more than one minute to get caught up with the different club-clinching scenarios for the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs. Five teams have clinched a playoff spot in the Western Conference, while only three teams have qualified for the big show in the Eastern Conference! The West could see Whitecaps FC 2 and Houston Dynamo 2 get their ticket and close doors for all other clubs in that conference. The East is a tad more complicated; nevertheless, the clubs currently over the playoff line of that conference standings all have an opportunity to get into the post-season.

Below are the different playoff scenarios for Matchweek 29.

Western Conference

  • Whitecaps FC 2
  • Houston Dynamo 2
  • North Texas SC
  • LAFC2
  • The Town FC

Clinch a playoff spot if:
1) WHITECAPS 2 or more points
OR
2) WHITECAPS shootout loss + KANSAS CITY 2 or fewer points + HOUSTON loss + REAL MONARCHS loss
OR
3) WHITECAPS shootout loss + KANSAS CITY 2 or fewer points + HOUSTON loss + TIMBERS loss
OR
4) WHITECAPS shootout loss + KANSAS CITY 2 or fewer points + REAL MONARCHS/TIMBERS go to shootout
OR
5) WHITECAPS shootout loss + HOUSTON loss + REAL MONARCHS/TIMBERS go to shootout

Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) HOUSTON win + AUSTIN 2 or fewer points + KANSAS CITY 1 or fewer points + TIMBERS shootout loss

Clinches No. 1 overall (best record in MLS NEXT Pro) if:
1) NORTH TEXAS, one or more points
OR
2) CINCINNATI 2 or fewer points

Clinches Pacific Division title if:
1) LAFC win + TACOMA 1 or fewer points

Clinches a top-four seed if:
1) TOWN win + TACOMA 1 or fewer points
OR
2) TOWN shootout win + TACOMA loss + VENTURA COUNTY 2 or fewer points

Is eliminated if:
1) AUSTIN loss + HOUSTON 1 or more points
OR
2) AUSTIN loss + TIMBERS win
OR
3) AUSTIN loss + KANSAS CITY win
OR
4) AUSTIN loss + REAL MONARCHS win
OR
5) AUSTIN shootout loss + HOUSTON 2 or more points
OR
6) AUSTIN shootout win + HOUSTON win

Are eliminated if:
1) REAL MONARCHS loss
OR
2) REAL MONARCHS 2 or fewer points + HOUSTON win

Is eliminated if:
1) KANSAS CITY loss + HOUSTON 2 or more points
OR
2) KANSAS CITY loss + TIMBERS win
OR
3) KANSAS CITY shootout loss + HOUSTON win

Are eliminated if:
1) TIMBERS loss + HOUSTON 2 or more points
OR
2) TIMBERS shootout loss + HOUSTON win

Eastern Conference

  • Inter Miami II
  • NYCFC II
  • Columbus Crew 2
  • Crown Legacy FC
  • Chicago Fire II
  • FC Cincinnati 2

Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) MIAMI 1 or more points
OR
2) CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points + CAROLINA 2 or fewer points
OR
3) CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points + NYCFC loss
OR
4) CAROLINA 2 or fewer points + NYCFC loss
OR
5) CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + NYCFC loss
OR
6) CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + CAROLINA 2 or fewer points
OR
7) CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points
OR
8) COLUMBUS loss + NYCFC loss
OR
9) COLUMBUS loss + CAROLINA 2 or fewer points
OR
10) COLUMBUS loss + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points

Clinches a top-four seed if:
1) MIAMI win
OR
2) MIAMI shootout win + NYCFC 2 or fewer points + COLUMBUS 2 or fewer points

Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) NYCFC win + CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points
OR
2) NYCFC win + CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points
OR
3) NYCFC win + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points
OR
4) NYCFC shootout win + CAROLINA loss + CHATTANOOGA 1 or fewer points

Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) COLUMBUS win + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points
OR
2) COLUMBUS win + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points
OR
3) COLUMBUS shootout win + CAROLINA loss + CHATTANOOGA 1 or fewer points

Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) CROWN win + CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points
OR
2) CROWN win + CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points
OR
3) CROWN win + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points + CHATTANOOGA 2 or fewer points
OR
4) CROWN shootout win + CAROLINA loss + CHATTANOOGA 1 or fewer points

Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) CHICAGO win + CAROLINA loss + CHATTANOOGA 1 or fewer point

Clinches Northeast Division title and No. 1 Seed in the Eastern Conference if:
1) CINCINNATI win + PHILADELPHIA 2 or fewer points
OR
2) CINCINNATI shootout win + PHILADELPHIA loss

Are eliminated if:
1) NY RED BULLS 1 or fewer points
OR
2) NY RED BULLS shootout win + CHICAGO 1 or more points
OR
3) NY RED BULLS shootout win + CAROLINA 1 or more points
OR
4) NY RED BULLS shootout win + CHATTANOOGA 2 or more points
OR
5) NYCFC 1 or more points + CROWN 1 or more points + CAROLINA win
OR
6) NYCFC 1 or more points + CROWN 1 or more points + CHATTANOOGA win
OR
7) NYCFC 1 or more points + CAROLINA win + CHATTANOOGA win
OR
8) CROWN 1 or more points + CAROLINA win + CHATTANOOGA win
OR
9) CHICAGO shootout win + NYCFC 1 or more points + CROWN 1 or more points
OR
10) CHICAGO shootout win + NYCFC 1 or more points + CAROLINA win
OR
11) CHICAGO shootout win + NYCFC 1 or more points + CHATTANOOGA win
OR
12) CHICAGO shootout win + CROWN 1 or more points + CAROLINA win
OR
13) CHICAGO shootout win + CROWN 1 or more points + CHATTANOOGA win
OR
14) CHICAGO shootout win + CAROLINA win + CHATTANOOGA win

Is eliminated if:

1) CHATTANOOGA loss + NYCFC 1 or more points + CROWN 1 or more points + CAROLINA win