It’s Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs time, people!

Eighteen teams enter, and only one will be crowned champion in MLS Cup presented by Audi on Dec. 18.

What do you need to know about this year’s Western Conference field? Let's get primed on each team with a top-line look at who's left standing.

Need to know

• Standings: 1st in Western Conference (64 points)
• Playoff opener: Sunday, Nov. 22 vs. Wild Card winner (8:30 pm ET | Apple TV)

Season overview

Just the fourth club in MLS history to record at least 60 points in back-to-back years, the Whitecaps have set single-season club records for points (64) and wins (19). 

Sebastian Berhalter’s summer exit, mixed with Thomas Müller’s availability issues, stung for a spell, but no team in the league has better underlying numbers in 2026.

Decisive player

You could throw a dart at the Vancouver roster, and that dart would probably land on a defensible pick for this section. Still, Brian White deserves a special mention. The veteran striker hit the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career.

Best playoff finish

The Whitecaps fell just short of becoming MLS Cup 2025 champions in their first year under head coach Jesper Sørensen. Last year's 3-1 loss at Inter Miami, in their first trip to the final, will provide ample motivation.

Need to know

• Standings: 2nd in Western Conference (58 points)
• Playoff opener: Saturday, Nov. 21 vs. Portland Timbers (4 pm ET | Apple TV)

Season overview

A difficult team to beat that’s slowly morphed into a more fluid attacking group, head coach Eric Quill has done an impressive job leading the charge for FC Dallas. They’ve outperformed expectations mightily heading into the playoffs.

Decisive player

Petar Musa, who posted 22 league goals and scored at the World Cup for Croatia against England, is FC Dallas’ undisputed star. The 28-year-old striker is remarkably well-rounded and serves as the perfect tip of Dallas’ attacking spear.

Best playoff finish

The MLS originals lost their only past MLS Cup appearance, falling in 2010 to the Colorado Rapids.

Need to know

• Standings: 3rd in Western Conference (54 points)
• Playoff opener: Monday, Nov. 23 vs. LAFC (8 pm ET | Apple TV)

Season overview

With their rebuild firmly ahead of schedule, St. Louis have made history in 2026. They set the MLS record for consecutive games without a loss across all competitions (21) and lifted the first trophy in club history with their US Open Cup triumph.

Their remade roster, crafted by new sporting director Corey Wray and led by first-year head coach Yoann Damet, has soared even higher than anticipated.

Decisive player

Acquired for a club-record sum of $12 million from the Colorado Rapids in the summer transfer window, Rafael Navarro has added an entirely new dimension to St. Louis’ attack. A brilliant distributor and scorer, Navarro is one of the best strikers in MLS.

Best playoff finish

As the West's No. 1 seed, St. Louis CITY's historic 2023 expansion season ended with a Round One elimination by rivals Sporting Kansas City. They haven't returned to the playoffs until now.

Need to know

• Standings: 4th in Western Conference (52 points)
• Playoff opener: Tuesday, Nov. 24 vs. Houston Dynamo FC (10 pm ET | Apple TV)

Season overview

San Jose's year has been filled with highs and lows.

To start the regular season, they became the first MLS team in the post-shootout era to win nine of their first 10 games. Then an injury-filled summer knocked them down before a slight stabilization prior to Decision Day.

Earthquakes fans will hope their team has rediscovered their spring form.

Decisive player

It’s no coincidence that San Jose’s form dipped when Niko Tsakiris got injured in May. Legendary head coach Bruce Arena handed the keys to the homegrown playmaker to lead the attack alongside Timo Werner.

The Earthquakes need a healthy Tsakiris to reach their ceiling. He sure seemed to be at his best on Decision Day with a lovely assist on a Preston Judd strike.

Best playoff finish

San Jose are two-time MLS Cup champions, going the distance in 2001 and 2003. Now, the Earthquakes will host their first playoff game at PayPal Park as they continue their ascent under Arena.

Need to know

• Standings: 5th in Western Conference (51 points)
• Playoff opener: Tuesday, Nov. 24 at San Jose Earthquakes (10 pm ET | Apple TV)

Season overview

Armed with a strong defensive unit thanks in no small part to Agustin Resch and Lucas Halter – two winter additions at center back – the Dynamo have been an immovable object for much of the year. The attack, though, has lagged at times.

Decisive player

When the Dynamo's attack is firing, it’s because of Guilherme. A Newcomer of the Year candidate, the Brazilian forward posted more goal contributions than any other first-year MLS player this season (26; 16g/10a).

Best playoff finish

Houston have an MLS Cup history, winning back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007. Can head coach Ben Olsen's side build on that?

Need to know

• Standings: 6th in Western Conference (47 points)
• Playoff opener: Monday, Nov. 23 at St. Louis CITY SC (8 pm ET | Apple TV)

Season overview

It’s been a rocky road for LAFC, who parted ways with head coach Marc Dos Santos in September. As LAFC regressed in a host of underlying metrics (and good old-fashioned results), they turned to interim manager Xavi Tamarit. Things are yet to really start singing on the field, however.

Decisive player

It’s virtually impossible to split up the dynamic duo of Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-Min, but Bouanga may give viewers a better window into the club as a whole.

The team leader in goal contributions (18g/9a) and best as a left winger, Bouanga spent most of the campaign’s denouement playing out of position as a striker. His role in any given game could decide the match for LAFC.

Best playoff finish

Does anyone remember that Gareth Bale header in MLS Cup 2022? Of course you do. It helped LAFC become champions, settling a 3-3 draw with the Philadelphia Union that was then decided on penalty kicks.

Need to know

• Standings: 7th in Western Conference (46 points)
• Playoff opener: Saturday, Nov. 21 at FC Dallas (4 pm ET | Apple TV)

Season overview

With just four wins before the World Cup break, the Timbers parted ways with head coach Phil Neville and replaced him with Martí Cifuentes.

Cifuentes has ushered in an attacking style that’s unlocked Portland’s best players and seen them win four straight games heading into the postseason. This is a resurgent team.

Decisive player

Since MLS play resumed in July, only Messi ranks higher in American Soccer Analysis’ goals-added metric than Kristoffer Velde. The left winger has been truly brilliant going at opposing fullbacks one-on-one and finding goals. Velde could cement his status as a superstar this postseason.

Best playoff finish

Portland won the title in 2015, with club legend Diego Valeri scoring the fastest goal in MLS Cup history (27 seconds) during a 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew. They also finished as runner-up in 2018 and 2021.

Need to know

• Standings: 8th in Western Conference (46 points)
• Playoff opener: Thursday, Nov. 19 vs. Real Salt Lake (10 pm ET | Apple TV)

Season overview

On Decision Day, the Sounders were at risk of missing the playoffs for just the second time in the club’s MLS era. But thanks to a trademark late-season turnaround that culminated in a 2-1 win over LAFC, Seattle are right back where they expect to be. Even after a season plagued by injuries and inconsistencies, they’re not a team to overlook.

Decisive player

It’s no coincidence that much of Seattle’s slide down the West’s standings this year happened when Cristian Roldan, a member of Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT World Cup squad, was out injured. Back in the lineup, Roldan’s play at the base of midfield is transformational for head coach Brian Schmetzer’s outfit.

Best playoff finish

Seattle's trophy cabinet includes two MLS Cup titles. They won the 2016 and 2019 finals, beating Toronto FC on both occasions. They also finished as runner-up in 2017 and 2020.

Need to know

• Standings: 9th in Western Conference (45 points)
• Playoff opener: Thursday, Nov. 19 at Seattle Sounders FC (10 pm ET | Apple TV)

Season overview

It’s been a rollercoaster year for RSL, to say the least.

After a rip-roaring start where they looked the part of a trophy contender, Zavier Gozo’s club-record transfer to English Premier League side Crystal Palace and Diego Luna’s season-ending knee injury took the wind out of RSL’s sails.

Now, a rebalanced frontline and a deeper-than-ever center back room saw RSL make a last-minute push back above the line.

Decisive player

Perhaps the revelation of the 2026 MLS season, Sergi Solans has emerged as a star striker in his debut season. With 15 non-penalty goals and some quality distribution and defensive work, the 2026 MLS SuperDraft selection is RSL's top attacking threat.

Plus, Solans will get service from Morgan Guilavogui and Uruguay international Juan Manuel Sanabria, which should be a scary thought for Seattle’s defense in the Wild Card game.

Best playoff finish

RSL won MLS Cup in 2009 and also made the 2013 final. In this current era, they've made the postseason six straight seasons under head coach Pablo Mastroeni.