Matchups selected for first round of 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs

NEW YORK – MLS NEXT Pro announced the matchups and schedule for the first round of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs, with all eight Conference Quarterfinal matches set to take place on Sunday, October 20.

The matchups were determined on Tuesday by the top three seeds in each conference choosing their opponents on Pick-Your-Opponent Selection Shows. The 2024 Playoffs mark the second straight postseason MLS NEXT Pro has utilized their Pick-Your-Opponent format.

In each conference, the No. 1-3 seeds were able to select their opponents from the No. 5-8 seeds, with the No. 4 seeds facing the last remaining Clubs. Of the six selections made on Tuesday, only one Club made a traditional bracket choice, as No. 1 seed FC Cincinnati 2 picked No. 8 seed Crown Legacy FC in the East.

No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and No. 1 overall, North Texas SC selected non-traditional opponent No. 7 Vancouver Whitecaps FC, while No. 2 seed St Louis CITY2 made a surprising move, opting for No. 5 LAFC2. No. 3 seed The Town FC selected the lowest seeded team, No. 8 Houston Dynamo 2. Rounding out the Western Conference matchups, No. 4 seed Tacoma Defiance will host West Coast rival, No. 6 Ventura County FC.

In the East, after FC Cincinnati selected Crown Legacy FC, No. 2 Philadelphia Union II quickly went away from the usual bracket choice, instead selecting No. 6 New York City FC II. No. 3 seed Inter Miami II then opted for No. 7 seed Columbus Crew 2, the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Cup Champions (2022) and runners-up in 2023. The final matchup of the Eastern conference features No. 4 Chicago Fire FC II hosting No. 5 Orlando City B.

The Conference Quarterfinals schedule follows (all matches broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV):

Eastern Conference

Sunday, October 20

• Chicago Fire II (No. 4) vs Orlando City B (No. 5) – SeatGeek Stadium (3 p.m. ET)
• Philadelphia Union II (No. 2) vs New York City FC II (No. 6) – Subaru Park (5 p.m. ET)
• FC Cincinnati 2 (No. 1) vs Crown Legacy FC (No. 8) – NKU Soccer Stadium (7 p.m. ET)
• Inter Miami II (No. 3) vs Columbus Crew 2 (No. 7) – Chase Stadium (7 p.m. ET)

Western Conference

Sunday, October 20

• St Louis CITY2 (No. 2) vs LAFC2 (No. 5) – CITYPARK (3 p.m. ET)
• The Town FC (No. 3) vs Houston Dynamo 2 (No. 8) – St. Mary’s Stadium (6 p.m. ET)
• North Texas SC (No. 1) vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (No. 7) – Choctaw Stadium (8:30 p.m. ET)
• Tacoma Defiance (No. 4) vs Ventura County FC (No. 6) – Starfire Sports Complex (10 p.m. ET)

Following the Conference Quarterfinals, the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs will continue the weekend of October 25 with the Conference Semifinals, where the Pick-Your-Opponent format will again be used. In the second round, the highest remaining seed in each conference will select and host an opponent from the two lowest seeded teams and the two remaining Clubs will face each other.

The Conference Finals will return to the traditional bracket format and take place the weekend of November 1, with the postseason culminating the weekend of November 8 with MLS NEXT Pro Cup. All Playoff matches and MLS NEXT Pro Cup will air live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.