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
