The higher seed are home for the first and — if necessary — third games of the series.The winners advance to the conference semifinals, with that round joining the conference final and MLS Cup Final as single-elimination matches at the home of the higher seed.

MLS Cup Playoffs action continues this evening with three first-round matchups around the league. Here is what went down. San Diego 2-1 Portland Timbers  Scorers: Valakari 23', Dreyer 30' ; Velde

Jesús Bueno scored the decisive goal in a penalty-kick shootout after Philadelphia blew a two-goal lead late and the top-seeded Union beat the Chicago Fire in a best-of-three first-round opener of the MLS Cup playoffs.

The World Cup winner extended his MLS contract with Inter Miami through 2028 — "I'm happy living in Miami, as is my family, and honestly, the decision was easy.""

Is it Messi's time? Will some of MLS's high-profile newcomers win it all? Or will there be an unexpected champ? Our writers have their say

Sixteen clubs remain in contention to make a run to MLS Cup, and there’s the potential of 13 clubs to host the final match, which will be a one-game winner-take-all showdown. The only teams in the first-round best-of-three series unable to host the final due to their regular-season record are Austin FC, FC Dallas and Portland Timbers.

Monday, Oct. 27 🇪🇸 LaLiga: Real Betis vs. Atletico Madrid, 4 p.m. ➡️ ESPN+ 🇺🇸 MLS Cup playoffs: FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew, 6:45 p.m. ➡️ FS1 🇺🇸 MLS Cup playoffs: Minnesota United vs. Seattle Sounders, 9 p.m. ➡️ FS1