No more waiting, soccer fanatics. The Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs are here.
The postseason gets underway this week with four single-elimination Knockout Round matches. Both games on the Western Conference side of the playoff bracket will be of interest to Sporting KC, who will face either FC Dallas, the Portland Timbers or Real Salt Lake in the two-legged conference semifinals.
Since Sporting KC will play the lowest-seeded team to emerge from the Knockout Round in the West, they cannot meet LAFC in the conference semifinals.
On Wednesday, the Eastern Conference’s No. 3 seed New York City FC will host No. 6 seed Philadelphia Union at Yankee Stadium (6 p.m. CT, FS1 & UniMas). Later that night, No. 4 seed FC Dallas will host No. 5 Portland at Toyota Stadium (8:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+ & UniMas).
On Thursday, the East's No. 4 seed D.C. United will battle No. 5 Columbus Crew SC in the first playoff match ever at Audi Field (7 p.m. CT, FS1 & UniMas). That will be followed by No. 3 seed LAFC hosting No. 6 Real Salt Lake in the first playoff tilt held at Banc of California Stadium (9:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2 & UniMas).
Sporting KC is one of four MLS clubs, joining Seattle in the West as well as New York Red Bulls and Atlanta United FC in the East, that will enjoy a Knockout Round bye and await the advancing teams. The national broadcast schedule for the conference semifinal first legs will be announced Thursday night, when Sporting KC learns its opponent.
