MLS Cup Final 2026

The 2026 MLS Cup presented by Audi will decide the Major League Soccer champion in the final season when the league's championship match is scheduled for December. The game is set for Friday, December 18, closing four weeks of playoff action that begin after Decision Day on November 7 and the November international window. The stadium and finalists are not yet known because hosting rights belong to the finalist with the better Supporters' Shield position. MLS has also confirmed that the championship match will be played in primetime.

Road to the final

The regular season concludes with Decision Day on November 7. After the FIFA international window, the playoffs begin on November 18 with the Wild Card matches, followed by the first-round series, conference semifinals and conference finals before the MLS Cup.

A venue still to be determined

The final does not have a predetermined host. MLS awards hosting rights to the finalist that finishes higher in the Supporters' Shield standings after the regular season, so the stadium and city will depend on the 2026 results.

The last December MLS Cup

The 2026 edition is a significant date in the competition's calendar history. It will be the final MLS Cup played in December before the league moves to its new summer-to-spring calendar structure.

How to watch

MLS has announced that the championship will be played in primetime on Apple TV, with selected coverage also available on FOX in the United States and TSN and RDS in Canada. The date is confirmed, while the venue and participating clubs will be known as the postseason progresses.