This story has been updated with the latest MLS playoff results.

The 2024 MLS playoffs are here, coming hot on the tail of a dramatic end to the regular season that saw Lionel Messi and Inter Miami set a new league points record to top the standings.

The postseason begins just three days after the end of the regular season, with CF Montréal and Atlanta United squaring off in the wild card round Tuesday night. On Wednesday, the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps will meet in a clash between Pacific Northwest teams.

Miami will surely be among the favorites, but they're far from alone. The Columbus Crew, the defending MLS Cup champions, have beaten Messi and co. this year, while LAFC is looking to repeat their trophy lift from 2022. After a few poor seasons, the LA Galaxy are back among the contenders, while a consistently high-flying FC Cincinnati will be looking to prove they can deliver in knockout competition.

Here's what you need to know about the full MLS playoff bracket, schedule, and how to watch all the way through MLS Cup:

PLAYOFF TEAMS SET: Road to MLS Cup goes through Lionel Messi, Inter Miami

MLS playoff bracket

Nine teams from each conference have qualified for the 2024 MLS playoffs. The structure includes a single-elimination wild card round beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 22, followed by the best-of-three Round 1 that kicks off on Friday, Oct. 25 – with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in action.

From there, the single-game format returns for the conference semifinals, conference finals, and MLS Cup (with the higher seed hosting in all three rounds).

MLS playoffs – wild card round

• CF Montréal vs. Atlanta United

• Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

Note: The No. 8 seed Vancouver Whitecaps have relinquished home-field advantage for the wild card round due to a stadium availability conflict. As a result, the No. 9 seed Portland Timbers will host the Western Conference's wild card match.

MLS playoffs – Round 1

Eastern Conference

• Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United

• Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls

• FC Cincinnati vs. New York City FC

• Orlando City vs. Charlotte FC

Western Conference

• LAFC vs. West Wild Card winner

• LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids

• Real Salt Lake vs. Minnesota United

• Seattle Sounders vs. Houston Dynamo

MLS playoffs – Conference Semifinals

• Winner of East No. 1-East No. 9 vs. Winner of East No. 4-East No. 5

• Winner of East No. 2-East No. 7 vs. Winner of East No. 3-East No. 6

• Winner of West No. 1-West No. 8/9 vs. Winner of West No. 4-West No. 5

• Winner of West No. 2-West No. 7 vs. Winner of West No. 3-West No. 6

MLS playoffs – Conference Finals

• Highest-remaining East seed vs. Lowest-remaining East seed

• Highest-remaining West seed vs. Lowest-remaining West seed

MLS Cup

• East Champion vs. West Champion

Note: MLS Cup hosting rights will go to the team with the best regular-season record.

MLS playoff schedule by day

All times Eastern. Home teams listed first.

Tuesday, Oct. 22 – Wild card round

• CF Montréal 2-2 Atlanta United (Atlanta United advances 5-4 on penalty kicks)

Wednesday, Oct. 23 – Wild card round

• Portland Timbers 0-5 Vancouver Whitecaps

Friday, Oct. 25 – Round One, Game 1

• Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 26 – Round One, Game 1

• LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids, 11 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 27 – Round One, Game 1

• Orlando City vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.

• LAFC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, 9:45 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 28 – Round One, Game 1

• FC Cincinnati vs. New York City FC, 6:45 p.m.

• Seattle Sounders vs. Houston Dynamo, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct 29. – Round One, Game 1

• Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls, 6:45 p.m.

• Real Salt Lake vs. Minnesota United, 9 p.m.

Nov. 1 – Round One, Game 2

• Charlotte FC vs. Orlando City, 7:30 p.m.

• Colorado Rapids vs. LA Galaxy, 9:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 – Round One, Game 2

• Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami, 7 p.m.

• Minnesota United vs. Real Salt Lake, 9 p.m.

• New York City FC vs. FC Cincinnati, Time TBD

Nov. 3 – Round One, Game 2

• New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew, 4:30 p.m.

• Houston Dynamo vs. Seattle Sounders, 6:30 p.m.

• Vancouver Whitecaps vs. LAFC, 8:45 p.m.

Nov. 8 – Round One, Game 3 (if necessary)

• Real Salt Lake vs. Minnesota United, 9 p.m.

• LAFC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, 11 p.m.

Nov. 9 – Round One, Game 3 (if necessary)

• FC Cincinnati vs. New York City FC, 4 p.m.

• Orlando City vs. Charlotte FC, 6 p.m.

• Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United, 8 p.m.

• LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids, 10 p.m.

Nov. 10 – Round One, Game 3 (if necessary)

• Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls, 5 p.m.

• Seattle Sounders vs. Houston Dynamo, 7 p.m.

Nov. 23-24 – Conference semifinals

• Eastern Conference semifinal: Teams and time TBD

• Eastern Conference semifinal: Teams and time TBD

• Western Conference semifinal: Teams and time TBD

• Western Conference semifinal: Teams and time TBD

Nov. 30-Dec. 1 – Conference finals

• Eastern Conference final: Teams and time TBD

• Western Conference final: Teams and time TBD

Dec. 7 – MLS Cup

• Teams, TBD, 4 p.m.

How to watch MLS playoffs

Every game of the 2024 MLS playoffs will be streamed on Apple TV.

Select games, including MLS Cup, will be broadcast on Fox and FS1, and streamed via Fubo. Additionally, matches involving Canadian clubs will be carried in Canada by TSN (English) and RDS (French).

Watch select MLS playoff matches with a Fubo subscription

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLS playoffs: Bracket, teams, schedule, how to watch