The MLS Cup Playoffs have begun and we now know the obstacles on the path to the MLS Cup Final.

[ MORE: Inter Miami schedule, Messi’s stats ]

Eighteen teams qualified for the playoffs, but it's clear who is in pole position: Inter Miami.

How are Inter Miami, Lionel Messi getting on in MLS playoffs?

The Herons are tangling with rival and wild card round winner Atlanta United in a best-of-three series and they got off to a winning start to take Game 1 but they lost Game 2 after taking the lead.

Inter Miami had the lead at half time through David Martinez but Atlanta made it 1-1 through Derrick Williams and then Xande Silva scored a sensational 94th minute winner to set up Game 3. That will take place in Miami on Sunday, November 9.

Messi and Suarez have fired the Herons to the Supporters' Shield, and now set their sights on the club's first MLS Cup. Messi has 31 goal contributions despite missing significant time through injury after Copa America, while Suarez has 26. Only six other players have registered at least 25 this season.

Gerardo "Tata" Martino is seeking to become the seventh coach to win multiple MLS Cups, and the fourth to do it with both teams. Martino led Atlanta United to the 2018 crown.

2024 MLS Cup Playoffs: Format, dates

A whopping 18 of Major League Soccer's 29 franchises make the postseason, but the field was trimmed to 16 quickly before the first round gives the favorites some leeway.

Wild card round, October 23: 8th vs 9th place in each conference, single-elimination

Round one, begins October 25-November 10: Best-of-three series. 1st place team in each conference plays wild card winner while second meets seventh, third meets sixth, and fourth meets fifth. The top seed in each pairing gets the first and, if necessary, third matches at home.

Conference semifinals, November 23-24: Single-elimination at better regular season side

Conference finals, November 30-December 1: Single-elimination at better regular season side

MLS Cup Finals, December 7: Two-legged, home-and-away

2024 MLS Cup Playoffs: Qualified teams

Eastern Conference: Inter Miami (1), Columbus Crew (2), FC Cincinnati (3), Orlando City, New York City FC, Charlotte FC, New York Red Bulls. CF Montreal, Atlanta United

Western Conference: LA Galaxy (1), LAFC (2), Seattle Sounders (3), Real Salt Lake, Houston Dynamo, Colorado Rapids, Minnesota United, Vancouver Whitecaps, Portland Timbers

2024 MLS Cup Playoffs schedule

Wild card round (Single elimination)

Montreal 2-2 (4-5 pens) Atlanta
Vancouver 5-0 Portland

Round one (Best of three)

First legs
Inter Miami 2-1 Atlanta United
LA Galaxy 5-0 Colorado
Orlando City 2-0 Charlotte
LAFC 2-1 Vancouver
FC Cincinnati 1-0 NYCFC
Seattle 0-0 (pens 5-4) Houston
Columbus 0-1 New York Red Bulls
Real Salt Lake 0-0 (4-5 pens) Minnesota United

Second legs
Charlotte 0-0 (pens 3-1) Orlando City — Series tied 1-1
Colorado 1-4 LA Galaxy — Galaxy win series 2-0
NYCFC 3-1 FC Cincinnati — Series tied 1-1
Atlanta United 2-1 Inter Miami — Series tied 1-1
Minnesota United 1-1 (3-1 pens) Real Salt Lake — Minnesota United win series 2-0

New York Red Bulls 2-2 (5-4 pens) Columbus Crew — RBNY win series 2-0
Houston 1-1 (6-7 pens) Seattle Sounders — Seattle win series 2-0
Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 LAFC — Series tied 1-1

Third legs
LAFC vs Vancouver Whitecaps — 11pm ET Friday Nov. 8
FC Cincinnati vs NYCFC — 4pm ET Saturday Nov. 9
Orlando City vs Charlotte — 6pm ET Saturday Nov. 9
Inter Miami vs Atlanta United — 8pm ET Saturday Nov. 9