 | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Dates | November 20 – December 12 |
| Teams | 18 |
| Defending champions | Seattle Sounders FC |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Columbus Crew SC (2nd title) |
| Runner-up | Seattle Sounders FC |
| Semifinalists | |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 17 |
| Goals scored | 50 (2.94 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) |  Kevin Molino(4 goals) |
The 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs (branded as the 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for sponsorship reasons) was the 25th edition of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the post-season championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top soccer league in the United States and Canada. The tournament culminated the 2020 MLS regular season. The playoffs began on November 20 and concluded with MLS Cup 2020 on December 12.[1]
On October 29, the league announced that the final regular season standings and playoff qualification would be determined by points per game rather than by overall points. This was due to eight MLS clubs, all in the Western Conference, being unable to play all of their scheduled 23 regular season matches in time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Seven postponed matches were cancelled altogether in order for the playoffs to be able to start on the scheduled date.[2] A 12-day break between Decision Day and the start of the playoffs was added to accommodate an international break; MLS waived quarantine requirements for players who returned on charter flights, but several positive cases affected the opening rounds.[3][4]
The 2020 regular season Supporters' Shield champions were the Philadelphia Union, who were eliminated in the first round by the New England Revolution.
Seattle Sounders FC were the defending MLS Cup champions, having won their second title in MLS Cup 2019. They were beaten by Columbus Crew SC 3–0 in the MLS Cup final. As a result, Columbus Crew SC earned their second MLS Cup title, and first since 2008.
- ^ "How the 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs will work: Qualifying and competition format". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. September 11, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- ^ "MLS to use points per game to determine final 2020 regular season standings" (Press release). Major League Soccer. October 29, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
- ^ Evans, Jayda (November 23, 2020). "In a season of coronavirus-related changes, Sounders' constant has been their will to win". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
- ^ Straus, Brian (November 20, 2020). "MLS Reaches the Playoffs, but Completing Them Has a Distinct Set of Challenges". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 20, 2023.