Soccer
NWSL
2026 season
Playoffs
Format
- 8 teams seeded 1 to 8.
- Quarterfinals: 1 plays 8, 2 plays 7, 3 plays 6, and 4 plays 5.
- Single elimination: one match decides each round, through the semifinals, and the final championship match.
Who gets in
The top eight clubs make the playoffs. Every round is a single match: quarterfinals November 6 to 8, semifinals November 13 to 15, and the NWSL Championship on November 21.
The bracket is not reseeded: the winner of 1 v 8 meets the winner of 4 v 5, and the winner of 2 v 7 meets the winner of 3 v 6. The higher seed hosts every round before the final.
Seeding
Seeds follow the regular-season table, and a playoff match that ends level goes to extra time and then penalties; there are no second legs.