Major League Soccer has released the tiebreaker procedures that will determine final standings positions for the 2026 regular season. The league's tiebreaking criteria will be used when teams finish level on points in the conference tables.
The announcement comes as MLS prepares for its 2026 campaign, which will feature an expanded schedule and continued growth across North American markets. Tiebreaker rules are critical for determining playoff seeding, home-field advantage, and qualification for international competitions such as the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
MLS typically employs a multi-step tiebreaking process that includes head-to-head results, goal differential, goals scored, and disciplinary records among other factors. The specific hierarchy for the 2026 season will guide clubs and fans through the final weeks of the regular season when playoff positions are often decided by narrow margins.
