MLS playoff schedule: Will anyone stop Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami?

The MLS Cup playoffs begin Oct. 23 as Decision Day becomes more about seeding than qualification for the majority of the league’s gargantuan field.

Sixteen of 18 teams are in the field ahead of the final day of the regular season, but it’s clear who is in pole position: Inter Miami.

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

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez fired the Herons into the Supporters’ Shield and are now setting their sights on the club’s first MLS Cup.

Messi has scored 27 goals despite missing significant time following the Copa America due to injury, while Suarez has 25. Only six other players have scored at least 25 goals this season.

Gerardo “Tata” Martino is aiming to become the seventh coach to win multiple MLS Cups and the fourth to do so with both teams. Martino led Atlanta United to the 2018 crown.

MLS Cup Playoffs 2024: Format, dates, schedule

A full 18 of Major League Soccer’s 29 franchises make it to the postseason, but the field is quickly whittled down to 16 before the first round gives the favorites some breathing room.

Wildcard round, October 23rd: 8th vs. 9th in each conference, single elimination

Round one, starting October 25th to November 10th: Best-of-three series. The first-place team in each conference will play the wild card winner, while the second place will face the seventh, the third will face the sixth and the fourth will face the fifth. The top seed in each pairing receives the first and, if applicable, third home game.

Conference Semifinals, March 23-24 November: Individual elimination by the better team of the regular season

Conference Finals, November 30 – December 1: Individual elimination by the better team of the regular season

MLS Cup Final, December 7: On two legs, at home and on the go

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.

Also eligible to participate are: DC United, CF Montreal, Philadelphia Union, Atlanta United

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

Still eligible: None.