MLS Cup 2026 is the championship match of Major League Soccer’s 31st season, scheduled for Friday 18 December 2026. The final is hosted at the home venue of whichever finalist finished with the better regular-season record across the two Conference winners. It is the last MLS Cup to be played in December before the league transitions to a summer-to-spring calendar from 2027, making this edition a historic closer to the autumn championship era.
What is the MLS Cup?
The MLS Cup is the championship game of Major League Soccer, awarded to the winner of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. The playoff bracket features the top nine teams from each of the Eastern and Western Conferences, starting with a Wild Card round, a best-of-three Round One series, and single-match Conference Semi-finals, Conference Finals and the MLS Cup itself. The winner lifts the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy.
Unlike most major North American sports, MLS Cup has been held at the home stadium of the finalist with the higher points-per-game figure since 2012, giving teams a direct incentive across the regular season. The 2026 edition sticks with that principle.
When is the MLS Cup 2026 Final?
MLS Cup 2026 is played on Friday 18 December 2026. It is the first time the final has been scheduled on a Friday, moving away from the traditional weekend slot to avoid a conflict with the FIFA Club World Cup window and to give the match a dedicated prime-time audience in North America.
Where is the MLS Cup 2026 Final?
The venue is determined by the finalists. The host is the team with the better regular-season record between the two Conference Finals winners. MLS has hosted recent finals at Los Angeles’ BMO Stadium, Columbus Crew’s Lower.com Field, Toronto’s BMO Field and Philadelphia’s Subaru Park, with crowds typically ranging from 20,000 to 30,000. The host city is confirmed once both Conference Finals are decided in early December.
Key Contenders
Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, enter the playoffs as one of the competition’s highest-profile sides and are seeking their first MLS Cup. Los Angeles FC, Columbus Crew and the Philadelphia Union have been consistent contenders in recent campaigns, while Supporters’ Shield holders typically carry the tag of favourites into the playoff bracket. The defending champions enter the competition looking to become the first back-to-back MLS Cup winner since LA Galaxy achieved the feat in 2011 and 2012.
How to Watch
In the United States and Canada, MLS Cup 2026 is broadcast on Apple TV via the MLS Season Pass subscription, with selected matches also carried on Fox and FS1 in English and on TUDN in Spanish. Internationally, the MLS Season Pass streams worldwide through the Apple TV app. In the United Kingdom, coverage is available via Apple TV. Radio coverage is offered on SiriusXM FC in North America and through club-affiliated stations.
History and Records
The MLS Cup was first contested in 1996, won by DC United. LA Galaxy hold the record for most titles with five, followed by DC United on four. The 2014 final between LA Galaxy and New England Revolution drew a record crowd of 27,000 at the StubHub Center. The 2022 final between LAFC and Philadelphia Union is widely regarded as the greatest in league history, finishing 3-3 after extra time before LAFC won on penalties. MLS Cup 2026 closes the autumn calendar era, with the league shifting to a July-to-May schedule from the 2027 season.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for MLS Cup 2026 are sold through the host club’s official box office once the finalists are confirmed in early December. Prices typically range from around 80 US dollars for standard seating to several hundred dollars for premium and club areas. Demand is high given the compressed sale window, and secondary-market availability is limited. Hospitality packages for the final are offered by On Location, MLS’s official hospitality partner.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the MLS Cup 2026 Final start?
Friday 18 December 2026. Kick-off time is confirmed once the finalists are known, typically in US evening prime time.
Where is the MLS Cup 2026 Final being held?
At the home stadium of whichever finalist has the better regular-season record, decided in early December 2026.
How can I watch the MLS Cup 2026 Final?
On Apple TV via MLS Season Pass worldwide, with additional coverage on Fox and FS1 in the United States.
Who won the last MLS Cup?
The defending champion from the 2025 MLS Cup Final enters the 2026 playoffs aiming to retain the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy.