CINCINNATI — Playoff season is here, FC Cincinnati fans!
The Orange and Blue, who clinched the Supporters' Shield, are gearing up for the first round of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. FCC will take on the New York Red Bulls, who defeated Charlotte FC 5-2 in the Eastern Conference Wild Card.
This is the first year the MLS is holding the Wild Card round prior to the first round. The new playoff format was announced in February 2023.
The first round will be a best-of-three series. FCC and New York will play Sunday, Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. at TQL Stadium before traveling to Red Bull Arena for the second game of the series on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.
If a Game 3 is needed, it will be Saturday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. in Cincinnati.
“On to Cincinnati”
— Marshall Kramsky (@marshallkramsky) October 26, 2023
FC Cincinnati and the New York Red Bulls will face off in a Best-of-3 playoff series. @WCPO https://t.co/we7GdtVvgi
To close out the regular season, FCC drew Atlanta United 2-2 at TQL Stadium on Saturday. FC Cincinnati excelled in the regular season, finishing with a 20-9-5 record and becoming the 18th club in MLS history to win 20 or more games in a season.
Because of that stellar regular season performance, Cincinnati has home-field advantage throughout the MLS Cup. FCC also has hosting priority for the 2023 MLS Cup due to their Supporters' Shield award.
So, in theory, if Cincinnati stays alive in the playoffs, they'll host the final match. Otherwise, the finalist with the highest regular-season point total hosts the game.
Last year, Los Angeles FC won the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy. In the 2022 playoffs, FC Cincinnati fell 1-0 to then-No. 1 seed Philadelphia Union in the semifinals. The game marked FCC's second-ever MLS Cup playoffs match.
