The 2012 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament is a single-elimination tournament involving 48 teams to determine the champion of the 2012 NCAA Division I men's soccer season.

A total of 48 teams will qualify into the tournament proper, either automatically, or through an at-large bid that is determined by a selection committee.

Each conference that field varsity soccer teams are admitted one automatic berth into the tournament.

Of the 48 berths, 22 are allocated to the conference tournament or regular season winners.

The remaining 26 berths are determined through an at-large process based upon teams' Ratings Percentage Index that did not win their conference tournament.