[1][2] The Columbus Crew entered the playoffs as the defending MLS Cup champions, but were eliminated by the New York Red Bulls in round one.

Inter Miami CF entered as Supporters' Shield winners and Eastern Conference regular season leaders; they were eliminated in round one by Atlanta United FC.

The LA Galaxy won a record-extending sixth MLS Cup title after defeating the New York Red Bulls 2–1.

Similar to the 2023 edition, the playoffs featured a field of eighteen teams—the top nine teams from each conference.

The round did not have the aggregate score kept, and tied matches proceeded directly to a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner.

All matches were broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass, a streaming service operated by Apple.