The MLS Cup Playoffs have begun and we now know the obstacles on the path to the MLS Cup Final.

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

Eighteen teams qualified for the playoffs, but red-hot favorites and Supporters' Shield winners Inter Miami have been dumped out in shock fashion.

How did Inter Miami, Lionel Messi get knocked out in the MLS playoffs?

The Herons lost to wild card round winner Atlanta United in a best-of-three series, losing 3-2 at home in Game 3 on Saturday in a huge shock. Atlanta equalized and then took the lead with three goals scored in a wild first 21 minutes, then Messi had made it 2-2 with a towering header with 25 minutes to go. But Atlanta's Bartosz Slisz scored a superb header of his own to make it 3-2 and heroics from Brad Guzan meant Atlanta held on to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

There were fiery scenes throughout this game as Guzan was pushed into the net and berate by Luis Suarez when Messi made it 2-2, but it was the veteran American goalkeeper who had the last laugh.

Amid wild scenes of celebration from Guzan and Atlanta at the final whistle, and long beyond it, Messi and Co. were utterly stunned as nobody expected this huge upset. The shock win for Atlanta means all three of the top seeds in the Eastern Conference have been knocked out of the playoffs with Atlanta, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls and Orlando City remaining.

Which teams are left in MLS Cup playoffs?

New York Red Bulls again held sway over NYCFC in a New York derby for the Eastern Conference semifinals, while Atlanta is off to Orlando in a one-off game.

Out in the Western Conference things are much more straightforward with LA Galaxy, LAFC, and Seattle Sounders all making it through. Seattle caused a mild upset by beating LAFC, and waits to see if LA Galaxy can hold serve against Minnesota United.

2024 MLS Cup Playoffs: Format, dates

A whopping 18 of Major League Soccer's 29 franchises make the postseason, but the field was trimmed to 16 quickly before the first round gives the favorites some leeway.

Wild card round, October 23: 8th vs 9th place in each conference, single-elimination

Round one, begins October 25-November 10: Best-of-three series. 1st place team in each conference plays wild card winner while second meets seventh, third meets sixth, and fourth meets fifth. The top seed in each pairing gets the first and, if necessary, third matches at home.

Conference semifinals, November 23-24: Single-elimination at better regular season side

Conference finals, November 30-December 1: Single-elimination at better regular season side

MLS Cup Finals, December 7: Two-legged, home-and-away

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. CF Montreal, Atlanta United

Western Conference: LA Galaxy (1), LAFC (2), Seattle Sounders (4), Real Salt Lake, Houston Dynamo, Colorado Rapids, Minnesota United, Vancouver Whitecaps, Portland Timbers

2024 MLS Cup Playoffs schedule

Conference semifinals

Saturday, November 23

New York City FC 0-2 New York Red Bulls
LAFC 1-2 Seattle Sounders

Sunday, November 24

Orlando City SC vs Atlanta United — 3:30pm ET
LA Galaxy vs Minnesota United — 6pm ET

Conference finals

November 30-December 1

East final
New York Red Bulls vs Atlanta United -or- Orlando City SC vs New York Red Bulls

West final
LA Galaxy vs Seattle Sounders -or- Seattle Sounders vs Minnesota United

2024 MLS Cup Playoffs results

Wild card round (Single elimination)

Montreal 2-2 (4-5 pens) Atlanta
Vancouver 5-0 Portland

Round one (Best of three)

First legs
Inter Miami 2-1 Atlanta United
LA Galaxy 5-0 Colorado
Orlando City 2-0 Charlotte
LAFC 2-1 Vancouver
FC Cincinnati 1-0 NYCFC
Seattle 0-0 (pens 5-4) Houston
Columbus 0-1 New York Red Bulls
Real Salt Lake 0-0 (4-5 pens) Minnesota United

Second legs
Charlotte 0-0 (pens 3-1) Orlando City — Series tied 1-1
Colorado 1-4 LA Galaxy — Galaxy win series 2-0
NYCFC 3-1 FC Cincinnati — Series tied 1-1
Atlanta United 2-1 Inter Miami — Series tied 1-1
Minnesota United 1-1 (3-1 pens) Real Salt Lake — Minnesota United win series 2-0
New York Red Bulls 2-2 (5-4 pens) Columbus Crew — RBNY win series 2-0
Houston 1-1 (6-7 pens) Seattle Sounders — Seattle win series 2-0
Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 LAFC — Series tied 1-1

Third legs
LAFC 1-0 Vancouver Whitecaps — LAFC win series 2-1
FC Cincinnati 0-0 (5-6 pens) NYCFC — NYCFC win series 2-1
Orlando City 1-1 (4-1 pens) Charlotte — Orlando win series 2-1
Inter Miami 2-3 Atlanta United — Atlanta win series 2-1