The league stage of Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 came to an end on Tuesday (July 14), with San Francisco Unicorns, Los Angeles Knight Riders, Washington Freedom, and MI New York booking their places in the playoffs.
Los Angeles Knight Riders secured second place in the standings after defeating MI New York in the final league match, setting up a Qualifier clash against table-toppers San Francisco Unicorns. Meanwhile, Washington Freedom and MI New York will face off in the Eliminator as the race for the MLC 2026 title begins.
San Francisco Unicorns topped the points table after an outstanding league campaign, while the Knight Riders surged into second place with three consecutive victories to earn a second chance in the playoffs.
Major League Cricket 2026 Playoff Schedule
| Match | Fixture | Date (Local) | India Time (IST) |
| Qualifier | San Francisco Unicorns vs Los Angeles Knight Riders | Wednesday, July 15 | Thursday, July 16 – 3:00 AM |
| Eliminator | Washington Freedom vs MI New York | Wednesday, July 15 | Thursday, July 16 – 7:00 AM |
| Challenger | Loser of Qualifier vs Winner of Eliminator | Thursday, July 16 | Friday, July 17 – 7:00 AM |
| Final | Winner of Qualifier vs Winner of Challenger | Saturday, July 18 | Sunday, July 19 – 6:00 AM |
Major League Cricket 2026 Qualified Teams
- San Francisco Unicorns (1st)
- Los Angeles Knight Riders (2nd)
- Washington Freedom (3rd)
- MI New York (4th)
MLC 2026 Playoff Format Explained
Major League Cricket follows the Page Playoff format.
The top two teams—San Francisco Unicorns and Los Angeles Knight Riders—will meet in the Qualifier. The winner will advance directly to the final, while the losing team gets another opportunity by playing the winner of the Eliminator in the Challenger.
The Eliminator is a knockout contest between Washington Freedom and MI New York, with the losing side being eliminated from the tournament. The winner will progress to the Challenger, where a place in the final will be at stake.
Where Will the MLC 2026 Playoffs Be Played?
All four playoff matches—the Qualifier, Eliminator, Challenger, and Final—will be played at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. The venue is hosting the MLC playoffs and final for the first time.
Major League Cricket 2026 Live Streaming Details
Fans in India can watch all MLC 2026 playoff matches live on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on JioHotstar.
Viewers in the United States can catch the action live on Willow TV.
MLC 2026 Playoff Fixtures at a Glance
- Qualifier: San Francisco Unicorns vs Los Angeles Knight Riders
- Eliminator: Washington Freedom vs MI New York
- Challenger: Loser of Qualifier vs Winner of Eliminator
- Final: Winner of Qualifier vs Winner of Challenger
