New York City FC enters Decision Day — the final day of the Major League Soccer regular season — in second place in the Eastern Conference.

A win would secure a second-place finish and a bye in the mid-week knockout round game.

A draw or a loss could drop City down to third, fourth or fifth place, depending on the results of its rivals, Atlanta United, Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew SC.

Here are the potential playoff scenarios:

NYCFC finishing as the number 1 – 2 seed:

If NYCFC finishes as the Eastern Conference’s first or second seed, the second leg of the conference semifinals will be played on Wednesday, Nov. 1, instead of Sunday, Nov. 5, due to an event at Yankee Stadium scheduled prior to the MLS season.

NYCFC finishing as the number 3 – 4 seed:

If the club finishes as a three or four seed, a knockout round game would take place at home on either Oct. 25 or 26. With a win, the club would qualify for the conference semifinals and would host Leg 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Oct. 30 or 31.

NYCFC finishing as the fifth seed:

If the club finishes as the fifth seed, the team would play the knockout round game on the road. With a win, the club would qualify for the Conference semifinals and would host Leg 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Oct. 30 or 31.

MLS CUP PLAYOFFS HOME SCHEDULE

Knockout Round Games (seed 3-4)
Oct. 25 or Oct. 26
Conference Semifinals

If New York City FC is the number 1 or 2 seed
Leg 2: November 1

If New York City FC is the number 3 – 6 seed
Leg 1: October 30-31

Conference Championship
Leg 1: November 21
or
Leg 2: November 28-29

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.