Final 1998 Standings
| EASTERN | GP | W | L | P | GF | GA |
| *D.C. United | 32 | 24 | 8 | 58 | 74 | 48 |
| *Columbus | 32 | 15 | 17 | 45 | 67 | 56 |
| *MetroStars | 32 | 15 | 17 | 39 | 54 | 63 |
| *Miami | 32 | 15 | 17 | 35 | 46 | 68 |
| Tampa Bay | 32 | 12 | 20 | 34 | 46 | 57 |
| New England | 32 | 11 | 21 | 29 | 53 | 66 |
Shootout records: Miami 5-0, MetroStars 3-0, D.C. United 7-3, New England 2-4, Tampa Bay 1-5, Columbus 0-5.
| WESTERN | GP | W | L | P | GF | GA |
| *Los Angeles | 32 | 24 | 8 | 68 | 85 | 44 |
| *Chicago | 32 | 20 | 12 | 56 | 62 | 45 |
| *Colorado | 32 | 16 | 16 | 44 | 62 | 69 |
| *Dallas | 32 | 15 | 17 | 37 | 43 | 59 |
| San Jose | 32 | 13 | 19 | 33 | 48 | 60 |
| Kansas City | 32 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 45 | 50 |
Shootout records: Dallas 4-2, Chicago 2-1, Colorado 2-2, Los Angeles 2-2, San Jose 3-5, Kansas City 2-4. *-clinched playoff spot.
PLAYOFFS
First Round
Eastern Conference
D.C. UNITED VS. MIAMI Sept. 30 — D.C. United 2 Miami 1
Oct. 4 — Miami 0 D.C. United 1 (SO) (D.C. United wins series 2-0.)
COLUMBUS VS. METROSTARS Sept. 30 — Columbus 5 MetroStars 3
Oct. 3 — MetroStars 1 Columbus 2 (SO) (Columbus wins series 2-0.)
Western Conference
LOS ANGELES VS. DALLAS Oct. 1 — Los Angeles 6 Dallas 1
Oct. 4 — Dallas 2 Los Angeles 3 (Los Angeles wins series 2-0.)
CHICAGO VS. COLORADO Oct. 1 — Chicago 2 Colorado 1 (SO)
Oct. 5 — Colorado 0 Chicago 1 (Chicago wins series 2-0.)
Conference Finals
Eastern Conference
D.C. UNITED VS. COLUMBUS Oct. 11 — D.C. United 2 Columbus 0
Oct. 18 — Columbus 4 D.C. United 2
Oct. 21 — D.C. United 3 Columbus 0 (D.C. United wins series 2-1.)
Western Conference
LOS ANGELES VS. CHICAGO Oct. 10 — Los Angeles 0 Chicago 1
Oct. 16 — Chicago 2 Los Angeles 1 (SO) (Chicago wins series 2-0.)
MLS Cup ’98 Oct. 25 in Pasadena, Calif. Chicago 2 D.C. United 0
