NEW YORK, NY–The playoff format for Major League Soccer has changed once again. Once again, the field will be expanded–this time to 18 teams (nine in each conference) and the Conference Quarterfinals will be a best two-out-of-three affair while everything else will be single elimination.
After the regular season ends on October 21st, the 8th and 9th seeds in each conference will compete in a wildcard match on October 25th or 26th. The winner will go on to take on the top seed in their respective conference.
The next round will be best two-out-of-three (1-8 or 9, 4-5, 3-6, 2-7) ensuring that the eight surviving playoff teams in each conference gets a playoff home game. If any of the three matches (or the wildcard games) finish level after 90 minutes, the match will go straight to a penalty shootout to determine a winner. Round One will run from October 28th thru November 12th.
The Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals will both be single elimination affairs and will include 30 minutes of extra time if level after 90 minutes and penalties if still level after 120 minutes. These two series will run from November 25th thru December 3rd.
It all culminates with MLS Cup on December 9th at the home of highest surviving seed. All playoff matches will stream on Apple TV as part of the MLS Season Pass with select games being broadcast on Fox in the United States and TSN and RDS in Canada.
