Understanding the Format and Scheduling of the American Soccer MLS Playoffs
The Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs are an exciting culmination of the regular season, where teams compete to determine the champion of American professional soccer. Understanding the format and scheduling of the MLS playoffs can enhance your enjoyment of the thrilling postseason action. In this article, we will delve into the details of the MLS playoffs format and scheduling.
Playoff Format
The MLS playoffs consist of a single-elimination tournament involving teams from the Eastern and Western Conferences. The top seven teams from each conference, determined by their regular-season performance, qualify for the playoffs. The playoff format encourages competitiveness and drama, as teams must consistently perform well to secure their spot.
Under the current format, the MLS playoffs are divided into four rounds: the Play-In Round, the Conference Semifinals, the Conference Finals, and the MLS Cup Final.
Play-In Round
In this round, the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th seeded teams from each conference compete in a single-elimination match. The 7th seed hosts the 10th seed, and the 8th seed hosts the 9th seed. The winners of these matches advance to the Conference Semifinals.
Conference Semifinals
The Conference Semifinals feature the remaining six teams from each conference, including the two Play-In Round winners. The top seed from each conference faces the lowest remaining seed from their respective conference, while the other two teams play against each other. These matches are home-and-away series, with the teams playing one game at each other’s home stadiums. The team with the highest aggregate score over the …
Understanding the Format and Scheduling of the American Soccer MLS Playoffs READ MORE