Understanding The MLS Playoffs Format And Rules

The American Major League Soccer has a defining playoff system in their league’s annual schedule. It is one of the most exciting times for any soccer fan as the playoffs consist of several high-profile teams battling it out for a place in the coveted MLS Cup.

MLS has a unique format for playoff systems compared to other professional soccer leagues. The MLS playoff format is contested at the end of the regular season, which further decides the champion. 34 games are contested in a regular season consisting of 17 home and 17 away matches. The regular season has 29 teams in total, divided into two conferences, the Eastern and Western conferences.

How the MLS Playoff Format Works

The MLS playoffs start right after the regular season ends, featuring 12 teams, seven from the Eastern Conference and five from the Western Conference. The number one team from each conference earns an automatic qualification in the quarter-finals and the teams finishing second through fourth qualify for the conference semifinals. For the teams finishing from fifth through seventh in each conference, participate in a ‘play-in’ game called the Wild Card Round.

Seeding during playoff games depends on how well each team performed during championships or Wild Card Round games. Therefore, every team must perform at the top level to progress in the tournament. The Wild Card phase has four lower seeded teams from both conferences competing in two single elimination matches. The winners move further to battle their respective conference’s top seeded team. The Conference quarter finals have eight matches featuring two home-and-away series or aggregate scoring systems. The winners move ahead to the semi-final or finals of the tournament.

The tournament’s semi-finals consist of four matches between the six remaining sides. Ultimately, there are two Conference finals, where the Eastern and Western Conference champions face each other in a home-and-away series. At last, only two clubs remain, which take part in the MLS Cup Final, which gives all the players a chance to make their club the Champions of North American Soccer.

How Teams Qualify for the MLS Playoffs

Out of the 29 teams in the league, 18 teams will make it to the postseason having a chance to compete for the championship. MLS’s playoff system allows for higher-seeded clubs to receive home-field advantage during matches. It ensures that teams get an extra boost from their fans’ support. The team’s qualifications depend on the regular season performance of every club.

Step-by-Step Breakdown of MLS Playoff stages

The top seven teams from each conference qualify and are seeded based on their regular season points total. Highly seeded teams have an advantage of securing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Wild Card round kicks off with lower-seeded sides competing against each other in a single-elimination match. After all the wild card games, conference semi-finals, and finals take place, featuring a two-leg series between teams from each conference.

Wild Card Round

The Wild Card round is played by teams finishing between seventh and tenth place in their conferences. The seventh place side faces off against the tenth-place team while the eighth place side plays against the ninth-place team. The winners further advance to the conference semi-finals. This round gives opportunity for lower-seeded teams to make a run toward the MLS Cup Final. Adding excitement and unpredictability, the Wild Card round has produced several shockers over the years. This single match elimination round is considered to be one of the most exciting matchups in the tournament.

Conference Semifinals and Finals

After the Wild Card round, the remaining sides move further to the conference semifinals. Being a two-match encounter, each side plays one home and one away game. The winning squad from the semifinals further proceeds to the conference finals. The finals are also a two-leg series, and the winners of each conference final proceed to play in the MLS Cup final.

MLS Cup Final format and structure

The MLS Cup final is a single match held at a predetermined stadium. The winners are crowned as MLS Champions for that specific season. The team with a better regular season record hosts the MLS Cup finals and is always one of the most exciting matches of the season.

How home advantage works in MLS Playoffs

The home advantage refers to a team with a higher regular season record, which further gets to host the majority of playoff games, including the first game of a series and any tie-breaker matches, giving them a great advantage by playing in front of their home ground. The higher seeded team plays at home against the lower seeded team in the first round, generally.