New MLS playoff format for the 2023 season

Chop

The Audi 2023 MLS Cup schedule were announced with a new MLS playoff format. Building on the popular single-elimination format, the new MLS playoff format will include two single-elimination Audi MLS Cup Playoffs Wild Card matches ahead of an improved Round One, which will now include a Best-of-3 series. After Decision Day on Oct. 21, the new MLS playoff format will go as follows:

Table of Contents

Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs

Qualification

  • Seeds 1-7 in each conference will automatically qualify for the Round One Best-of-3 series.
  • Seeds 8-9 in each conference will qualify for the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs Wild Card matches.

Schedule

  • Wild Card matches: Oct. 25-26
  • Round One Best-of-3 series matches: Oct. 28-Nov. 12
  • Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals: Nov. 25-Dec. 3
  • MLS Cup presented by Audi: Dec. 9.

New MLS Playoff Format

Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs Wild Card Matches (2 games)

  • Two single-game elimination matches hosted by the higher seed.
  • If the score of a Wild Card game is tied at the end of regulation, no extra time will be played, teams will participate in kicks from the penalty spot to determine the winner.
  • The winner of each Wild Card match will advance to the Round One Best-of-3 series to face the conference No. 1 seed.
    • Eastern Conference Wild Card Match: No. 8 vs. No. 9
    • Western Conference Wild Card Match: No. 8 vs. No. 9

Round One Best-of-3 Series (8-16 games)

  • Every Round One game will have a winner; no ties, no aggregate score.
  • The matches will be hosted in a home-away-home format:
    • Match 1: higher seed hosts
    • Match 2: lower seed hosts
    • Match 3: higher seed hosts
  • If a match is tied at the end of regulation, no extra time will be played, teams will participate in kicks from the penalty spot to determine the winner.
  • The first team to win two matches will advance.
  • Four teams from each conference will advance to the Conference Semifinals.
    • Eastern Conference Round One Best-of-3 Series
      • No. 1 vs. No. 8 or 9
      • No. 2 vs. No. 7
      • No. 3 vs. No. 6
      • No. 4 vs. No. 5
    • Western ConferenceRound One Best-of-3 Series
      • No. 1 vs. No. 8 or 9
      • No. 2 vs. No. 7
      • No. 3 vs. No. 6
      • No. 4 vs. No. 5

Conference Semifinals (4 games)

  • Single-game elimination matches, hosted by the higher seed.
  • If the score of a Conference Semifinal game is tied at the end of regulation, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety. If the score is still tied at the end of the two extra time periods, teams will participate in kicks from the penalty spot to determine the winner.
  • Conference Semifinal winners will advance to the Conference Final.
    • Eastern Conference Semifinals
      • Winner of No. 1 vs. No. 8/9 series vs. winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5 series
      • Winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6 series vs. winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 series
    • Western Conference Semifinals
      • Winner of No. 1 vs. No. 8/9 series vs. winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5 series
      • Winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6 series vs. winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 series

Conference Final (2 games)

  • Single-elimination match hosted by the higher seed.
  • If the score of a Conference Final game is tied at the end of regulation, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety. If the score is still tied at the end of the two extra time periods, teams will participate in kicks from the penalty spot to determine the winner.
  • The winner of each Conference Final match will advance to MLS Cup presented by Audi.
    • Eastern Conference Final: highest advancing seed vs. lowest advancing seed
    • Western Conference Final: highest advancing seed vs. lowest advancing seed

MLS Cup presented by Audi (1 game)

  • A single match hosted by the higher seed.
  • If the score of the game is tied at the end of regulation, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety. If the score is still tied at the end of the two extra time periods, teams will participate in kicks from the penalty spot to determine the winner.
  • MLS Cup presented by Audi: Eastern Conference Champion vs. Western Conference Champion

How to watch the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs

Every match of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs as well as the MLS Cup presented by Audi will be available on the MLS Season Pass, with no blackouts. All matches will have commentary in either English or Spanish, with Canadian teams also receiving commentary in French. Where available, fans in the United States and Canada will be able to select their home team’s radio for broadcast audio on the Apple TV app.

Select playoff games, including MLS Cup, will also be available through FOX Sports in the U.S. and TSN and RDS in Canada. The Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs linear programming schedules and match selections will be announced at a later date.

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