Major League Soccer today announced the format and schedule for the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs and MLS Cup presented by Audi.
The Athletic reported earlier in the day about the change in the format as the league will shift to adding a team per conference by creating a wild card play-in game before having a first round that sees a best-of-three series. Following the first round, the format will return to single elimination.
As MLS said in their press release, the additions will allow more games and drama in the playoffs.
The expanded format will deliver even more must-win matches, as every game in the Round One Best-of-3 series will have a winner and a loser. With the addition of the Wild Card games and the Round One Best-of-3 series, the playoffs will see up-to 24 must-win matches ahead of MLS Cup presented by Audi in 2023 (compared with 12 in 2022).
MLS also gave a brief explanation as to who came up with the new format.
Major League Soccer, in concert with the MLS Product Strategy Committee, undertook a review of the playoff format beginning in 2021 to deliver an enhanced playoff format that would provide fans with more games of consequence and better reward regular season results while maintaining the best elements from the single-elimination format. Incorporating fan research and feedback, MLS engaged a third-party expert in the global sports industry to support the process with data and analysis.
Our Take
Yeah, this can be summed up in one easy gif.
The thing is, we knew this change was coming. The fine folks at The Athletic have been all over it this offseason, so now that it is here, we can let it sink in more.
Look, I get why MLS is doing this. They wanted more games to go on their new streaming platform with Apple. This also allows owners to earn extra revenue from hosting at least one playoff game. That part is huge.
But man, what a mess to explain. Good luck telling your non-MLS friends how the playoffs go from a best-of-three to a single elimination setup. Oh, and don’t forget that single-elimination wild card game too.
Seeing the no tie rule also makes you ponder some things as well. Like, how much influence did Apple have in some of these decisions? Is this to ensure no one is playing for a draw in those first games? That was always a criticism of the home-and-away format the league was previously on.
But yeah, what a mess. Hopefully, once the league wraps up its expansion in the coming years and gets to a clean 30 or 32 teams, we can have a simple playoff format.
Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs Format
Qualification:
Seeds 1-7 in each conference will automatically qualify to 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.
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 (16-24 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 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
Conference Semifinals (4 games)
- The higher seed hosts single-game elimination matches.
- 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.
- Each Conference Final match's winner will advance to the MLS Cup.
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.
