MLS 2023: New playoffs format implemented as league takes step into new direction

The American football league is known for its different style of playoffs

Major League Soccer (MLS) is known for its different style of playoffs for a while now and the league has made some interesting changes to the format heading into the latest edition. 

For the upcoming 2023 season, the league has introduced a revised postseason format and released the schedule for the playoffs. Also, the new format blends the single-elimination format from recent years with the previous best-of-three system to produce a playoff structure that could include a maximum of 24 matches, which is double the games played in the 2022 edition.

MLS Playoffs 2023: Explained

The MLS's expanded format for the playoffs will commence with two Wild Card matches. Involving the teams placed eighth and ninth in each conference. The victorious teams from the Wild Card matches will progress to Round One of the playoffs, which has now been modified to a best-of-three series.

In both the Wild Card and Round One stages, there will be a definitive winner, with no ties or aggregate scores recorded. Also, round One comprises two matches, with the first hosted by the higher seed and the second by the lower seed. If the series requires a decider, Match 3 will occur at the higher seed's stadium.

In case of a tie at the end of regulation in a Round One match, a winner will be decided by a penalty shootout. The first team to win two matches will progress to the Conference Semifinals.

The playoffs will maintain the well-known single-elimination structure from that stage onwards. With the team that ranks higher hosting each match-up to the MLS Cup. In the event of a tie, extra time will be played, and if required, a penalty shootout will decide the winner if the two teams are still level after 90 minutes.

MLS are known for making constant changes to their playoff format over the years as the league has tried implementing both two-leg ties and single-game knockouts. MLS has implemented a single-elimination format since 2019, where the top seed hosted each match.

Firstly, the new postseason system will retain some elements of this format. Secondly, with the addition of a three-game series in the first round. Finally, this change aims to generate more crucial matches throughout the playoffs.

Out of the 29 MLS teams, 18 will qualify for the playoffs. Also, the Wild Card round will feature the four lowest-ranked teams among those 18. The victors of the Wild Card round will progress to Round One's best-of-three format, where they will join the remaining 14 teams.