Published October 22, 2024
How are the MLS Playoffs played? | Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images
The MLS regular season is over and we already have the teams that still have aspirations of being champions of the soccer.
For the first time since he arrived at Inter Miami, Leo Messi will play in the MLS Playoffswhich increases interest in the path to the MLS Cup, which is quite unusual. In Claro Sports We explain the format to you.
MLS Playoffs: format and rules
The MLS Playoffs are ‘three and a half rounds’ to determine the champion, and it is not a double-header or single-game eliminator.
The first round, which is played on Tuesday, October 22 and Wednesday, October 23, is the Wild Card Roundin which the eighth receives the ninth from each conference. The other seven clubs rest this round.
From there we move on to what would be the ’round of 16′, where everything gets complicated. It is not a game or 180 minutes, but rather it is played in a serieslike MLB or NBA, but to win two of three games. It is played once at the home of the highest seed, then at the other field, and in case of split victories, there would be a Game 3 at the home of the highest seed in the table. Note: yes there is tie in any gamewe proceed to a number of penalties, and the winner from the spot counts as ‘victory’ (that is, it may be the case that a team loses the first game and draws the second, but if it wins on penalties, there would be one more game; it may happen that a team wins a game, but if it loses two goals, it is out ).
The crossovers in these first round series are the ‘usual’ ones:
- 1 vs 8 at 9
- 4 vs 5
- 2 vs 7
- 3 vs 6
After these series, we proceed to the Conference Semifinals. From this round onwards, a single game is played, at the home of the team with the best position in the table. Like this until reaching the final of the MLS Cup.
Which teams qualified for the MLS Playoffs?
Of the 29 MLS clubs, 18 went to the Playoffs, nine per conference.
- WEST: Los Angeles FC, LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders, Real Salt Lake, Houston Dynamo, Minnesota United, Colorado Rapids
- Wild cards: Vancouver Whitecaps y Portland Timbers
- IS: Inter Miami, Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati, Orlando City, Charlotte FC, New York City FC, NY Red Bulls.
- Wild cards: CF Montreal y Atlanta United.
2024 MLS Playoffs Schedule
wild card round
- Tuesday October 22 | Montreal vs Atlanta United | 17:30 CDMX/19:30 ET
- Wednesday, October 23 | Vancouver vs Portland | 20:30 CDMX/22:30 ET
First round (by winning 2 of 3)
- Friday, October 25 | Inter Miami vs Montreal or Atlanta | Game 1 | 8:30 p.m. ET
- Saturday October 26 | LA Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids | Game 1 | 8:00 pm ET
- Sunday October 27 | Orlando City vs Charlotte FC | Game 1 | 7:30 p.m. ET
- Sunday, October 27 | LAFC vs Vancouver or Portland | Game | 9:45 pm ET
- Monday, October 28 | FC Cincinnati vs NYCFC | Game 1 | 6:45 pm ET
- Monday October 28 | Seattle Sounders vs Houston Dynamo | Game 1 | 9:00 pm ET
- Tuesday October 29 | Columbus Crew vs NY Red Bulls | Game 1 | 6:45 pm ET
- Tuesday October 29 | Real Salt Lake vs Minnesota United | Game 1 | 9:00 pm ET
- Friday, November 1 | Charlotte FC vs Orlando City | Game 2 | 7:30 p.m. ET
- Friday, November 1 | Colorado Rapids vs LA Galaxy | Game 2 | 9:30 p.m. ET
- Saturday November 2 | NYCFC vs FC Cincinnati | Game 2 | schedule to be defined
- Saturday November 2 | Montreal or Atlanta vs Inter Miami | Game 2 | schedule to be defined
- Saturday November 2 | Minnesota United vs Real Salt Lake | Game 2 | 9:00 pm ET
- Sunday, November 3 | NY Red Bulls vs Columbus Crew | Game 2 | 4:30 p.m. ET
- Sunday, November 3 | Houston Dynamo vs Seattle Sounders | Game 2 | 6:30 p.m. ET
- Sunday, November 3 | Portland or Vancouver vs LAFC | Game 2 | 8:45 pm ET
- Friday, November 8 | Real Salt Lake vs Minnesota United | Game 3 | 9:00 pm ET
- Friday, November 8 | LAFC vs Vancouver or Portland | Game 3 | 11:00 pm ET
- Saturday November 9 | FC Cincinnati vs NYCFC | Game 3 | 4:00 pm ET
- Saturday November 9 | Orlando City vs Charlotte FC | Game 3 | 6:00 pm ET
- Saturday November 9 | Inter Miami vs Montreal or Atlanta | Game 3 | 8:00 pm ET
- Saturday November 9 | LA Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids | 10:00 pm ET
- Sunday, November 10 | Columbus Crew vs NY Red Bulls | Game 3 | 5:00 pm ET
- Sunday, November 10 | Seattle Sounders vs Houston Dynamo | Game 3 | 8:00 pm ET
