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MLS Playoffs Explained: How Do They Work and What’s at Stake

MLS Playoffs Explained: How Do They Work and What’s at Stake

July 7, 2023 by

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There are few sporting events more exciting than the Major League Soccer Playoffs. It’s true that teams in the MLS might not have the fear of relegation to contend with like they do in the Premier League, but playoff stakes are still at an all-time high.

The MLS playoffs work differently than other leagues in the US and Canada and even differently than other soccer leagues. It’s important to understand how exactly the MLS functions, or else you could be a bit confused by the postseason. There’s no time like the present to learn, especially considering that the MLS is changing how it does the playoffs in 2023.

If you’re either new to the game or could use a refresher, this blog will cover exactly how they work.

Changing the Game in 2023

The new playoff format can throw even seasoned MLS fans for a loop, but TickPick is here to help guide you through the changes. As recently as last year (2022), round-one matches looked drastically different than what fans can expect now.

Compared to previous years, round-one matchups will now be in a best-of-three format. Where a team previously only had to win one game to progress in the playoffs, they will now have to win two against their competitor.

While the way the MLS postseason will function from now on isn’t a complete overhaul of what we’ve known in years past, there are still some questions about what prompted this change.

Why Is the MLS Playoff Format Changing?

Fans of single-elimination playoff rounds may wonder why the MLS is messing with a mostly tried and true format. By switching things up, the MLS hopes to drum up more excitement for individual games and the postseason. This gives fans more opportunities to see their favorite teams in action.

In addition, it’s possible that playing more games gives each team a fairer shot to show what they’re made of. Even the best teams can have a bad day from time to time. By creating a series of games rather than just one, a team can recover and come back to win it.

What’s at Stake in the MLS Postseason?

Whichever team wins the final round is awarded the MLS Cup (along with a hefty sum of prize money), but that isn’t the only accolade a team can take home. There’s also the Supporters’ Shield, given to the team with the best record in the regular season. 

How Do Conferences Work in the MLS Playoffs?

The MLS has two conferences: the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. While these conferences are determined primarily by geographical location, they greatly affect how a season plays out.

Teams primarily play against other teams in their conference. In fact, each club will face the rest of their conference twice, with one match being a home game and the other being away. They only play eight games total against teams in the opposite conference. This is how each team’s standing is determined, which informs which teams get into the playoffs and which don’t.

Once it’s determined which teams get into the playoffs, first comes the wild card round. We’ll cover that a bit more later. After that, we move into the first round of the playoffs. This round is now best-of-three. When round one is over, the games return to single elimination as they progress through the rest of the bracket. 

While every playoff game is exciting, they start to heat up when the conference semifinals come around. After the conference champions win against the competition, it’s onto the finals, where one team from each conference will play.

What MLS Teams Are in the Eastern Conference?

Though not each team makes it to the playoffs, knowing which clubs could potentially make it is helpful. Teams in the Eastern Conference include:

What MLS Teams Are in the Western Conference?

Rivaling the Eastern Conference, the Western Conference only has 14 teams instead of 15. Those teams are:

How Do Wild Card Games Work in the MLS?

Once the playoffs start, the bottom two teams that still qualify for the playoffs (known as the 8th and 9th seeds) are considered wild cards. The 8th and 9th seeds from each conference face off against each other, and each winner advances to the first round.

While wild card games are considered a formal part of the postseason, some fans consider the playoffs to truly kick off with the first round.

How Many Teams Make MLS Playoffs?

The MLS has more teams vying for the win than other leagues in the US and Canada. The MLB (Major League Baseball) has 12 teams in the postseason, the NFL (National Football League) has 14, and both the NHL (National Hockey League) and NBA (National Basketball Association) have 16. 

Meanwhile, Major League Soccer has 18 teams competing for the coveted MLS Cup. This includes both wild card teams and higher seeds. Since there are more teams in the MLS Cup Playoffs than in other sports, they can experiment more with their format. When you consider the relative newness of the MLS (it was founded in 1993), it makes sense that they would still be figuring out the perfect formula.

Currently, there are 29 teams in the MLS, but that number will be raised to 30 in the coming years with the addition of San Diego’s MLS team. With 18 teams making the playoffs, nearly two-thirds of the league make it into the postseason. This gives fans better odds of being able to watch their favorite team duke it out.

While watching an MLS game is always exciting, there’s nothing like seeing your favorite teams and players in person. Whether you are scoring tickets to the regular season, a playoff game, or even the MLS Cup Finals, the energy from the crowd adds something entirely new when it comes time for matchday. 

Luckily, TickPick has the inside scoop on how you can see this ultimate soccer tournament for yourself.

How To See an MLS Game in Person

Not only does TickPick have access to all the best tickets to live events, but we also have them at the best prices around. Unlike other ticket sites, we never surprise you with additional hidden fees. TickPick knows how important transparency is when getting your tickets, so we’ve made it our top priority.

While getting your tickets, the only thing you should be feeling is excitement over the upcoming event. Nothing can drag you down, like realizing the price you were quoted isn’t the price you’re paying. With TickPick’s BestPrice Guarantee, you never have to worry about being locked in by fees.

Without service fees, our prices are reliably 10% cheaper than you’ll find elsewhere online. But we want to put our money where your mouth is, so if you find a cheaper price on the same tickets within a half hour of purchasing with us, let us know. We’ll give you 110% of the difference in price on your TickPick account.

TickPick also has a BuyerTrust Guarantee, so you know you’re always getting the best product. Your tickets will always be completely authentic, and we’ll refund you if the event is canceled.

What Is the Leagues Cup?

If you haven’t gotten your soccer fix with just the MLS postseason, you can always look forward to another series of games.

While the MLS Playoffs only include teams from one league, The Leagues Cup includes teams from two separate leagues. Every year since 2019, teams from the MLS and Liga MX compete to determine who’s on top. We highly recommend checking this event out if you want to see a cross-over between leagues.

You can watch The Leagues Cup on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, but seeing these matchups in person is an unforgettable experience for any soccer fan.

For the Win

The recent changes in the MLS postseason format will surely make for an even more riveting game-watching experience. Whether your favorite teams play in the finals or not, there’s so much to love about the MLS postseason. Seeing a soccer game in person is always fun, but seeing a playoff game is on another level. With TickPick, you can see MLS games on the field itself at low prices. Plus new users can sign up for an additional $10 off their ticket price. Don’t worry; we won’t tell your couch.

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