MLS 2023: Here’s Everything About The New Format
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The 2023 MLS season has been up and running since February. This edition of the MLS marks the introduction of a brand-new league format for the first time in America. Due to the extended number of games, the MLS Cup final will take place on December 9. Saint Louis City SC is the newest addition to the league this season. A total of 29 soccer clubs will compete in the league.
The MLS fans will now witness the addition of a pair of single-elimination Wild Card matches ahead of an enhanced Round One, that also includes a Best-of-3 series.
2023 MLS Cup playoffs schedule
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Wild Card matches: Oct. 25-26
Round One Best-of-3 series: Oct. 28-Nov. 12
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Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals: Nov. 25-Dec. 3
MLS Cup presented by Audi: Dec. 9.
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MLS, Fussball Herren, USA MLS Cup Championship-Philadelphia Union vs Los Angeles FC Nov 5, 2022 Los Angeles, CA, USA Will Ferrell celebrates with Los Angeles FC players and the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy after defeating the Philadelphia Union in the 2022 MLS Cup championship game at Banc of California Stadium. Los Angeles Banc of California Stadium California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJaynexKamin-Onceax 20221105_jla_aj4_443
MLS Cup format in detail
In addition to the league, the clubs in Major League Soccer also compete in a domestic cup competition, namely the Audi 2023 MLS Cup. Keeping in mind the Easter and Western Conference, seeds 1-7 will qualify for the first round of the ‘Best-of-3’ series.
The #8 and #9 seed in each conference will separately qualify for a set of ‘Wildcard matches’. The winners from the ‘Best-of-3 series’ and the ‘Wildcard matches’ will then advance to the Conference semi-finals. Following the Eastern and Western Conference finals, the champions of either conference will compete in a single fixture called the MLS Cup by Audi.
Two wild card games included in 2023 MLS Cup playoffs
The higher seed of either conference with host the game. Both these games will be working on a single-game elimination system. At the end of stoppage time, if the scores are level, then the game will head to penalties. The winners from each of these games will advance to the first round of the Best of 3 series.
What is the Best-of-3 series?
The Best-of-3 series will have 8 to 16 games. Every game in the first round will need to have a definite winner. The three sets of games will take place in a home-and-away format. The higher seed will host the first and last game. And the lower seed will host the second game.
Similarly to the wildcard games, at the end of stoppage time, if the scores are level, then the game will head to penalties.
The first team to win two matches will advance to the next round. Four teams for both conferences will ideally move to the semi-finals.
The Best of 3 series will be as follows:
Eastern Conference
No. 1 vs. No. 8 or 9
No. 2 vs. No. 7
No. 3 vs. No. 6
No. 4 vs. No. 5
Western Conference
No. 1 vs. No. 8 or 9
No. 2 vs. No. 7
No. 3 vs. No. 6
No. 4 vs. No. 5
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Fußball, MLS Cup, Los Angeles FC besiegt Philadelphia Union MLS, Fussball Herren, USA MLS Cup Championship-Philadelphia Union vs Los Angeles FC Nov 5, 2022 Los Angeles, CA, USA Los Angeles FC players celebrate with the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy after the 2022 MLS Cup championship game against the Philadelphia Union at Banc of California Stadium. Los Angeles Banc of California Stadium California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJaynexKamin-Onceax 20221105_jla_aj4_405
Conference semi-final and final games
The higher seed will host the game. The matches will simply follow a single-game elimination system. At the end of the stoppage time, if the scores are level, two 15-minute halves will follow in search of a winner. Post that, the game will move to penalties if there’s still no winner.
This is how the division of the games should ideally look:
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
The winners of the conference semi-finals will advance to the grand finale.
With similar extra-time rules like the semi-finals, this is how the division of games should ideally look:
Eastern Conference Final: highest advancing seed vs. lowest advancing seed
Western Conference Final: highest advancing seed vs. lowest advancing seed
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2023 MLS Cup by Audi
The 2023 MLS Cup by Audi will simply be a single fixture. The reigning champions of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference will compete for the MLS Cup by Audi.
All the information above is as per the official MLS Website.
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Are you excited to witness the brand-new format of the MLS? Let us know in the comments below.
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Edited by:
Sreeda U M
