MLS playoffs format changes

[SoupInNYC]

Option is a good idea. The theory as it stands, of course, is that playing the second leg at home gives you home field advantage when you might need it because of, say, a poor away performance.

Or the advantage comes into play if extra time is needed.

 

[sbrylski]

EASTERN CONFERENCE
EAST | Toronto, Montreal, New England, New York City, NY Red Bulls, Philadelphia, DC United
CENTRAL | Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati, Nashville, Atlanta, Orlando, Miami

WESTERN CONFERENCE
FRONTIER | Salt Lake, Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas City, Dallas, Austin, Houston
PACIFIC | Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, San Jose, Los Angeles FC, LA Galaxy

SCHEDULE
12 Divisional Games
21 Non-Divisional Games
1 Rivalry Game

PLAYOFFS
KNOCKOUT ROUND | Top 4 non-divisional winners in each division play a single-game knockout round immediately prior to the November international break
GROUP STAGE | Division winners plus Knockout Round winners in each conference play a round robin with the higher seed hosting each game, with seeding based only on regular season total points
FINALS | Group winners host the second-place team in the opposing conference, the winners play for the MLS Cup