:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71998166/1246857490.0.jpg "MLS playoffs 2023: New format includes play-in matches, best-of-3 opening round")
Major League Soccer's new playoff format includes play-in games and a best-of-3 opening round, according to a report from The Athletic. The play-in games are single elimination, and each matchup after the opening round will also be a single elimination. No draws in the best-of-3 opening round means we'll be potentially seeing penalty kicks early in the postseason.
NEW: #MLS is set to announce it's new playoff format, finally.
-Best-of-3 for opening round
-No draws allowed in those games!
-Play-in game for 8, 9 seeds is single-elimination. Conf semis, too.On @TheAthleticSCCR, @jeffrueter & I have more specifics: https://t.co/0WIorJIF03
– Pablo Iglesias Maurer (@MLSist) February 21, 2023