News: 2026 Playoff Schedule announced

Discussion in 'MLS: News & Analysis' started by JasonMa, Mar 16, 2026.

  1. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    https://www.mlssoccer.com/playoffs/...s-cup-playoffs-key-dates-schedule-information

    • Decision Day: Saturday, November 7
    • Wild Card Matches: Wednesday, November 18
    • Round One Best-of-3 Series: Friday, November 20 - Wednesday, December 2
    • Conference Semifinals: Saturday, December 5 – Sunday, December 6
    • Conference Finals: Friday, December 11 – Saturday, December 12
    • MLS Cup presented by Audi: Friday, December 18
    Of note, Saturday Dec 19th is the first round of the college-football playoffs
     
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  2. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    They should have done whatever they needed, including turning the first round into a home-and-home or even a one game series, to put MLS Cup on Dec. 12th.
     
  3. newtex

    newtex Member+

    May 25, 2005
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    The college football playoffs actually start on December 18. There is usually one game on that Friday night.
     
  4. Jeremy Goodwin

    Jeremy Goodwin Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Feb 16, 1999
    Club:
    Montreal Impact
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I still have trouble remembering that people watch the NFL except the super bowl. Now you're telling me there's playoffs for college football teams too?
     
    AlbertCamus repped this.
  5. pr0ner

    pr0ner Member+

    Jan 13, 2007
    Alexandria, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I am surprised at how close I got to predicting the MLS playoff schedule a few months back.

    I am guessing Apple still wants best of 3 for the first round which is why they went this route.
     
  6. NFLPatriot

    NFLPatriot Member+

    Jun 25, 2002
    Foxboro, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Interested to see how they schedule round of 3 around Thanksgiving.

    I guarantee the soccer gods will have a northern team hosting MLS Cup this year.
     
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  7. ThreeApples

    ThreeApples Member+

    Jul 28, 1999
    Smurf Village
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Looks like games 1/2 on the weekends before and after Thanksgiving, then midweek game 3 if necessary.

    7 matchdays in 31 days are ruining my hope that they will return to single elimination to fit the new schedule playoffs in May.
     
  8. AZUL GALAXY

    AZUL GALAXY Member+

    Aug 28, 2009
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CDSC Cruz Azul
    No playoffs interruptions by FIFA calendar :thumbsup:
     
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  9. crookeddy

    crookeddy Member+

    Apr 27, 2004
    Your league's showcase event on a Friday night is just trash.
     
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  10. Geoduck

    Geoduck Member

    Sep 24, 1999
    Isn't the Intercontinental Cup planned for December? What happens if the Sounders an MLS team wins the CONCACAF Champions Cup and then makes a deep run into the MLS playoffs?
     
    AlbertCamus repped this.
  11. AZUL GALAXY

    AZUL GALAXY Member+

    Aug 28, 2009
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CDSC Cruz Azul
    That was just a rumor.
     
  12. JayRockers!

    JayRockers! Member+

    Aug 4, 2001
    Then FUCKING JUST STOP WATCHING AND COMMENTING HERE.

    Thx,

    Jay!
     
  13. crookeddy

    crookeddy Member+

    Apr 27, 2004
    Or... Complain when terrible things happen like a sane person. Don't just let them steamroll you!!
     
  14. KCbus

    KCbus Moderator
    Staff Member

    United States
    Nov 26, 2000
    Reynoldsburg, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Define "your."

    It's funny -- a lot of people have been insisting that one of the benefits of the calendar switch is that the most important matches of the year aren't running up against major competition from other big sporting events. Now, they schedule MLS Cup in such a way as to intentionally get it away from such an event, and people like you crawl out into the sunlight to whine.
     
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  15. crookeddy

    crookeddy Member+

    Apr 27, 2004
    I am not one of the people that think it needs to hide from anything. It'll be watched by 1.5-3 million no matter where you put it.
     
  16. NFLPatriot

    NFLPatriot Member+

    Jun 25, 2002
    Foxboro, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If that is what you believe, then this comment:
    was made solely to get a reaction out of people, which is, by definition, trolling.
     
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  17. KCbus

    KCbus Moderator
    Staff Member

    United States
    Nov 26, 2000
    Reynoldsburg, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    He's got a point.
     
    JasonMa repped this.
  18. crookeddy

    crookeddy Member+

    Apr 27, 2004
    Huh? I don't think the move to Friday was needed because I don't think MLS should be hiding. It's beneath them at this point. How is that trolling when its just blatantly true?
     
  19. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    Raleigh NC
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    See post #16
     
  20. crookeddy

    crookeddy Member+

    Apr 27, 2004
    • OK. Time to dial it back. Comprehend THAT.
    So all of you have the reading comprehension of a chimp?
     
  21. wantmlsphilly

    wantmlsphilly Member+

    Aug 2, 2006
    Philadelphia, Pa.
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I believe it has more to do with the mandated time players get from last game of the season to the first of the next year. They need four consecutive weeks of no soccer related time with the team. This gets teams back in preseason Jan 18-19 which is a Monday/Tuesday.
     
  22. jaykoz3

    jaykoz3 Member+

    Dec 25, 2010
    Conshohocken, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ummm..... these teams in the final will/could be back the first/second week of January for preseason at the latest due to CCC games starting the beginning of February.
     
  23. wantmlsphilly

    wantmlsphilly Member+

    Aug 2, 2006
    Philadelphia, Pa.
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    There's a section for games outside MLS.
     

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