Double-elimination, reseeding and 20 teams: MLS plans overhaul of playoffs
The move is in advanced talks territory. Source confidence is high with single-source support.
Next watch — Watch for final agreement language, medical scheduling, or official club confirmation.
Format would resemble that of Australian rules footballLeague will ditch conferences for five-division setupMajor League Soccer is planning a significant overhaul of its playoff format, multiple league and club sources told the Guardian this week. The changes, which would debut in 2028 alongside the league’s shift to a fall-to-spring schedule, could include a “double-elimination” component and see as many as 20 teams feature. Sources spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the league’s plans.The Guardian has viewed a potential schedule for the new format,…
No concrete second-order consequence has been logged yet beyond the headline event itself.
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- •The current story state is marked high confidence rather than speculative rumor.
- •At least one named source is attached to this story.
- •Direct official confirmation is still outstanding.
- •Independent corroboration is still thin or absent.