MLS Cup 2020 Playoffs have a new format, the MLS have confirmed on Friday, September 11. Here, you will find everything there is to know about the new format, the schedule, the qualification round and the brackets.

The MLS Cup Playoff is an annual elimination tournament of the MLS which is played after the end of each regular season. The final match of the tournament decides the MLS champion.

Seattle Sounders FC won the MLS Cup 2019, beating Toronto FC 3-1 in the final. Prior to that, they claimed victories against FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles FC.

MLS Cup 2020 Playoffs New Format

Under the format which was adapted for the MLS Cup 2019 Playoffs, 14 teams qualified for the tournament. Thus the seven highest-placed teams from both the Eastern Conference and Western Conference participated in last year's event.

The MLS Cup 2020 Playoffs format has been expanded to 18 clubs. 10 of which will come from the Eastern Conference and eight from the Western Conference.

 

 

MLS Cup 2020 Playoffs Schedule And How To Watch

From September 18 to September 27, the MLS clubs are scheduled to play three regular-season matches. MLS have added that the additional regular-season games will be announced shortly.

The three Canadian teams will finally play each of their games in the USA starting from September 18. As a result of the travel restrictions in the United States, the Canadian sides are currently play against each other in a series of nine matches. Below, we'll show you the full schedule and how to watch the games (via MLS):

Eastern Conference Play-In Match #1 - Fri., November 20 at 6:30 PM ET

USA: FS1, FOX Deportes
CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

Eastern Conference Play-In Match #2 - Fri., November 20 at 8:30 PM ET

USA: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes
CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

Round One Match #1 - Sat., November 21 at 12:00 PM ET

USA: UniMás, TUDN
CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

Round One Match #2 - Sat., November 21 at 3:00 PM ET

USA: UniMás, TUDN
CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

Round One Match #3 - Sun., November 22 at 4:00 PM ET

USA: FS1, FOX Deportes
CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

Round One Match #4 - Sun., November 22 at 7:30 PM ET

USA: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

Round One Match #5 - Sun., November 22 at 10:00 PM ET

USA: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

Round One Match #6 - Tue., November 24 at 6:00 PM ET

USA: FS1, FOX Deportes
CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

Round One Match #7 - Tue., November 24 at 8:00 PM ET

USA: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

Round One Match #8 - Tue., November 24 at 10:30 PM ET

USA: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

Conference Semifinal #1 - Sun., November 29 at 3:00 PM ET

USA: ABC, ESPN Deportes
CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

Conference Semifinal #2 - Sun., November 29 at 8:00 PM ET

USA: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

Conference Semifinal #3 - Tue., December 1 at 6:30 or 9:00 PM ET

USA: FS1, FOX Deportes
CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

Conference Semifinal #4 - Wed., December 2 at 6:30 or 9:00 PM ET

USA: FS1, FOX Deportes
CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

Conference Final #1 - Sun., December 6 at 3:00 PM ET

USA: ABC, ESPN Deportes
CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

Conference Final #2 - Sun., December 6 at 6:30 PM ET

USA: FS1, FOX Deportes
CAN: TSN, TVA Sport

MLS Cup - Sat., December 12 at 8:00 PM ET

USA: FOX, UniMás, TUDN
CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

MLS Cup 2020 Playoffs Qualification

The 8 teams from the Western Conference qualify directly for the Round 1 of the MLS Cup 2020 Playoffs Qualification. However, only the top 6 clubs from the Eastern Conference qualify directly for the Round 1.

The remaining three clubs will clash off in a play-in game. The 7th seed will play vs the 10th, while the 8th seed will come against the 9th.

MLS Cup 2020 Playoff Bracket

The lowest seed play-in winner will then play against the No. 1 seed from the Eastern Conference. Whilst, the highest seed play-in winner will then play the No. 2 seed from the Western Conference.

Once Round 1 is complete, the winners advance to the semi-finals. After that, each winning side in both Conference finals, will clash off in the 2020 MLS Cup final.