MLS reveals 2014 playoff schedule, will break for FIFA dates

Major League Soccer will play its championship game on Dec. 7, have playoff games during Thanksgiving weekend for the first time in its history and honor the FIFA dates, the league announced on Tuesday. The reformatted schedule will also allow for all but the first-round matches to played during the weekends.

Working in the FIFA break was also done a bit more effectively this year. When MLS took time off during the 2013 playoffs, there were two-week breaks between the two legs of the conference finals. The schedule also forced the conference finals to start just a few days after the conference semifinals were concluded. This year’s playoffs will allow for a more natural rhythm six to seven days between the first and second legs of both the conference semis and finals. There will also be about a week between the conference finals and MLS Cup.

The only significant change to this year’s playoff format is the adoption of the away-goals tiebreaker for the conference semifinals and conference finals. Otherwise, the first round will be single-elimination, the following two rounds will be two-legged and the final will be a single game.

Although Jurgen Klinsmann did not call up any MLS-based players who were still participating in the playoffs during last year’s November FIFA dates and he could well choose to do the same thing when the United States visits Ireland on Nov. 18, this at least allows teams with foreign national teamers not to be overly affected.

The day after MLS Cup, teams must submit their Expansion Draft protected lists and New York City FC and Orland City SC will pick players on Dec. 10.

Conference Knockout Round

Conference Semifinals

Conference Championships

MLS Cup Final