MLS announced its 2022 playoff schedule on Tuesday, with a plan that involves its many broadcast partners, and including a pair of Monday matches and Thursday matches in its mostly-weekends mix.
As it did last year, the playoff format involves seven teams from each conference. The No. 1 seed from each conference getting a bye and missing the opening stage of matches after the Decision Day matches on Oct. 9, the final day of regular-season play, which will determine the final seeds and possibly the Supporters' Shield race.
For the No. 1 teams, the playoffs begin either Oct. 20 or Oct. 23 with the conference semifinals, whereas the No. 2 through No. 7 seeds will play in the opening slate of matches from Oct. 15 through 17.
For three consecutive weekends, MLS will go head-to-head against the NFL on three straight Sunday between Oct. 16 and Oct. 30, with the MLS Cup in the 4 p.m. ET slot on Saturday, Nov. 5.
2022 MLS Cup Playoffs Schedule
Round One
Saturday, Oct. 15
- 12 p.m. ET (Univision / TSN / TVA Sports / local English-language broadcast / MLSSoccer.com / MLS App)
- 3 p.m. ET (Univision / TSN / TVA Sports / local English-language broadcast / MLSSoccer.com / MLS App)
Sunday, Oct. 16
- 3 p.m. ET (ABC / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
- 8 p.m. ET (ESPN / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
Monday, Oct. 17
- TBD (FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
- TBD (FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
Conference Semifinals
(In each conference, the No. 1 seed will face the winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5 match.)
Thursday, Oct. 20
- TBD (FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
- TBD (FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
Sunday, Oct. 23
- 3 p.m. ET (ESPN / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
- 8 p.m. ET (ESPN / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
Conference Finals
Sunday, Oct. 30
- 3 p.m. ET (ABC / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
- 8 p.m. ET (FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
MLS Cup
Saturday, November 5
- 4 p.m. ET (FOX / UniMás / TSN / TVA Sports)