MLS mulls single-table, 20-team double-elimination playoffs to boost TV revenue

Major League Soccer, noted for frequent postseason tweaks, is reportedly planning to replace its Eastern and Western conference structure with a single league table split into five geographically aligned divisions for scheduling. The suggested playoff would involve 20 teams—up from the current 18—and employ a double-elimination format modeled on the Australian Football League, running from late April through May. An eight-team wildcard round would decide the final four seeds in a round of 16, echoing recent expansions in other U.S. leagues and college tournaments.

League leaders see the new format as a means to generate more high-stakes matches and attract higher TV revenues as the Apple partnership ends in June 2029. The proposal follows the success of expanded postseason models in events like the FIFA World Cup and NCAA tournaments, and could help MLS vie for a broadcast deal comparable to the English Premier League’s $450 million annual contract. Critics warn that a larger playoff field might lessen the importance of the 34-game regular season.