By FRANCO PANIZO
The unusual MLS playoff format that is scheduled to start Wednesday may never see the light of day.
MLS is considering doing away with its current playoff schedule to allow games to take place during the upcoming FIFA international window, according to a Tuesday report from SI.com. MLS had previously planned to not have playoff games during November’s international fixture dates, but that has made for an odd and highly-criticized postseason structure that would see teams endure a 12-day layoff after the first four playoff legs.
The potential new plan would have the conference semifinals and finals legs take place once a week, which would see the games played almost entirely on weekends, before continuing with the plan of a two-week break prior to the MLS Cup final on Dec. 7.
One major thing making it complicated for this new approach to work is that some clubs would have to ask international teams to not summon their players during the upcoming FIFA fixture. Otherwise, MLS sides could be without several of their key performers.
A final decision will be made by MLS commissioner Don Garber and could come as early as Tuesday evening, but clubs will have a significant influence on which format is ultimately chosen on the eve of the start of the postseason.
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What do you think of MLS considering a change on the eve of the playoffs? Would you prefer the new approach? Wondering why this was not sorted out earlier?
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