Overview
- Reporting published Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, described a plan to use a single overall table to seed a 20-team postseason with an eight-team play-in that would cut the field to 16.
- Under the proposal the top eight clubs in the combined table would enter a double-elimination “double‑chance” stage and teams would be reseeded after each round, with a schedule that could run from late April and finish around May 21, 2028.
- Major League Soccer has told reporters it is evaluating potential postseason adjustments as part of the calendar change and that no decisions have been made.
- The overhaul is linked to a shortened 2027 sprint season, the switch to five geographic divisions for scheduling, and leadership change with Larry Berg set to become commissioner on Jan. 1, 2027.
- Supporters say the format could create more high-stakes games for broadcasters but critics warn the play-ins, losers’ bracket and reseeding would add complexity, risk diluting regular-season value, and force tighter scheduling and travel demands on clubs.