If you didn’t know already, the Major League Soccer post-season will work a little differently than we’re all used to this year.
Join us as we simplify the revamped 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, its format changes, and how Orlando City SC can plot their quest to MLS Cup glory.
Significantly, Orlando City SC’s overall number two seeding means that we have home field advantage throughout our participation in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.
This means we have sealed the dream scenario of potentially hosting 2023 MLS Cup at our Exploria Stadium home, should we get that far, and barring number one seed FC Cincinnati reaching this stage of course.
Additionally, City enter the post-season as the outright best team on their travels in MLS. Indeed, we’ve earned nine wins and four draws (31 points) across our 17 away fixtures this regular season – a mightily impressive tally that is just one point fewer than the 32 points we’ve collected at Exploria Stadium.
2023 MLS Cup Playoffs: Wild Card match
Fortunately for Orlando City SC, they don’t have to worry about the jeopardy of playing in the Eastern Conference’s Wild Card match.
In short, the Eastern Conference sides that finished eighth and ninth – New York Red Bulls and Charlotte FC – will face each other in a single elimination Wild Card match.
In other words, a play-in match as we’ve seen previously in Major League Soccer.
If the score of this Wild Card match is tied at full-time, no extra-time will be played.
There will immediately be a penalty kick shootout to determine the winner.
The winner of this Wild Card match will then face the Eastern Conference’s number one seed – Supporters’ Shield winners FC Cincinnati – in the Round One Best-of-3 series.
Unlike previous MLS seasons, conference table toppers no longer receive a bye past Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
2023 MLS Cup Playoffs: Round One
By virtue of finishing second in the Eastern Conference this MLS regular season, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC are one of the four higher seeded Eastern teams entering Round One of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.
This means the Lions will host two home fixtures at Exploria Stadium as part of the new Round One Best-of-3 series format – providing City a significant advantage.
Best-of-3 Round One matches will be hosted in the following format.
- Home
- Away
- Home
The higher Eastern Conference seeds – sides finishing first through fourth in the 2023 MLS regular season – will host games one and three.
The lower Eastern Conference seeds – sides finishing fifth through ninth – will only host one Round One Best-of-3 fixture.
Round One Best-of-3 fixtures must be settled in 90 minutes, otherwise there’s penalty kicks.
Ultimately the first team to win two matches in the Best-of-3 series will advance to the Eastern Conference Semi-Final stage.
Should Orlando City SC win games one and two – either in 90 minutes or via penalty kicks – there is no need for game three that is immediately rendered obsolete.
- Eastern Conference Round One Best-of-3 Series
- No. 1 vs. No. 8 or 9
- No. 2 vs. No. 7
- No. 3 vs. No. 6
- No. 4 vs. No. 5
2023 MLS Cup Playoffs: Eastern Conference Semi-Final
Should Orlando City SC advance past Round One of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, they will then contest the Eastern Conference Semi-Final.
There’s no format change here.
This is a single elimination match that is hosted by the higher seed.
If the Eastern Conference Semi-Final is tied at full-time, there is extra-time, and then penalties to determine a winner if the teams remain tied.
- Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
- Winner of No. 1 vs. No. 8/9 series vs. winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5 series
- Winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6 series vs. winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 series
2023 MLS Cup Playoffs: Eastern Conference Final
Should Orlando City SC advance past the Eastern Conference Semi-Final stage of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, they will then contest the Eastern Conference Final.
There’s no format change here.
This is a single elimination match that is hosted by the higher seed.
If the Eastern Conference Final is tied at full-time, there is extra-time, and then penalties to determine a winner if the teams remain tied.
- Eastern Conference Final:
- Highest advancing seed vs. lowest advancing seed
2023 MLS Cup
Should Orlando City SC win the Eastern Conference Final stage of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, they will then contest the big one – MLS Cup – to win the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy – the most coveted prize in North American soccer!
There’s no format change here.
This is a single cup final that is hosted by the higher seed.
If the 2023 MLS Cup is tied at full-time, there is extra-time, and then penalties to determine the overall 2023 champion of Major League Soccer if the teams remain tied.
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