2011 MLS Cup Playoff Dates Set
Published on August 9, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK (Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011) - Major League Soccer today announced dates for this season's MLS Cup Playoff matches, culminating in MLS Cup 2011 on Sunday, Nov. 20 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
The road to the League's 16th championship consists of 13 total games, with a break for FIFA fixture dates (Nov. 11 & 15) between the conference championships and MLS Cup. The broadcast schedule and kickoff times for playoff games will be announced at a later date.
Ten teams will qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs upon the conclusion of the regular season on Sunday, Oct. 23. The top three teams in each conference will enter as automatic qualifiers and the next four teams, regardless of conference, will enter the Wild Card Games.
The 2011 MLS Cup Playoff schedule (prospective teams listed as if the season ended today, but in reality, 11 weeks remain in the regular season) is as follows:
- Wild Card Games - hosted by higher seed; single elimination
(Currently Chivas USA at Colorado Rapids and Sporting Kansas City at Real Salt Lake)
o Wed., Oct. 26
o Thurs., Oct. 27
- Conference Semifinals, First Leg - hosted by lower seed
(Currently LA Galaxy at lowest remaining wild card; Columbus Crew at other remaining wild card; FC Dallas at Seattle Sounders; and Philadelphia Union at New York Red Bulls)
o Sat., Oct. 29
o Sat., Oct. 29
o Sun., Oct. 30
o Sun., Oct. 30
- Conference Semifinals, Second Leg - hosted by higher seed; winner by aggregate goals
(Currently lowest wild card at LA Galaxy; other remaining wild card team at Columbus Crew; Seattle Sounders at FC Dallas; and New York Red Bulls at Philadelphia Union)
o Wed., Nov. 2
o Wed., Nov. 2
o Thurs., Nov. 3
o Thurs., Nov. 3
- Conference Championships - hosted by higher seed; single elimination
o Sat., Nov. 5
o Sun., Nov. 6
NOTE: A break occurs here due to FIFA fixtures on Nov. 11 &15.
- MLS Cup 2011 - at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.; single-game final
o Sun., Nov. 20
NOTE: No team will be scheduled to play on Thursday and Saturday of a given week.
Major League Soccer Stories from August 9, 2011
- Weekly Update : Chivas USA on the Road Part Iii Here We Go Again - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- MLS Reserve League: Seattle Sounders FC 1 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC - Seattle Sounders FC
- Timbers Weekly Update - Portland Timbers
- Real Salt Lake Reserves Return to Play with 2-0 Win at FC Dallas - Real Salt Lake
- This Week in MLS - MLS
- 2011 MLS Cup Playoff Dates Set - MLS
- Cyrus Out For Season, Espinoza And Thomas On International Duty - Sporting Kansas City
- Whitecaps FC Appoint Martin Rennie Head Coach for the 2012 Season - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- FC Dallas Reserves Drop 2-0 Decision to Real Salt Lake Reserves - FC Dallas
- Chicago Fire Name Atul Khosla as Senior Vice President - Chicago Fire FC
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