Minnesota United currently sits fifth in the MLS Western Conference, with just one point separating them from second. With eyes on the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs, the league has released dates and broadcast details around the new-format single-game elimination playoffs. After the close of regular season play on Sunday, October 6, MLS Decision Day presented by AT&T, fourteen clubs will enter the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs. Every game matters and every goal counts in the regular season as higher seeds will enjoy homefield advantage throughout the playoffs and the top seeds in each conference earn a bye in Round One. Every postseason game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN, FS1 and Univision.
For the first time in league history, MLS Cup will air domestically in the U.S. on both the ABC Television Network and Univision Network. The combination of the four networks represents the broadest domestic distribution ever for the championship match. 2019 MLS Cup on November 10 (2 p.m. CT) will be the culmination of a three-week span beginning October 19.
Following six Round One games on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20, the four Eastern and Western Conference Semifinal games will be played on Wednesday, Oct. 23 and Thursday, Oct. 24. Two games will be played on each of the match dates, and just four teams, two from each conference, will advance.
The Conference Final drama unfolds on consecutive nights, Tuesday, Oct. 29 and Wednesday, Oct. 30, with each of the Conference Champions advancing to 2019 MLS Cup.
A full calendar of match dates and broadcast details is included below.
Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs Schedule
Eastern and Western Conference Round One (6 games)
(Conference second seed vs. seventh seed, third seed vs. sixth seed & fourth seed vs fifth seed in a single-game elimination match)
- Sat., Oct. 19 Two Games Times TBD (Univision/TUDN)
- Sun., Oct. 20 Four Games Times TBD (Two games on FS1/FOX Deportes, one game on ESPN/ESPN Deportes, one game on ESPN2/ESPN Deportes)
Eastern and Western Conference Semifinal (4 games)
(One-game knockout, winners advance to Conference Final)
Two games on FS1/FOX Deportes, one game on ESPN/ESPN Deportes, one game on ESPN2/ESPN Deportes:
- Wed., Oct. 23 Two Games Times TBD (FS1/FOX Deportes)
- Thu., Oct. 24 Two Games Times TBD (ESPN / ESPN Deportes, ESPN2/ESPN Deportes)
Eastern and Western Conference Final (2 games)
(One-game knockout, winners advance to MLS Cup)
One game each on ESPN/ESPN Deportes and FS1/FOX Deportes:
- Tue., Oct. 29 One Game Times TBD
- Wed., Oct. 30 One Game Times TBD
2019 MLS Cup
(Hosted at the home venue of the finalist with the best regular season record)
- Sunday, Nov. 10 2:00 p.m. CT (ABC, Univision/TUDN, TSN, TVA Sports)
*Subject to change
