FRISCO, Texas (October 2, 2024) – MLS NEXT Pro today announced that its Pick-Your-Opponent selection process will be livestreamed on MLSNEXTPro.com and its social channels, allowing viewers to watch in real time as clubs choose who they will face in the opening round of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs, as well as the playoff format.
On Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Eastern Conference Selection Show will air live at 1 p.m. CT, followed by the Western Conference Selection Show at 2 p.m. CT. Both selection shows will be hosted by one of the most renowned voices in American soccer, MLS Season Pass announcer Max Bretos and will be carried on MLSNEXTPro.com and the league’s X and Instagram channels.
During each Conference Selection Show, the No. 1-3 seeds will choose their opponent from the No. 5-8 seeds, with the No. 4 seed playing the remaining club. The matchups determined during the Selection Shows will take place in the Conference Quarterfinals the weekend of Oct. 18, with No. 1-4 seeds hosting. The schedule for the quarterfinals will be announced following the Shows. MLS NEXT Pro debuted the unique Pick-Your-Opponent Playoff format in 2023.
DECISION DAY
Ahead of the selection shows, 28 of the 29 clubs in the league will compete on the final day of the regular season, Sunday, Oct. 6. Fourteen matches will take place to determine final playoff positioning, with six open spots remaining. All Eastern Conference matches will kick off at 12 p.m. CT on Sunday, followed by the Western Conference at 3 p.m. CT. All Decision Day matches will air live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
PLAYOFF FORMAT AND SCHEDULE
The 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs will feature 15 single elimination matches over the course of four consecutive weekends, with three rounds leading to the MLS NEXT Pro Cup. This year’s playoffs will feature more clubs competing, more matches being played and more clubs picking their opponents. All MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs and the MLS NEXT Pro Cup will air live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. North Texas SC will play every playoff match up to the Western Conference Final at Choctaw Stadium. If North Texas advances to the MLS NEXT Pro Cup, the match will be played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. North Texas SC clinched the No. 1 seed in MLS NEXT Pro which grants the club playoff hosting rights.
The round-by-round format and schedule follows:
- Conference Quarterfinals: October 18–20 (four matches per conference) No. 1-3 seeds in each conference will host and select their opponent from the No. 5-8 seeds and No. 4 seed will host the remaining club.
- Conference Semifinals: October 25-27 (two matches per conference) The highest remaining seed in each conference will select and host an opponent from the two lowest seeded teams. The two remaining clubs will face each other, with the higher of the two seeds hosting.
- Conference Finals: November 1-3 (one match per conference) The higher remaining seed in each conference will host the other remaining club.
- MLS NEXT Pro Cup: November 8–10 (one match) The club with the highest regular season points total will host the other remaining club.
