With its new season set to kick off in five days, Major League Soccer has finalized a new format for its postseason. Nine teams from each conference will qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2023, according to league sources granted anonymity in order to speak with The Athletic ahead of an official announcement. Here’s what you need to know:
Nine teams per conference will be the highest number of playoff teams in a “normal” season yet, only exceeded by the 10-per-conference makeshift model during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season.
The opening “wild-card” round will see the teams…
